7 July 1892

Gand

7 July 1892

MY VERY DEAR FRIEND:

I received your letter and I wrote at once to Mr. Valcke about your order. This gentleman replied that on the 25th of last month, two packages left Anvers [Antwerp] addressed to you, containing all your orders.

Through the note that I sent you, you must have learned already of the loss which we have just suffered. Mr. Abreu has left us too soon, a victim of galloping tuberculosis, and all the cares that we lavished on him had been futile. I never believed that his slight indisposition of which he complained at the beginning could have so fatal a result.

In my last letter I told you that his sickness was not serious, and when the doctor told me of the gravity of his ailment, I could not believe it, I hardly had time to send a telegram to his poor family.

He died as he lived; that is to say, serene and affable. Until his last moments his mind remained lucid, speaking about the journey that he planned to undertake in order to return to our country. But death has prevented him from carrying out such rosy plans!

To all of us, the death of a friend like Abreu is cruel, because it will be hard to find a young man so pleasant and agreeable as he was. Indeed, it is very sad to die young, having before him a beautiful and rosy future! I cannot imagine the sorrow of his poor parents on receiving such news.

But although he died far from his family, he was very well taken care of by all, especially by Madame[1] who did not leave his bedside during his illness. I have written his parents about Madame’s services so that they may express to her their gratitude.

The rector, the inspector, and all the liberal professors attended his civil funeral, as I did not like to give the priests even a cent. The foreign students have been very attentive to us, sending very beautiful wreaths so that his casket was covered with flowers.

The ribbons were held by four foreign students, representing their respective countries. In spite of the rain which was then falling, they did not like to ride so as not to leave the casket alone.

At this moment, the owners of the house have just presented me their bill for damages, for the purchase of a new bed, etc. etc., that amounts to 500 francs, including the services rendered to Mr. Abreu.

My father has written me again concerning the conduct of your affairs, but I have already informed him of your plans and your opinions.

As to the second edition of your work, I will attend to it as soon as my examinations are finished because now, I am very busy, having lost much time with the illness and death of our mourned Abreu. The examination will take place within ten days and I believe I shall be the only one who will take them because the others will wait until September.

I beg you to please give my greetings to your family as well as to our other compatriots. With a handshake from

J. ALEJANDRO[2]

02-754 [Blumentritt V.2]