9 February 1891

Madrid

Rizal’s moral influence on the Filipinos – Regrets for Rizal’s absence from Madrid – The path of glory means sacrifices – They support Rizal’s ideas – Suggests that Rizal marry the beautiful Adelina Bousted and live in Europe – A Filipino left Madrid with a large unpaid debt.

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Madrid, 9 February 19891

MR. JOSE RIZAL

MY ESTEEMED FRIEND PEPE,

Thanking you for the regards you send me in your letter to Pablico, I take pleasure in writing you not only to fulfill my promise when I took leave of you but for the special pleasure that it gives me to correspond with one for whom I have great sympathy and profess a profound admiration.

Here are my impressions.

Scarcely have you turned your back, we missed you very much in our gatherings, especially at Chambery. It is needless to tell who is the soul of those Friday gatherings.

In our dinners . . . [missing] we always talk about you, and there are some who say: “If the good Rizal were only here.” Others, remembering you, say: “With greater pleasure we would eat beside our illustrious countryman Rizal.” The rest, we observe, find special pleasure in honoring . . . [missing] the mother country and your countrymen . . . [missing] all kinds of consideration. In short, in the Filipino colony in general and at the house of B . . . in particular, you, have left behind most pleasant and undying memories.

I say in the colony in general in the sense that not all are in accord with you on account of some old resentments, the effect of an unreasonable pride; others, for antipathy, which can only be explained by the spirit of envy which has taken hold of their hearts; and many others have been deceived by your rivals who attributed to you a certain sternness . . . [missing].

The path to glory always involves sacrifices. Suffer them for the sake of the native country; ignore the grudges and resentments; after all, we who admire you and adhere heartily to your ideas and convictions, who recognize your worth, are ready to support your principles concerning the Philippine questions.

The truth is this: Your moral influence on us is indisputable. The first meeting we held after your departure was inaugurated with an unpleasant incident. We met to elect the Responsable, and I don’t know why Kanoy[1] and Modesto had a verbal tiff and M. Rosario joined in until he came to blows with Kanoy. In spite of Chief Tetoy[2] being Responsable and of Lete being counsellor by majority vote, they were unable to maintain order or to endow the colony with the seriousness it should have. The tact and persuasiveness of a Rizal is necessary in order that what we want to do for the common welfare of our motherland should conform to our desire. We are confessing all this to you and as time goes on some three or four others may do the same.

Your cousin Pablo is an unhappy man, in the good sense of the word. He felt your departure so deeply that scarcely have we reached home coming from the station he began crying like a child until supper time. We advised him to go to bed and sleep quietly. Another day, joking with Ruiz, he ended crying bitterly. Day before yesterday, piqued by some jokes of mine, he tried to throw a tumbler at my face, and later he made peace with me, embracing me and asking my forgiveness in tears. A man in this condition is truly unfortunate and so I like him more.

In your letter you talk repeatedly of Bousted who can be a madame or a mademoiselle. Several times here since last year I have been told about this young woman who, according to your letter, is also a Filipino. They told me that she is highly commendable for her very thorough education, her very beautiful moral and physical qualities, and in addition, for being a Filipino. On this occasion and all the time you are there[3] exposed to the warmth of the treatment and attentions of that family, may I take the liberty of making the following reflections. Through you yourself , I know that you are now free from your engagement in the Philippines.[4] On the other hand, while conditions there are not altered, your permanence in our country is not advisable; and even if it were so, they would never leave you in peace at your home. Consequently, by marrying there, I fear that instead of happiness, you would only find bitterness and troubles.

And what is the remedy? What is the proper solution in the face of such well-founded fears? See if Mlle. Bousted suits you, court her, and marry her, and we are here to applaud such a good act.

Lauro left on the 6th instant and Llorente three or four days later. D… P… escaped from Madrid; nobody knows his whereabouts; he has left many debts amounting to 500 pesos. We are ashamed of such behavior which impairs the prestige of this colony.

Until another letter. Count always on the esteem and adhesion of your friend.

TOMAS

03-603 [Reformists]