Rizal in Berlin Chapter 7

Rizal in Brunn 19 May 1887 Rizal bade goodbye to Prof. Dr. Willkomn, State Adviser in Brunn. The lovable daughter of the professor reproached Rizal for not having told them of his artistic and poetic talents which they read in Bohemia, a newspaper published in Prague. They left Brunn this day.

Rizal in Berlin, Germany 1 November 1886 At 1:25 P.M., Rizal arrived at Berlin and boarded at the Central Hotel. 2 November 1886 Rizal wrote a letter to his friend Pastor Karl Ullmer informing the latter of his arrival at the big German capital the day before. He wrote: "Remembrances to your loving wife, Eta and to Friedrich." 4 November 1886 In a letter he informed Prof. Blumentritt about his meeting with Dr. A.B. Meyer last October 31 in Dresden. He was already residing at Jaeger Straesse 71,111. 9 November 1886 He was admitted to the Real Biblioteca de Berlin to do some research and to read other books. His admission ended on March 1,1887. 22 November 1886 In a letter, he informed Pro. Blumentritt that he had already sent to his nephews in the Philippines the tragedies of Schiller and the stories of anderson, which he translated into Tagalog. 27 November 1886 He made a small outline of the Teruray, dialect of the binhabitants of the Western coast of Mindanao,which he later sent to Prof. Blumentritt. 11 December 1886 Maximo Viola joined Rizal in Berlin. Rizal was not able to meet Viola at the station because the former was sick. 12 December 1886 Early in the morning Rizal visited Viola at the Central Hotel. They took breakfast together I the restaurant below then hotel. 15 December 1886 He started teaching Viola the German language. 23 December 1886 He started dreaming of his mother. 24 December 1886 Rizal was high spirit although he just recovered from sickness. He was very happy to be with Maximo Viola. He finished translating one third of the book Waitz. 25 December 1886 Rizal wrote his mother: "It is three times now that I constantly dream you and sometimes the dreaam repeats itself in a single night. I would not like to superstitious even if the Bible and the Gospel believe dreams, but I like to believe that you are thinking constantly me and this makes my mind reproduce what goes on in you for after all my brain is a part of yours, and this is not stran because while I am asleep here, you are awake there." 27 December 1886 He was required by the German police to provide himself with the necessary passports or the risk of being expelled from German soil after three weeks.

30 December 1886 In a letter, told Prof. Blumentritt, of a plan of Maximo Viola to cope with him to Leitmeritz during his visit there. 31 December 1886 A certain Captain and ex-aide of Geneva Moltke of the French-pruss War invited Rizal to his home to celebrate the incoming New Year. Before this fiesta, Rizal bought a pair of chin pitchers, painting them figure of an old man representing the outgoing year and a boy personifying the incoming year. January 1887 He became a member of the Ethnographic Society of Berlin in whose meeting he had the rare opportunity of hearing the interesting lecture of Dr. Donitz on pre-historic Japanese tombs which contained sets of dishes and other decorations. 11 January 1887 He met personally Dr. Teodor Jagor who invited him to attend the monthly luncheon of the member of the Geographic Society. In one of luncheons, he came to know the famous Virchow, president of the Anthropological Society of Berlin. 24 January 1887 He was again sick of fever and in the evening had stopped working on the novel. If not for Maximo Viola, he would have transferred to Italy where according to him the climate was healthful. 26 January 1887 He planned to translate the book of travels of Dr. Jagor as soon as he would finish translating the book of Waitz. By spring, he hoped to finish this works. 7 February 1887 He was very busy this day and the previous days going to the clinic and making some clinical investigations. In the house, he was occupied reading the copies of the Globus sent him Prof. Blumentritt. February 1887 He became a member of the Anthropological Society and the Geographic Society of Berlin. 21 February 1887 He communicated to Evaristo Aguirre telling the latter that the novel Noli was being rushed for publication. He requested Aguirre not to divulge the real title "Sampagas". At 11:30 in the evening, he finished writing the novel. 1 March 1887 His admission to Real Biblioteca, where he used to read the books about the Philippines, expired on this day. 5 March 1887 Rizal translated into French the "History of a Mother" by Andersen written in German. 21 March 1887 Copies of his novel came off the press. He sent one copy to Prof. Blumentritt. In a letter of his Austrian friend, he say it was the first impartial and daring book to be written on the life of the Tagalogs. He opined that the Spanish authorities and the friar would attack the book. 29 March 1887 In grateful appreciation of Maximo Viola’s pecuniary aid, Rizal presented him the last galley proofs and the first bound copy with this dedication: "To my dear friend, Maximo Viola, the first to read and appreciate my work- Jose Rizal, March 29, 1887, Berlin." April 1887 Rizal read before the Ethnographic Society of Berlin the "Arte Metrica del Tagalog", a thesis submitted by him to become a member of the same society in the same year. 12 April 1887 He received a gift from Blumentritt. It was an Ethno-graphic map of Central Mindanao published by the Cartographic Institute of Gotha. 13 April 1887 With Maximo Viola, Rizal studied the map sent him by Prof. Blumentritt. He said it is very necessary for every one to know first his own country- "Nosce te ipsum". He considered the Filipinos unfortunate because they had to receive new

