21 September 1889

Paris

Last month of the Exposition — Between 60 to 100 Filipinos, including servants and maids, present in Paris — A list of names of those present — Advice of lawyers: do not pay the rent — The case can be raised to the Supreme Tribunal — Wishes for news about his sisters — A student from Malabon had an eye operation — Meeting with Moret — News about his compatriots and life in Paris.

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Paris, Rue de Maubenge

September 21, 1889

My dear Parents and Brothers:

It is beginning to get cold here little by little. The Exposition that is going to close within two months is attracting very many people, so much so that from the Philippines alone we are at least sixty or one hundred here including the servants and maids.

Roxas -7 Juan Reyes -1

Servants -2 Lorenzo Tuason -1

Rocha -3 Abarca -1

Mar Lecaros -1 Plaridel -1

Pardo -6 Ventura -1

Luna -6 Aguirre -1

Tula -5 Esquivel -1

Cajigas -1

Nalda -4 Hidalgo

Pozas y Casas -7 Paterno -1

Isabel Tuason -1 Bautista -1

Aguilera -1 Almonte -1

Dimayuga -1 Jackson -1

Roxas -1 Nolis -2

Boustead -5

Rizal -1

There are others whom we met but we did not talk to them.

With respect to the question of the estate, I have consulted some lawyers here, and what they have advised me is the following: do not pay the rent and when the estate demands payment, you ask that it show its titles of ownership and then the matter can be discussed

and examined. At all events, the question can be raised to the Supreme Tribunal. This will not prevent us here from writing a pamphlet referring to this question with all the necessary data that we may have on hand.

When you write to me, please tell me about Pangoy, Trining and Choleng for I do not know anything of what is happening to them. The one from Malabon arrived here, whom I treated in the days before I left. He arrived the day before yesterday and yesterday I brought him to the clinic and they operated on him; they made the same operation which I told him they were going to perform on him, what I did on that one from Pateros, on my mother, etc. They charged him $300, but for certain considerations they made him pay 100 pesos. I told my professor that he being a student and having come from so far, he had already spent too much in his trip. They talked to me about you.

Last mail I sent pictures to Trozo so that you may have one.

Moret came here and wanted to see the author of Noli Me Tangere; as a consequence, I presented myself to him; I said nothing for it was not the occasion to ask for anything, nor to complain, and he offered himself.

The family of Roxas is going to London. Don Pedro is a very amiable and very distinguished gentleman.

Pedro Paterno is very ill; the unhappy fellow is hunchback and very pale due to so much suffering.

Hidalgo won a second prize medal[1] in the Exposition: Luna[2] and Felix Pardo[3] two third prize medals.

We Filipinos gather four times a week and we sing the Kundiman,[4] we eat sotangjon,[5] adobo,[6] etc. On Wednesdays in the house of Da. Tula, on Thursdays in the house of Hidalgo, on Fridays in the house of Mme. Boustead, on Saturdays in the house of Luna, on Sundays in the house of Da. Juliana.[7]

I have no more news to give you and I am much m a hurry.

Love to all: I kiss the hands of our parents and embraces to the sisters.

Yours,

JOSE RIZAL

Have a little faith and patience for good and peaceful days shall come.

03-441 [Reformists]