Paris
Paris, 6 May 1890
MR. JOSE RIZAL
Brussels
MY FRIEND PEPE:
Enclosed is a letter for you that I received this morning. We do not understand what is happening this time to the Philippine postal service. The boat arrived Wednesday of last week at Marseille and only this morning was the mail delivered.
For more than a month I have not received issues of La Solidaridad, but I am not surprised for I am not even a subscriber. Tell me to whom to send the subscription. You would do me a favor if you would write to Madrid giving my address.
Another favor. A week ago I received a letter from Juan Luna in which he asked me to please write to Madrid to find out if his brother Antonio was gambling. As I have not corresponded for a long time with any of our fellow countrymen in Madrid, I appeal to you to furnish me with the necessary information.
It seems that in the Philippines it is believed that our fellow countrymen in Madrid do nothing else but gamble. As you have some influence on our youth, please write to some of them telling them to devote themselves to something more useful and to understand that what they are doing is not only prejudicial to themselves but also to our other fellow countrymen, for many fathers would like to send their sons abroad if it were not for the bad name they have earned in Madrid
They say that Felipe Roxas has arrived, but I have not seen him nor do I know if it is true. It seems he has brought his entire family.
This is all. An embrace of your friend who esteems you.
V. VENTURA
P. D.
I received your post card of 17 April. I shoot frequently and I hope that when I go there about July we can shoot together.
03-525 [Reformists]