London
Glad to have tidings of Rizal — Has corresponded with Retana and reviewed his publications — His children are doing well in life — At 73 he has to work to add something to his meager pension — Asks Rizal to write on the dialects spoken in Mindanao for publication in the Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society
[The original letter is in English]
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1 Elsworth Terrace, Primrose Hill,
London, N. W. 7 Dec. 1894
MR. JOSE RIZAL
MY DEAR DR. RIZAL,
We were all very glad to have tidings of you, and still cling to the hope to see you here again at no distant date. The gentleman whom you introduced in your letter has not yet communicated with me. I have lately had a good deal of correspondence with Mr. W. E. Retana, whose publications on the Philippine Islands I have reviewed.
You will be glad to learn that Adolf has taken a studio in Newman Street (close to Oxford Street) and is getting on in his profession. He has had several commissions for marble busts. His brother has passed his final examinations for surgery and midwifery, and will go in for his final for medicine in January. If he passes that, he will probably seek employment as ship’s doctor on board a steamer. Little Min keeps house, paints and sings, and attends to her invalid mother. As for myself, I informed you in my last letter how badly I have been treated by the Indian Government in requital for my long and faithful and disinterested services. In order to earn something in addition to my meager pension, I have to work harder in my 73rd year than I have done since my school days: and my eyesight is beginning to fail me.
Could you not employ your enforced leisure in writing some treatises about the various vernaculars spoken in Mindanao and their relations to Tagalog and Bisaya? I could get them printed for the Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society.
We all send you our best remembrance and wishes for your health and welfare.
Ever sincerely yours,
R. Rost
03-835 [Reformists]
1894.?.? ?
From: Julio Llorento
To: Jose Rizal
Llorente sends Rizal a card introducing a Mr. Bracken from Hong Kong
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(No date. 1894 ?)
MR. JOSE RIZAL
DEAR FRIEND RIZAL,
I recommend to you my friend Bracken[1] so that you may treat his eyes.
Your friend,
JULIO LLORENTE
[1] His name was Taufer . Accompanied by Miss Josephine L. Bracken. He arrived at Manila in September 1893 and reached Dapitan in March 1894.