Tokyo
Tokyo, 14 March 1888
Dear Friend,
I hope you have already received my first letter from this country of the sun. In it I was telling you about the Europeanization of this empire. Now I know it a little better because I made a trip to the interior which delighted me very much.
The hotel where I was staying was a little uncomfortable, hence I transferred to the Spanish Legation. I knew Mr. Juan Pérez Caballero who is a very fine young man and an excellent writer. As he is interested in the Philippines, I told him about you and your works and he expressed a desire to deal with you directly.
He is the secretary of the Spanish Legation in Tokyo, a very able diplomat who has traveled a great deal. It could be possible that you would hear from him through the Spanish Embassy in Vienna. He wanted to do it in my name, but I don’t greet with somebody else’s hat.[1]
I don’t know if I shall be in Europe at the beginning of May. My friends wish me to stay here until April.
I greet you heartily.
Your faithful friend,
Rizal
05-289 [100 Letters]
[1] A literal translation of the Spanish saying, No saludo con sombrero ajeno, which means “I don’t bask in reflected glory.”