21 June 1887

Binondo, Manila

21 June 1887

Mr. Jose Rizal

Geneva

Dearest Friend,

A week ago I was honored with a visit by your mother, sister Trining, and brother-in-law Silvestre who invited all of us to the forthcoming feast of your picturesque town.

I am sorry not to be able to attend that feast because my life as an employee and much work prevent me, to my regret, from going on a spree.

I have convinced your esteemed family of the necessity and absolute convenience that you remain there longer, at least a year more, until we can find out the effect that your book will produce. We hope you will send here thousands of copies through the way I mentioned to you in my previous letters. According to your aforesaid brother-in-law, your brother is repenting for having written you to come. For this reason, I beg you to remain there until a better occasion for you. Your whole family agrees with this opinion, which is that of all who esteem you. This is the principal object of this letter, which I hope you will receive on time, for according to your mother, you will come next November.

When you receive this, I suppose the letter of Arias, the reputable bookseller of this capital, sent you a month ago, must have already reached your hands. I also wrote the bookseller about your work. This is in the style of Russian novels, according to F. R.

According to your dear family, you have another work. I suppose it will be of the first order like the one you have published. Continue producing books in that style and I believe that we shall attain what the Quijote did, but there, without coming to this country.

By this mail you will receive a lyric composition in Tagalog. Please be kind enough to criticize its substance and style, inasmuch as you are a professor of our language or dialect. Is it a dialect or language? Your reply is awaited.

I repeat, don’t come, because we shall lose everything good of your brilliant career. Send enough copies to diffuse your idea, etc. We shall do everything possible to make your work known, but you must remain there. All who have read it are enthusiastic. I’ll write you later when you ought to come to stay for a few months as you plan, according to your mother. This must be, in my poor opinion, in the company of the first magistrate of these Islands; but this must be very late when the whole Archipelago shall come to know who you are and your objective is attained.

My address is the same as in my other letters. Consider well the lyrical Tagalog composition. I don’t know our dialect well and I cannot criticize it. F. R. has seen it but neither is he competent because he knows only Spanish, the national language.

If I move to another house, I will let you know opportunely for the present I am in the same house.

Know that your very affectionate friend esteems you,

Chengoy

P. S.

Adopt for my use a pseudonym, because many know you and it is possible my letters may not reach you. You take care of inventing the best pseudonym so that you will not be known when one writes you.

I have sent you two letters before this, dealing with your book and the way to send copies in large numbers. Arias is the good means, who accepts, provided he is helped in its sale.

02-245 [Blumentritt V.1]

1887. 06. 27 Rome

From: Jose Rizal

To: Ferdinand Blumentritt

Before the ruins of the Rome of the Caesars — “My feet tread on the dust of heroes.” — The Capitol, the Tarpeian Rock, the Palatinum, Forum, Amphitheatre, before the eyes of the archaeologist — At the Capitoline Museum and the church of St. Mary Major — A flower from the garden of the palace of Septimius Severus for Blumentritt as a remembrance.

* * *

Rome, 27 June 1887

Dear Friend,

I write you a few lines tonight so that you may see that I do not forget you. I’m in Rome! That is my excuse. I have walked all day despite the heat, because Rome is well worth a headache.

I cannot describe to you the impression that Rome has made on me. I tell you only that my feet are swollen and they are blistered. Nevertheless, tomorrow I will go again on foot to see better the ruins. I’m in Rome! Everything I tread is the dust of heroes. Here I breathe the same air that the Roman heroes breathed. I greet reverently every statue and it seems to me — poor inhabitant of a little island — that I am in a sanctuary. I have already visited the Capitol,[1] the Tarpeian Rock,[2] the Palatinum,[3] Forum,[4] Amphitheatre,[5] and others. Everything here is grand, except the cafés and the café-musicale; for that reason I don’t go into them. Here I loathe to hear French songs and to see modern industries. My favorite spots are the Amphitheatre and the Roman Forum. There I remained seated for hours, musing over them and bringing them back to life. I was all alone and it had become dark. I have also visited some churches and museums, like the Capitoline Museum[6] and the church of St. Mary Major, which is also magnificent. Here in Rome the word “magnificent” is inadequate. Enclosed I’m sending you a flower I picked in the Palatine, in the garden of the palace of Septimus Severus.[7] I should like to stay here until the last moment. I will give up visiting the other cities. I’m sorry I have already booked passage. If I had one more year, I would spend it all here. I hear Italian and German spoken because there are many Germans here; but although both languages sound good to my ears, I would prefer to hear nothing, not to see any modern attire, nor hats, nor pantaloons, because they seem to be so insignificant after having seen the ruins. The popes, who always seemed to me small and ridiculous, now, Ancient Rome allures me exceedingly and now I regret having spent 15 days in Geneva.

I believe that Luna will comply with pleasure with your wish. I know him well as we have lived together for four months. Your wish will flatter his patriotism, but he does not like to paint landscapes that he has never seen. Hidalgo is a better painter of landscapes than he, especially of Philippine landscapes. But Luna will do it with much pleasure, you may rest assured.

“I’m tired like a dog and I’ll sleep like a god.” (Heine) Therefore, I say to you: Until Marseille! From there I will write you again.

Greetings to my little friends and their elders.

Your friend embraces you,

Rizal

01-246 [Family]