knowledge about themselves from foreigners. 24 April 1887 He was happy to receive the letter of pardon from his beloved father. He definitely decided to go home and help his folks. – Later he sent an advance notice to Prof Blumentritt of their coming visit to Leitmeritz. April 1887 By the end of April, Rizal left in Berlin for Dresden where the most famous "Musco Etnografico" was located. He met there the wise Filipinoogist director of the museum, Dr. A. B. Meyer, uthor of the excellent monographs. 11 May 1887 Accompanied by Maximo Viola, Rizal left Berlin to visit the cities of Eurupe, including Dresden, Leitmeritz, Prague, Vienna, Munich, Nuremberg, Ulm, Lausanne, and Geneva.

Rizal in Leitmeritz, Bohemia 13 May 1887 Rizal and Viola arrived at Leitmeritz at 1:30 in the afternoon. They were met at the station by Prof. Blumentritt who conducted them to the Krebs Hotel, Room No. 12. 14 May1887 Rizal and Viola attended the session of the Board of Directors of the Tourist Club in Leitmeritz thru the invitation of Prof. Blumentritt who was the club secretary. They were cordially received by the President of the Club, Jose Krombholz. Rizal delivered an extemporaneous speech in German, which was very much applauded by the audience for his fluency. 15 May 1887 With Prof. Blumentritt as their guide, Rizal and Viola visited the churches , the residence of the Bishop and other important buildings of the city. They also visited the special friend of Prof. Blumentritt, Dr. Carlos Czepelak, who wanted very much to see Rizal personally. 16 May 1887 Professor Roberto Klutschak invited Rizal, Viola, and Prof Blumentritt to dine in his house , and in the evening in return, Rizal and Viola invited them in Krebs Hotel. At 9:45 that same evening Rizal And Viola , accompanied by the whole family of Prof. Blumentritt and Prof. Kluschk, left Leitmeritz for Prague.

RIZAL Chapter7-Paris to Berlin

Chapter 7 Paris to Berlin (1885-87)  Rizal went to Paris and Germany in order to specialize in ophthalmology.  He chose this branch because he wanted to cure his mother’s eye ailment. In Gay Paris (1885-86)  After studying at the Central University of Madrid, Rizal, who was then 24 yrs old, went to Paris to acquire more knowledge in ophthalmology.  Maximo Viola – a medical student and a member of a rich family of San Miguel, Bulacan  Señor Eusebio Corominas – editor of La Publicidad  Don Miguel Morayta – owner of La Publicidad and a statesman  Rizal gave Editor Corominas (an article on the Carolines Question)  November 1885 – Rizal was living in Paris  He worked as an assistant to Dr. Louis de Weckert, a leading French ophthalmologist.

