Chapter 7 Paris To Berlin
Chapter 7 Paris To Berlin
Chapter 7 Paris To Berlin
Blumentritt (best friend of Rizal) – Austrian ethnologist and has interest in Philippine Languages.
Sent with the book entitled “Aritmetica”: published in 2 languages – Spanish and Tagalog – by the
University of Santo Tomas Press in 1868. Author: Rufino Baltazar Hernandez, a native of Santa
Cruz, Laguna
Impressed by Rizal’s letter, he gave Rizal 2 books
5th Centenary of Heilderberg University, August 6, 1886.
3days before his departure. Sad because he had come to love the beautiful city and the hospitable
people.
Celebrated Festung in the morning. Bugmuller (famous student) dressed as Frederick the
Victorious. Lieberman as a gentleman in 17th century. Gregoire as wolf of Schwahen. Last night
was Schlorsfest
In Leipzig and Dresden (August 9, 1886) boarded a train and visited many cities in Germany
Arrived at Leipzig (August 14, 1886) attended lectures in History and psychology at University
of Leipzig.
Befriended Prof Friedrich Ratzel (famous German historian) and Dr. Hans Meyer (German
Anthropologist)
Translated Schiller’s William Tell from German to Tagalog so that Filipinos might know the
story of the champion of Swiss independence. Also translated Hans Christian Andersen’s Fairy
tales for his nephews and nieces.
October 29 left Leipzig for Dresden. Met Dr. Adolph B. Meyer – director of the anthropological
and ethnological museum.
Heard mass in a Catholic Church and was impressed.
November 1 left Dresden by train and reached Berlin in the evening.
Rizal welcomed in Berlin’s scientific Circles
Met for the first time Dr. Feodor Jagor. Had a letter of introduction by Bluementritt for him.
Was introduced to Dr. Rudolf Virchow (famous German Anthropologist), and his son Dr. Hans
Virchow (prof of Descriptive Anatomy). Also met Dr. W. Joest (German geographer)
Worked in the clinic of Dr. Karl Ernest Schweigger (famous German ophthalmologist)
Became member of the Anthropological Society, ethnological Society, and Geographical Society
Berlin
1st Asian to be recognized by Europe’s scientists.
Invited to give lecture in response he wrote scholarly paper entitled tagalische verkunst (tagalog
metrical art)
Rizal’s life in Berlin
Reasons for living in Berlin:
To gain further knowledge of ophthalmology
To further his studies of sciences and languages
To observe the economic had political conditions of German Nation
To associate w/ famous German Scientists and Scholar
To publish Noli Me Tangere
In the morning as assistant to Dr. Schweigger and at night attended lectures in the University of Berlin
Took private lessons under a professor of French, Madame Lucie Cerdole, to master the idiomatic
intricacies of the French Language.
Unter den Linden – most popular boulevard of Berlin. Rizal enjoyed promenading.
Rizal on German Women: Letter to Trinidad (March 11, 1886). German woman is serious, diligent,
educated and friendly. Not gossipy, frivolous and quarrelsome like Spanish woman.
German Customs: Christmas custom delighted him most. And self-introduction of a German when
nobody wil introduce him.
Rizal’s darkest winter: 1886 in Berlin. He lived in poverty because no money arrived from Calamba
and he was flat broke. The diamond ring which his sister, Saturnina, gave him was in the pawnshop.
He could not pay his landlord and had to scrimp eating only one meal a dat *bread and water or some
cheap vegetable soup).