Madrid
He deplores the lack of fellowship among the Filipinos at Madrid since Rizal left – Calls the German students’ duel “semi-barbaric” – A painting—Spoliarium by Juan Luna—bought by the government of Barcelona.
* * *
Madrid, 2 March 1886
Mr. Jose Rizal
(Heidelberg)
Dear Pepe,
I received your letter and I am informed of its content.
I have read it several times and also showed it to several countrymen, all being glad that you are well in that place, your new temporary country.
Here nothing has happened. We see each other rarely, so that you can imagine our reserved attitude. Everyone to himself since you left. Nowhere and in no gathering can be seen a large group of Chinese. It seems that a violent storm of egoism has broken the bond of harmony that formerly united our fellow countrymen. Now there are no more friendly coteries that gather anywhere for the exchange of impressions. Now, should there be some partial groups, they are centers of unjust murmurings, for hurling complaints against one another and consequently they only serve to dampen good fellowship.
Anyone would say that something is wanting in the colony to ring it back to a healthy condition. In this regard I can assure you that the malady began when you left. As you live in that country apart from your countrymen, I would not want anything to happen to you. As you portray the German students as bellicose on one hand and on the other good and amiable and as their favorite sport is the duel with offensive weapons from which they come out with scars on their faces, frankly I would not want to see you one day with the traces of those semi-barbaric sports as you describe to me in your letter.
In case you have not been informed, I tell you that Luna’s painting[1] has been bought by the Barcelona government for 20,000 pesetas, an information that the newspapers have published.
In real life nothing occurs. Only changes in the status of our countrymen are recorded: Yance (captain) and Devesa got married last week. The first one married an Andalucian and the other a Madrid woman. The latter left immediately for Barcelona towards the end of last month to embark for Manila about the beginning of the present month. Oh, honeymoon in the middle of the sea!
Write me what is the remedy for one who before menstruation faints and remains unconscious for an hour.
The landlady until now treats me well and the food is good.
If I shall have money in April, I will send you some.
Acevedo and Rivera have a house of their own and they say you forgotten Acevedo. Farewell.
Yours,
Ceferino
03-147 [Reformists]
[1] Spoliarium , which obtained first prize at the Madrid Exposition of 1884. This is now in the Philippines. Rizal had written an article on Juan Luna which appeared in La Illustracion of Barcelona with a picture of Luisa on the cover, 28 February 1886.