Journal No 2

25 November
O Captain, My Captain~

I am sorry you are not here. This village moves at a pace that seems to be set apart from the rest of the world. It is unique, and I find it pulls me, not unlike iron fillings to a magnet.
The Goatswood Steam Society had a type of inventor faire set up around the Velvet Green this past week. All sorts of gears and gadgets displayed. Doctor Anna made a showing of her Auto Doctor. Ingenious device that appears to be a type of medical assistant,. I was more than a little nervous as a volunteer, but there is no progress without risk. At any rate no harm was done. The auto doctor did spark discussion of auto husbands and auto-wives. The conversation was a little..colored to say the least and perhaps not fit for mixed company. I found it very amusing. I also recall a camera obscura on display.. I should have stayed a bit longer and asked how it worked. There were a few other gadgets, a printing machine, some sort of automatic floor cleaner ( rather charming as it looked at first to be a toy of sorts) A weight machine, which surprised me. I had thought myself a bit on the short side. By far the item that caused the most reactions was one Mister Julius Hastings and his Flying Air-Pig, Faustus. While I thought the pig looked rather excited to be flying about over our heads, there were quite a few who thought otherwise. All sorts off accusations were flung about, ranging from piglet abuse to the advancement to science. Why one young lady ( Miss Amber, I believe) was desperate enough to break the remaining piglet free of their pen. The poor thing only managed to slice her hand open in the process. While I had suggested that they try and use Dr. Anna's device, the woman attending to her insisted on using some herbal mixture to help with the injury. Some are a bit resistant to change.
The Lady R. and I were able to spend a bit of the evening with Lady G. She has gotten rather upset over a situation with a book and needed to calm her nerves. Now I cannot really attest to what happened with the book, as I had helped myself rather generously to the Manor's opium supply. I might have been swept up in waking dreams. In any case a book belonging to Lady G crashed to the ground. Lady R suggested a drink and I promptly handed her a scotch with a bit of laudanum added in. The drink appears to sooth her, so another drink really seemed to be in order. Her next drink had a touch of tarry opium muddled in with the laudanum and liquor. She seemed to have become giddy and flushed from the effects of her drink. Just when I though she might loose the more interesting articles of clothing the darling passed out on the chaise, in a drugged slumber. She did not recall much of the nights events when questioned the following day. When I asked her what she learned she replied, to not over indulge in drink or poppy. I was a touch disappointed as I had hoped she would discovered that she enjoyed the effects. I shall try again another time, hopefully with better results.
Had a delightful dinner with Lord Cromwell, Lady Cromwell, Lady Cavendash, and the Lady Bathory. I know in your travels you may have heard a touch of scandal surrounding the Bathory name. I gave the matter little thought, for in all honesty I would rather keep company with the scandalous than those of a more reputable nature.
Lady Cromwell made mention of preparing the Cockpit in order to host fighting matches. A lady, who should remain nameless, was tasteless enough to name the fights cockfighting. We spent enough time in the south to know such fights make for good gambling. I look forward to the first match. I think I shall wear little more than stockings and feathers in honour of the event.
Achingly yours Angeline~