3 June 1887

Madrid

Madrid, 3 June 1887

Mr. Jose Rizal

General Delivery

Geneva

Dear Laong Laan,

Today I received your card of the 31st of May. Yesterday I wrote Basilea of Bale from whom [may] please ask for my letter and a bundle of newspapers, general delivery. In that letter I tell you about your novel. What a happy tour of those countries you are making! Enjoy yourself!

I’ll take care of giving your address to our friends,

Very affectionately yours,

Cauit

P.S.

Did you receive lately another postal card of min in carihan[1] language?

02-234 [Blumentritt V.1]

1887. 06. 03 Basel

From: Jose Rizal

To: Ferdinand Blumentritt

He will write Willkomm and Nordmann.

* * *

Basel[2], 3 June 1887

My very dear Friend,

We arrive here today and tomorrow we leave for Geneva. I receive your affectionate post card and as soon as I am in Geneva resting, I shall write Messrs. Willkomm and Nordmann.[3] If I have not done it yet, it is because I would like to write them something more serious than a letter written during the trip. With you I can permit myself to write careless letters, for you know how to excuse any fault of mine and to see everything we do through a cheerful optimistic crystal.

I wish you all good health, including Mr. Willkomm.

Rizal

02-235 [Blumentritt V.1]

1887. 06. 06 Geneva

From: Jose Rizal

To: Ferdinand Blumentritt

Thinking of Germany — His journey to “Europe, land of liberty” is about to end — “To see the ancient city of the Caesars” — Will bid Europe goodbye from Marseille — Marseille is pure prose after his beautiful dreams of Madrid, Paris, and Germany — “Even if I meet my ruin there, I have to return!” — The Igorots are already in Madrid — An insult to human dignity to exhibit them together with animals – “I am glad I am leaving Europe!” – Blumentritt should be happy he is only Filipino at hear and not in blood.

* * *

3 Rue du Rhone, Pension Bel-Air

Geneva, 6 June 1887

Dear Friend,

At last I write you a letter in which I can express my sentiments. My heart is full of sorrow.

I always think of Germany and the German scholars. I always talk with Viola of German loyalty and integrity, despite the unpolished appearance at times of some Germans. When I hear German spoken I am glad, as if it were my mother tongue. I always say: In Germany such a thing is not done in that way, thus; if we were in Germany, perhaps we would not have heard or seen such and such a thing.

My journey, my journey to Europe, to the land of liberty, is about to end. On the 3rd of July I shall have to embark at Marseille, because the boats of the Messageries Maritimes no longer pass by Naples. I would have liked to visit Italy before leaving free Europe; see Rome, the old city of the heroes and of the civium,[4] the grand Rome! Perhaps I shall never return to Europe; but, what can I do? I loathe to leave Europe from a commercial city like Marseille, bid Europe goodbye from such a prosaic city. Marseille is pure prose after my beautiful dreams of Madrid, Paris, and Germany.

I received today your pleasing letter with the pamphlet and I thank you most sincerely for it. How I would think of Leitmeritz, Berlin, Vienna, and Prague when I shall be back in my country! My food friends and compatriots are trying to prevent my return, telling me that I shall meet my ruin in the Philippines! But I cannot do otherwise; I have to return!

¡Dulces moriens reminiscitur Argos![5]

Tomorrow I shall have my picture taken and send it to my good friends. Perhaps it may be the only remembrance that will remain of me after some time! Tomorrow I shall write also Messrs. Nordmann and Willkomm.

My poor compatriots who will be exhibited are already in Madrid for some time. Some newspapers are mocking them, but others, like El Liberal, have a different opinion. This one says that it is not consistent with human dignity to be exhibited side by side with animals and plants. I have done everything possible to prevent the carrying out of this degradation of men of my race, but I have not succeeded. Now one woman died of pneumonia. The Igorots were housed in a barraca.[6] And El Resumen still makes some mean jokes about it! La Correspondencia de España says:

“The Filipino delegation enjoys perfect health in Madrid. Until now not more than three individuals have been sick of catarrh and bronchitis.”

