never forget the man that made his fame
possible, developing a deep friendship with Roc Sena, offering him a home and
employment as foreman on the new estancia that he had acquired.
The gaucho was tiring of his rogue’s life and found the general’s offer
to be timely. The two men became inseparable, each learning from the other
about a different way of life. It was General San Marco, however, who became
totally absorbed in the culture and habits of the gaucho lifestyle. He rode,
sang, drank, and caroused with Roc Sena and his men on every occasion that
presented itself.
He drank maté, the intoxicating herbal tea, partook in the asado, or range
barbecue where an entire steer would be devoured except for horns and hoofs.
He learned to play pato, the physical basketball style game played on horseback.
He became proficient with the bolla, knife, and revolver, and picked up a whole
new vocabulary of foul language that could not be put to use in the parlors and
ballrooms of Palermo.
All of these things were passed on to Lonfranco De Seta under Roc Sena’s
guidance, and the boy was a willing, eager student. He took the initial hazing
from the other ranch-hands in good humor, for he knew that they found it
strange for a young Italian immigrant to ride in their midst.
Whatever hurdles Lonfranco had to overcome because of his background
or any perceived favoritism on the part of the general were conquered with
sheer tenacity and a will to learn quickly. It was not long before the boy was
able to pull his full weight in the eyes of his peers.
Other forms of education were being administered to the newcomer at
the same time. These lessons were given not only by the general, but also by
a private academic tutor named Alveara Alcorta, who was brought in from
Buenos Aires.
53
JAMES McCREATH
The general would talk at great length about agricultural facts of the
Pampas and the need for alfalfa to be cultivated to feed the more productive
English cattle that he had recently purchased. Also the need for cash crops of
corn, wheat, and other grains to augment the sheep and cattle. He also spoke
of the need for new, efficient methods of marketing the products that they
produced, that is, an expanded rail system tying the Pampas to the ports in
Rosario and Buenos Aires.
There was no doubt that the general did not consider Buenos Recuerdos
as a leisurely pastime. Properly run, and with the right amount of innovation,
he was certain that it would maintain his family’s economic security through
whatever political upheaval should shake the ruling classes of Buenos Aires.
The general would eventually place a lot of trust in Lonfranco’s judgment,
but first the boy had to read and write so that he could comprehend financial
figures and statements. This was the role that Alveara Alcorta played in the
making of Lonfranco De Seta. The books were a lot more difficult to master
than the bolla or the saddle, but Lonfranco tackled them with the same driven
determination. After two years, Señora Alcorta was no longer required in the
employ of the general.
The San Marco ladies would be in residence at Buenos Recuerdos for most
of the summer months of January and February, and during those months, it
seemed to Lonfranco that the estancia was turned into a continuous garden
party or ballroom soirée. Guests from all over the countryside and the great
cities would enjoy the hospitality of the general and his family for days on
end.
The boy’s relationship with Maria remained extremely cordial, but his
newfound maturity and the worldly stories of the gauchos tempered the
infatuation that had made him giddy with love when they had first met. She
was, after all, the general’s eldest daughter, and he did not want to risk his
emerging identity on any indiscretion that he might be lured into because of
his naiveté. Affairs of the heart must wait for now, for the affairs of business
were uppermost in
possible, developing a deep friendship with Roc Sena, offering him a home and
employment as foreman on the new estancia that he had acquired.
The gaucho was tiring of his rogue’s life and found the general’s offer
to be timely. The two men became inseparable, each learning from the other
about a different way of life. It was General San Marco, however, who became
totally absorbed in the culture and habits of the gaucho lifestyle. He rode,
sang, drank, and caroused with Roc Sena and his men on every occasion that
presented itself.
He drank maté, the intoxicating herbal tea, partook in the asado, or range
barbecue where an entire steer would be devoured except for horns and hoofs.
He learned to play pato, the physical basketball style game played on horseback.
He became proficient with the bolla, knife, and revolver, and picked up a whole
new vocabulary of foul language that could not be put to use in the parlors and
ballrooms of Palermo.
All of these things were passed on to Lonfranco De Seta under Roc Sena’s
guidance, and the boy was a willing, eager student. He took the initial hazing
from the other ranch-hands in good humor, for he knew that they found it
strange for a young Italian immigrant to ride in their midst.
Whatever hurdles Lonfranco had to overcome because of his background
or any perceived favoritism on the part of the general were conquered with
sheer tenacity and a will to learn quickly. It was not long before the boy was
able to pull his full weight in the eyes of his peers.
Other forms of education were being administered to the newcomer at
the same time. These lessons were given not only by the general, but also by
a private academic tutor named Alveara Alcorta, who was brought in from
Buenos Aires.
53
JAMES McCREATH
The general would talk at great length about agricultural facts of the
Pampas and the need for alfalfa to be cultivated to feed the more productive
English cattle that he had recently purchased. Also the need for cash crops of
corn, wheat, and other grains to augment the sheep and cattle. He also spoke
of the need for new, efficient methods of marketing the products that they
produced, that is, an expanded rail system tying the Pampas to the ports in
Rosario and Buenos Aires.
There was no doubt that the general did not consider Buenos Recuerdos
as a leisurely pastime. Properly run, and with the right amount of innovation,
he was certain that it would maintain his family’s economic security through
whatever political upheaval should shake the ruling classes of Buenos Aires.
The general would eventually place a lot of trust in Lonfranco’s judgment,
but first the boy had to read and write so that he could comprehend financial
figures and statements. This was the role that Alveara Alcorta played in the
making of Lonfranco De Seta. The books were a lot more difficult to master
than the bolla or the saddle, but Lonfranco tackled them with the same driven
determination. After two years, Señora Alcorta was no longer required in the
employ of the general.
The San Marco ladies would be in residence at Buenos Recuerdos for most
of the summer months of January and February, and during those months, it
seemed to Lonfranco that the estancia was turned into a continuous garden
party or ballroom soirée. Guests from all over the countryside and the great
cities would enjoy the hospitality of the general and his family for days on
end.
The boy’s relationship with Maria remained extremely cordial, but his
newfound maturity and the worldly stories of the gauchos tempered the
infatuation that had made him giddy with love when they had first met. She
was, after all, the general’s eldest daughter, and he did not want to risk his
emerging identity on any indiscretion that he might be lured into because of
his naiveté. Affairs of the heart must wait for now, for the affairs of business
were uppermost in
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