. :Chapter 10: .

Rizal in France and Germany

By Gonzalez, Frederick Joseph F.

After finishing his studies in Madrid, Rizal decided:

To leave the Spanish capital, Move to France and Germany

This was due to his desire to specialize in ophthalmology. This was prompted by his desire to cure the eye ailment that affected his mother. He continued his observations of the government, laws, customs and traditions of these countries.

Rizal in Paris ( 1885 1886)

Rizal was;
Already 24 years old. A full-pledged surgeon

Before leaving for Paris, he went to Barcelona, to visit Maximo Viola, a medical student from San Miguel, Bulacan. They made plans to have a tour of Europe after Rizal finished his studies in France and Germany.

 Rizal worked as an assistant at the eye clinic of Dr. Louis de Wecker, for 4 months. He learned from the doctor:
The actual performance of eye operation Recent studies on the ailment of the eyes Various techniwues of eye operation

 Outside his work, he took time to visit his fellow Filipinos in the city. He frequented the residences of:
Felix R. Hidalgo Pardo de Tayera Juan Luna

His frequent contacts with the other Filipinos in the city, contributed in his ability to learn and speak French fluently.

 For some time, Rizal stayed with Juan Luna in the latters studionin Paris. He became a model for Luna for two historical cancasses,
The Blood Compact
The Sikatuna

The Death of Cleopatra

A priest

Before leaving, he had finished of the Noli Me Tangere. His first noval.

The Blood Compact by Juan Luna

Death of Cleopatra by Juan Luna

Rizal in Heidelberg, Germany

To The Flower Of Heildelberg

Go to my native land, go foreign flowers. Sown by the traveler on his way And there beneath, its asures sky Where all my affections lie; There from the weary pilgrim say, What faith is his that land of ours!

Go there and tell how when the dawn , Her early light diffusing, Your petals first flung open wide; His step beside chill Neckar drawn, You see him silent by your side, Upon its spring perennial musing.

Saw how when mornings light, All your fragrance stealing Whispers to you as in mirth, Playful songs of Loves delight, He too, murmurs his loves feeling In the tongue he learned at birth.

That when the sun of Keeningstuhls height Pours out its golden flood, And with its slowly warming light Gives life to vale and grove and wood, He greets the sun here only upraising, Which in his native land is at its zenith blazing.

And tell there of that day he stood, Near to ruind castle gray By Neckars backs or shady wood, He greets that sun, here only upraising, Which in his native land is at its zenith blazing.

But then, O flowers, loves message bear, My love to all the lovd ones there, Peace to my country fruitful land Faith whereon its sons may stand, And virtue for its daughters care; All those beloved creatures greet, That still around homes altar meet.

And when you come unto its shore, This kiss I now no you bestow, Fling where the winged breezes blow, That borne on them it may hover oer All that I love , esteem and adore.

But thought, O flowers, you come unto that land, And still perchance your colors hold; So far from this heroic strand, Whose soil first bade your life unfold Still here your fragrance will expand Your soul that never quits on earth Whose light smiled on you at your birth.

 As pointed out by Dizon (1961), the poem is of two of the greatest loves of man on earth.
A poem of remembrance, and A poem of the motherland.

Closely read the poem, Rizal, expressed his longing for his native land and commanded the flowers of Heidelberg, forget-me-nots, to go to the philippines and tell his country-men and loved ones of his love for his country.

Summer Vaction at Wthelmsfeld

After composing the poem, he took 3 months vacation at wthelmsfeld, a mountainous village. He meet Dr. Karl Ulmer, a pastor of vicarage of Wilhelmsfeld. His vacation was said to be an enjoyable one. He returned on June 2, 1886 He also learned of the religious tolerance the people practice in the area.

First Correspondence with Blumentritt

After his summer vacation, on July 31, 1886, Rizal sent his first correspondence with Ferdinand Blumentritt. He was impelled to write Blumentritt for the latters interest in ethnology and Philippines language. A book called Aritmetica by Rufino Baltazar Hernandez, accompanied the letter.

 Blumrntritt, Director of the Ateneo of Leimeritz, was impressed with this correspondence. It marked the beinging of the frequent communication between the two through the writing. And a lasting friendship between the two.

Rizal to Leipzig and Dresden