Paris
Paris, June 29 [1889]
My dear Parents and Brothers:
I am sending you there two photographs of mine so that you will see that I am going on well. The Exposition continues to be very much frequented. There are days when 200,000 or more persons enter.
Luna has a new baby girl born on June 24, day of St. John. I have been a sponsor of her baptism and one of those who chose the name of the child. She is called Maria de la Paz, Blanca, Laureana, Hermenegilda Juana Luna y Pardo de Tavera. I selected the name Maria de la Paz which is the name of her mother.
I do not receive letters nor news from anybody.
I suppose my brother is doing well in his business.
In case something has happened, you must know that from the month of February up to this date I have not received any letter nor anything that comes from there. Perhaps you have sent money and it got lost.
They wrote me from Japan telling me that the tea and coffee sets, together with the two wooden doors have been already sent to Manila. Tell me if you have received them already, for if you have not, I can complain.
Yours,
J. RIZAL
02-414 [Blumentritt V.1]
1889
From: Jose Rizal
To: Ferdinand Blumentritt
The surname Mercado for Paciano — The family name is really Mercado — the unhappy memory of ’72 when Burgos, Gómez, and Zamora died on the gallows — Brief history of the surname Rizal — Translation of Blumentritt’s Defense of the Noli.
* * *
Tuesday (without date or place)
Dearest Friend,
When you write my brother address him Paciano Mercado. It is a dismal story! After the grievous catastrophe of 1872,[1] he had to leave the University, as he was a liberal and the friars did not like him for having lived with Burgos.[2] I had to go to Manila then to study. In order not to encounter great obstacles in my studies, he advised me to use our second name which is Rizal. Therefore I am the only Rizal, because at home my parents, my sister, my brother, and my relatives have always preferred the old surname Mercado. Our family name was in fact Mercado, but in the Philippines there were many Mercados who were not our relatives. It is said that a town mayor, who was a friend of our family, had had added to our name Rizal. My family did not pay much attention to this, but now I have to use it. In this way, it seems that I am an illegitimate son!
I am translating your Defense[3] in earnest. Often it has affected me deeply. I am not on page ten. Enclosed I am sending you an article of Quioquiap. It makes me laugh a great deal. My countrymen want me to answer it, but I believe that the best reply has already been given by Luna, Plaridel, Isabelo, Resurrección, and others. Such nonsense ought not to be discussed — deeds and not words. I discuss with no one that the sun shines during daytime. It pains me to make our apology. I am not Quioquiap. I am too proud to go down to the level of Quioquiap for these things! These things can be judged or criticized as you have done, but they should not be discussed seriously! You have done the best; you have given him a beating.
Yours,
Rizal
03-415 [Reformists]
[1] The failure of the uprising of the workers at the Arsenal in Cavite and the mutiny of the Filipino garrison of the Fort of San Felipe, in which the enemies of the Filipino reformers involved the martyrs Fathers Burgos, Gómez, and Zamora who were garroted in the Field of Bagumbayan, Manila.
[2] Father José A. Burgos, Filipino martyr, champion of the rights of the Filipino clergy and of the Filipino reformers.
[3] Defense of the Noli me tángere .