Brussels
Brussels, 3 July 1890
Mr. Antonio Luna
MY DEAR ANTONIO:
I felicitate cordially all of you and especially you for the happy brilliant about you held in the studio of your brother. It is good for the youth to devote themselves to something more serious and noble than the game of cards; and as Marco Espada says very well, the handling of a weapon gives moral strength to the individual, making him prudent and moderate.
I congratulate you also on your Amorios [Love Affairs].[1] I only suggest that you take great care not to hurt the susceptibilities of women’s: You already understand me. Aside from this, your articles are written in an easy, flowing, lively style. Your Laksamana, despite the good things you say about him, turns out to be a poor devil. One cannot tell where the father’s letter ends. Pardon me for making these little observations.
My mother is called Mrs. Teodora Alonso de Quintos, of the family of Mr. Jose Florentino.[2] granddaughter, if I remember correctly.
Here I continue working and studying. I go to the clinic, I read, I write, I got to the gymnasium and the fencing hall. As to shooting, with this I am sending you a card board with ten bullet holes. The board is seven and a half meters away from me. At a distance of twenty-five meters. I put 20 shots inside a board 20 centimeters high and 20 centimeters wide. I go slowly, but supplement with my will the few qualities of a shooter that nature has given me.
When you write, tell me what the brave and not brave Indios Filipinos are doing there and what are their projects.
As I am short of funds, I should like to know if the Morga has yielded something, if some pesetas have been collected. For this purpose, I would beg you to find out from those who have received packages of Morga. I remember having sent you three copies, one of which is for you.
Take good care of yourself and continue making progress in your studies.
Your friend,
RIZAL
P. S.
It seems that Ventura and I are going on a trip to Germany next month.
02-553 [Blumentritt V.2]
[1] A published article by Antonio Luna.
[2] A native of Vigan, Ilocos Sur, lawyer, deputy at the Cortes, Madrid. He was a cousin of Rizal’s mother.