Madrid
Madrid 3 May ‘90
6 Clavel, 2
DEAR RIZAL:
Excuse me for not having written to you, for I have not had any free time do to so.
Who gave you the news about our Peninsular battles? Truly we have had an admirable luck this time: Gomez received an apology and a letter form the Count of Asmir. They believe that Gomez is a shooter who kills flies with shots. Captain Urbina also gave Garcia all kinds of apologies in writing after having received a thrashing. In short we cannot ask for more. The affair turned out to the satisfaction of everyone and we have been convinced there was much idle talk but little action.
But this will not go on as it is and not all will be equal. As it seems that a kind of hostility has already been declared between them and us, we must prepare for the future. Someone may get an undeserved punishment and we must not be caught unprepared.
In the Carbonel and Sanz Hall are four Filipinos: Ponce, Galicano, Puatu, and I. Llorente with Zouave and Lete who, according to him, is a born shooter but who does not even know how to guard. They shoot in the military center where no one knows anything.
I have had a terrible anxiety because of these past questions, as I knew the consequences to one who does not know ow to handle a saber or a foil. They remember St. Barbara[1] when it thunders. Thus, I suffered as much as, or more than, the interested parties. But the question was resolved in a manner most favorable to our fellow countrymen.
I will start my saber lessons as soon as I can.
The bout turned out to be fairly good. In the first match I made a very violent attack, for we did not tally. The second turned out well. With the first, we were about equal. I had some advantage over the second. I changed completely. I hardly moved and the blows I tried to deal were the straight blow and the thrust. The press took notice of it.
Candidly and impartially, what do you think of my little article, La Maestra, etc., leaving out the doors?
You have to give me more data about yourself. In the more interesting part you leave me in the dark, especially in the more salient phase abut which I have vague information. I beg you and I hope you will furnish me with more data and the full name of your mother.
Goodbye, chap; I gave your books to Marcelo as I have written you. He will dispose of them as he must have disposed of them already, for I gave them to him some months ago.
An embrace of your constant friend,
ANTONIO
Regards from Galicano who is staying with me.
03-523 [Reformists]
[1] Patron saint of armorers, artillerymen, military engineers, miners, and other occupations that deal with explosives.