Paris
20 December 1890
Juan Luna
Dear Friend Rizal:
According to Blumentritt, it seems that the sale of his photographs in the Philippines has yielded a pretty good sum and it has been sent to him. This pleases me, because I see that our countrymen are not too indifferent towards who defend us and are humanitarian.
As regards your dispute with Retana, I am sorry it did not go beyond rectification, because those reptiles deserve to be trampled, and if you had reached the ground…. [illegible] at least. They have sent me a clipping of La Voz de España. It is also written by Retana. He says that I am not known is Spain and that he has seen all my paintings, except one, and according to those who know, I do not occupy any notable place among Spanish painters, but on the contrary, I am a painter of the fifth or sixth class! Tell me now what inanities this man says about me and what his judgment is that I should get offended. All this is written to make our countrymen understand that we are… as always of an inferior race and we are always at the tail end.
I am sorry that your family’s case has not been decided yet. This will bring serious troubles to the poor exiles.
I congratulate you on your last article in La Solidaridad.
Antonio writes me that he is so very much discouraged, that he wishes to give up studying. Please advise him and encourage him. That he lacks money to satisfy some comforts should not be the cause of such a general discouragement as he tells me. He does not lack the most essential, nor will he lack it. As for me and our brothers, Pepe and Joaquin, we have done all that we can. Now, it is his turn to do the rest and not to get discouraged about so little. Advise him to study constantly, and not as some of our countrymen do, who study only when examinations are approaching. In short, you know what it is to be a student and all our countrymen students should be inspired by your example, as they are the hope of our people.
A Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
Regards from Paz and Doña Juliana, kisses from the children and an embrace of your friend,
Luna
P.S.
Regards and Merry Christmas to all our friends and countrymen there.
And when are you coming back here?
Do you know something about Ventura? I believe he is there or in Barcelona.
02-592 [Blumentritt V.2]