 Juan Luna – great master of the brush; Rizal helped him by posing as model in Luna’s paintings. 1. “The Death of Cleopatra” – where Rizal posed as an Egyptian priest 2. “The Blood Compact” – Rizal posed as Sikatuna Rizal as Musician  Rizal had no natural aptitude for music, and this he admitted. He studied music only because many of his schoolmates at Ateneo were taking music lessons.  He told Enrique Lete that he “learned the solfeggio, piano, and voice culture in one month and a half”.  He is also a flutist.  Some of his compositions are:  Alin Mang Lahi (Any Race) – a pariotic song which asserts that any race aspires for freedom  La Deportacion (Deportation) – a sad danza, composed in Dapitan In Historic Heidelberg  February 3, 1886 – Rizal arrived in Heidelberg, a historic city in Germany famous for its old university and romantics surroundings.  He became popular among the Germans because they found out that he was a good chess player.  He worked at the University Eye Hospital under the direction of Dr. Otto Becker, distinguished German ophthalmologist. “To the Flowers of Heidelberg”  April 22, 1886 – Rizal wrote a fine poem entitled “A Las Flores de Heidelberg” (To the Flowers of Heidelberg) because he was fascinated by the blooming flowers along the Neckar River, which is the light blue flower called “forget-me-not”. With Pastor Ullmer at Wilhelmsfeld  Rizal spent a three-month summer vacation at Wilhelmsfeld where he stayed at the place of a Protestant pastor, Dr. Karl Ullmer. The pastor has a wife and two children named Etta and Fritz. First Letter to Blumentritt

 July 31, 1886 – Rizal wrote his first letter to Professor Ferdinand Blumentritt who is the Director of the Ateneo of Leitmeritz, Austria.  Blumentritt is an Austrian ethnologist and he has an interest in the Philippine language.  Rizal sent Aritmetica (Arithmetic) book to Blumentritt which was published in 2 languages – Spanish and Tagalog – by the University of Santo Tomas Press in 1868. The author was Rufino Baltazar Hernandez.  Blumentritt became the best friend of Rizal. Fifth Centenary of Heidelberg University  The famous University of Heidelberg held its fifth centenary celebration on August 6, 1886 where Rizal had witnessed the said celebration. In Leipzig and Dresden  August 14, 1886 – Rizal arrived in Leipzig  He attended some lectures at the University of Leipzig on history and psychology.  He befriended Prof. Friedrich Ratzel, a famous historian, and Dr. Hans Meyer, German anthropologist.  Rizal found out that the cost of living in Leipzig was the cheapest in Europe so he stayed for 2 months and a half.  On October 29, he went to Dresden, where he met Dr. Adolph B. Meyer, the Director of the Anthropological and Ethnological Museum. Rizal Welcomed in Berlin’s Scientific Circles  Rizal was enchanted by Berlin because of its scientific atmosphere and the absence of race prejudice.  Some scientists Rizal met are:  Dr. Feodor Jagor – German scientist-traveler and author of Travels in the Philippines  Dr. Rudolf Virchow – famous German anthropologist  Dr. W. Joest – German geographer  Dr. Karl Ernest Schweigger – famous German ophthalmologist Rizal’s Life in Berlin  Five reasons why Rizal stayed in Berlin:  To gain further knowledge of ophthalmology  To further his studies of science and languages

 To observe the economic and political conditions of the German nation  To associate with famous German scientists and scholars  To publish his novel, Noli Me Tangere  Rizal worked as an assistant in the clinic of Dr. Scweigger, and at night, he attended lectures in the University of Berlin.  He also took private lessons in French under Madame Lucie Cerdole. Rizal on German Women  Rizal sent a letter to his sister, Trinidad, dated on March 11, 1886. In his letter, Rizal expressed his high regard and admiration for German womanhood. Rizal said that German woman is serious, diligent, educated and friendly. German Customs  Some of the German customs Rizal admired:  On Yuletide season, people will select a pine tree from the bushes and adorned it with lanterns, papers, lights, dolls, candies, fruits, etc.  Self-introduction to strangers in a social gathering. Rizal’s Darkest Winter      

The winter of 1886 in Berlin was his darkest winter. He lived in poverty because no money arrived from Calamba and he was flat broke. He could not pay his landlord and he was eating only one meal a day. His clothes were old and threadbare. His health broke down due to lack of proper nourishment. This is one of the most memorable days in the life of Rizal.