Paris
Rizal hasn’t heard from home for a long time – He sends four copies of his edition of Morga to the Philippines – Doña is not resentful of Roxas – Rizal will move to Germany – Will send more if the books is admitted without difficulty – Don Florentino Torres has poor impression of the Filipino students at Madrid – Rizal enjoins his fellow Filipinos to be virtuous and industrious.
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45 Rue de Maubeuge, Paris
28 December 1889
MY DEAR FRIEND ROXAS,
I received your precious letter and I thank you for all that you tell me in it.
Your letter arrived very timely, for I was quite worried for not having received letters from my family for a long time, since the month of July, and the cost of printing my book was embarrassing me.
Today I sent to Lipa four copies of Morga. Later I will send some more.
Doña Tula is not at all resentful of you, so much that at the party they gave here, they talked about you and Aguilera, and Paz told me before that when you come, you bring her toasted and salted almonds that she and Heloisa like very much.
On the 4th or 5th of January I leave for London to get my things from there I am going to Germany. Form there I shall write you.
When I find out that copies of Morga arrive there without difficulty, I shall send you three copies by parcel post.
Those that I sent have not arrived apparently, for I have not received any acknowledgment.
Pleas thank all good friends who telegraphed. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.
Don Florentino Torres leaves for Manila with very poor impressions of the Filipino colony at Madrid. He says that the Filipino youth at the capital city think only of amusing themselves and it is not because they lack either ability or talent (and he cited to me the names of Dimayuga, Abreu, and Alejandrino) but because they have too much money. He adds besides that Spaniards have given him the bad information. It seems that he goes there to influence his friends not to send their sons to Europe.
Let us see if you can preach to them with your example. Precisely at the present moments, when we are engaged in a struggle, it is necessary to redouble all our efforts, it is necessary to sacrifice everything for the welfare of our native land. Without virtue there is no liberty. I try to address myself to all the Filipinos to interest them to reform the spirit of the colony, to create an industrious and studious colony. Thus I address myself to Aguilera, Llorente, Bautista. Only virtues can redeem the slave. It is the only way to make the tyrants respect us and foreigners to make a common cause with us.
Please give my regards to all the I. B’s.
You know you have a friend in me.
RIZAL
03-480 [Reformists]