24 July 1890

Benzeval-Houlgate

Form Touvill to Benzeval – Juan Lina visits Madrid – The Filipino colony: all like before – Through the influence of Antonio Luna the Filipinos have taken up fencing – The fame of being brave and strong – A position for Antonio in La Solidaridad – Painting landscapes or catching shrimps and talanka – Biblioteca–Museo de Ultramar would like copies of Rizal’s works.

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Benzeval-Houlgate 24 July 1890

Juan Luna

Mr. Jose Rizal

Brussels

My Friend Rizal:

Here you have me with my family. It is a bathing place, pretty and not too boisterous as Trouvill, which is about 13 kilometers away.

I spent the month of June in Madrid; I saw almost the entire Filipino colony; all as before, some are studious and others, gamblers and loafers. The good thing is that all of them have taken up fencing through the influence of Antonio, and the Filipinos now enjoy the fame of being brave and strong in the handling of weapons.

Antonio has asked me to write you, knowing that you have great influence in La Solidaridad, if you could employ him there for 8 or 10 pesos a month which he needs for his fencing and other trifles, as he scarcely has any funds. You see that even here we resort to influence and recommendation just not to forget the custom in our native land. I did not wish to speak to del Pilar about it because I do not have enough familiarity with him.

You already know that I am supporting Antonio and his monthly allowance is only 35 duros, so that the position would be of great help to him. As to work, you know that he can do much!

Very soon Trinidad and his family, Tula and family will be there.

We plan to do target shooting with pistol and rifle.

The have written me that you are going to Manila; is it true?

Here I paint landscapes and when I am not, I go on an excursion, hiking to the nearby town. Sometimes I catch shrimps and talanca and my inseparable companion is Luling who now talks like a Frenchman.

Regards from Paz, kisses from Luling and Bibi, and an embrace of your friend

Luna

P.S.

Vigil,[1] director of the Biblioteca-Museo de Ultramar, asks me to tell you that if you would be kind enough to send to the Biblioteca copies of your works, he would appreciate it very much. Let me know your answer.

I was in Toledo with several Filipinos; the excursion was good and instructive.

My address: Maison Guillemete, Benzeval-Houlgate (Calva-dos).

03-564 [Reformists]