I make no comment on that.

But I wish all would get sick and die like poor Basalia so that they would stop suffering. That the Philippines may forget her children had been treated in that manner — exhibited and mocked. And they say that all have come unwillingly, deceived and fooled.

When I think of this iniquity, I exclaim: I am glad that I am leaving Europe!

I tell you, my dear friend, that my heart is very sad; I should like to cry. I believe that right is on our side and we no longer owe Spain gratitude.

May you fare well, my best friend, and rejoice and be grateful that you are only a Filipino at heart and not in blood!

I greet and admire you,

Rizal

I have just received the book and a letter. Day after tomorrow, I shall write you again.

02-236 [Blumentritt V.1]

1887. 06. 10 Geneva

From: Jose Rizal

To: Ferdinand Blumentritt

Rizal will visit “Italy, mother country of European laws.” — Adieu to Dora — Continue sending your photographs — Blumentritt’s interesting pamphlet on Philippine things — “Upon leaving, Europe seems to me more precious.” — Another political and social atmosphere in the Philippines.

* * *

Geneva, 10 June 1887

Dear Friend,

In accordance with my promise I wished to answer your letter yesterday, but there was a change in my travel schedule. I wish yet to pass through Italy, for I would not like to leave Europe without having visited the ancient mother country of European laws. I cannot decide at once, for the expenses are rather large, but as this may perhaps be the last time that I may see free Europe, I will do it with pleasure. So that, if everything goes well, I will leave Geneva on the 20th instant.

My friend and I are very glad that little Dora is better, because her sickness is sometimes dangerous and many children die because of it. “He who knows how to speak German” and “he who knows how to play the cithara” cheerfully bid you goodbye; may she always remain a little angel on earth!

I will not forget to write Mr. Eysert and I believe I ought to send him a photograph. As we have never seen each other, it ought to represent the never-seen visitor.

I have seen the proofs and it seems to me they have turned out well. Neither do I forget you. I earnestly beg you to send me your photograph each time you have one taken so that I can contemplate the image of my friend. I am reading with increasing amazement the last pamphlet you have kindly sent me. Your knowledge of my country and your critical observations surpass everything I have seen or read until this date. You speak of things as if you have seen them personally; e.g., your account of the town of Biñang where I lived for a year and a half and which is not far from my home town. In Biñang, Spanish is not spoken, as the anonymous author says, but a bad Tagalog mixed with many Chinese words, a large part of its inhabitants being Chinese mestizos, and hence its people’s industry, avarice, and fair skin.

I received the book for the Jesuits and I will transmit it personally to Fr. Ricart.

The nearer the moment of my departure approaches the more beautiful Europe seems to me! I tremble when I think of the kind of authorities, employees, laws, ideas, and treatment that I shall encounter in the Philippines. I have already become accustomed to another environment. France and Germany have given me different idea of things!

I greet my friends of the banks of the Elbe and I embrace them in thought.

Your most affectionate friend,

José Rizal

02-237 [Blumentritt V.1]

1887. 06. 13 Geneva

From: Jose Rizal

To: Ferdinand Blumentritt

A picture for Blumentritt and another for Eberhard Eysert who entertained him in Vienna — As a remembrance.

* * *

Geneva, 13 June 1887

Dear Friend,

I am sending you enclosed two photographs and a letter, and I wish to ask you for advice. One of the photographs is for you and the other one I should like to present to Mr. Eberhard Eysert, if you believe it will please him. If you do not believe so, please keep it and do whatever you like with it.

I don’t know Mr. Eberhard Eysert and I don’t know what he will think of me if I take the liberty of sending him a photograph, but what he prepared for us in Vienna certainly deserves more than mere words of acknowledgement.

I will write you many more letters and for that reason I conclude the present one greeting and embracing you fondly.

Rizal

Greetings to good Director Alois Langer.

My friend Viola leaves for Barcelona on the 20th instant.

03-238 [Reformists]