Nellie Boustead: Jose Rizal's Almost

Wife
Perceiving Jose Rizal’s imminent courtship to her, his compatriot Marcelo H. del Pilar teased
the lover boy by suggesting that his first novel should be renamed ‘Nelly Me Tangere’.
 
Nellie Boustead, also called Nelly, was the younger of the two pretty daughters of the wealthy
businessman Eduardo Boustead, son of a rich British trader, who went to the Orient in 1826.
The Bousteads hosted Rizal’s stay in Biarritz in February 1891 at their winter residence, Villa
Eliada on the superb French Riviera. Rizal had befriended the family back in 1889-90 and used
to fence with the Anglo-Filipino Boustead sisters (Adelina and Nellie) at the studio of Juan
Luna.
 
Having learned Leonor Rivera’s marriage to Henry Kipping, Rizal entertained the idea of having
romantic relation with the highly educated, cheerful, athletic, beautiful, and morally upright
Nellie. He wrote some of his friends (though remarkably except Ferdinand Blumentritt) about
his affection for Nelly and his idea of proposing marriage to her.
His friends seemed to be supportive of his intentions. Tomas Arejola, for instance, wrote him:
“… if Mademoiselle Boustead suits you, court her, and marry her, and we are here to applaud
such a good act.” (Zaide, p. 184).
 

giving you much blessings, and may your learn to enjoy! My remembrance will accompany you
as also my prayers.” (Zaide, p. 185) (© 2013 by Jensen DG. Mañebog)