Chapter 7

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Paris to Berlin (1885-87) 
Period when Rizal went to Paris and Germany to specialize in ophthalmology
Rizal's reasons for specializing in ophthalmology
He wanted to cure his mother's eye ailment
He served as assistant to famous European oculists
Rizal's activities in Paris, Heidelberg, Leipzig, and Berlin 
Continued his travels and observations of European life and customs, government and laws
Met and befriended several top German scientists
Rizal's merits as a scientist were recognized by the eminent scientists of Europe
Gay Paris (1885-86) 
Period when Rizal went to Paris to acquire more knowledge in ophthalmology
Rizal's activities in Paris
1. Worked as assistant to Dr. Louis de Weckert, leading French ophthalmologist
2. Relaxed by visiting friends like the Pardo de Tavera family, Juan Luna, and Felix Resurreccion Hidalgo
3. Discussed art problems and improved painting technique with Luna
4. Posed as model for Luna's paintings
Rizal as Musician 
Music played an important part in Filipino reunions in Europe
Rizal had no natural aptitude for music but learned to play the flute fairly well
He even composed some songs like "Alin Mang Lahi" and "La Deportacion"
Historic Heidelberg 
City in Germany famous for its old university and romantic surroundings where Rizal stayed
Rizal's activities in Heidelberg 
1. Lived in boarding houses and worked at the University Eye Hospital under Dr. Otto Becker
2. Attended lectures at the University of Heidelberg
3. Visited scenic spots around Heidelberg like the castle, Neckar River, theater, and churches
Rizal: 'Go to my native land, go, foreign flowers.'
Pastor Ullmer at Wilhelmsfeld
Rizal spent a three-month summer vacation at Wilhelmsfeld, a mountainous village near Heidelberg, staying at the vicarage of Pastor Karl Ullmer
Rizal's stay with the Ullmer family 
He felt great joy at being understood by them despite his brown skin
Rizal wrote his first letter in German to Professor Ferdinand Blumentritt 
July 31, 1886
Rizal sent Blumentritt the book "Aritmetica" by Rufino Baltazar Hernandez
Rizal's letter to Blumentritt
It marked the beginning of their long and frequent correspondence, and their lifelong friendship
Rizal was in Heidelberg during the fifth centenary celebration of the University of Heidelberg on August 6, 1886
Rizal's activities after leaving Heidelberg
1. Visited various cities of Germany, attended lectures at the University of Leipzig, befriended Professor Friedrich Ratzel and Dr. Hans Meyer
2. Translated Schiller's "William Tell" from German into Tagalog
Rizal 
The Filipino
Fifth Centenary of Heidelberg University 
August 6, 1886
Rizal was fortunate to be sojourning in Heidelberg when the famous University of Heidelberg held its fifth centenary celebration
Rizal was sad because he had come to love the beautiful city and its hospitable people, as it was three days before his departure
Rizal's diary entry on August 6, 1886: 'Describes the celebration of the fifth centenary of the famous University of Heidelberg'
Rizal left Heidelberg 
August 9, 1886
Rizal's journey after leaving Heidelberg
1. Boarded a train
2. Visited various cities of Germany
3. Arrived in Leipzig on August 14, 1886
Rizal attended some lectures at the University of Leipzig on history and psychology
Rizal's friends in Leipzig
Professor Friedrich Ratzel (famous German historian)
Dr. Hans Meyer (German anthropologist)
Rizal's activities in Leipzig
1. Translated Schiller's William Tell from German into Tagalog
2. Translated Hans Christian Andersen's Fairy Tales into Tagalog for his nephews and nieces
Rizal found out that the cost of living in Leipzig was cheapest in Europe so that he stayed two months and a half in this German city
Rizal's activities in Leipzig
1. Corrected some chapters of his second novel
2. Performed daily physical exercises at the city gymnasium
3. Worked as proof-reader in a publisher's firm, thereby earning some money
Rizal left Leipzig for Dresden
October 29
Rizal met Dr. Adolph B. Meyer, Director of the Anthropological and Ethnological Museum, in Dresden
Rizal was impressed by the Mass he heard in a Catholic church in Dresden, describing it as having "greater sublimity and intonation"
Rizal left Dresden by train, reaching Berlin in the evening 
November 1
Rizal's impressions of Berlin 
He was enchanted by Berlin because of its scientific atmosphere and the absence of race prejudice
Rizal's contacts in Berlin
Met Dr. Feodor Jagor (celebrated German scientist-traveler and author of Travels in the Philippines)
Met Dr. Rudolf Virchow (famous German anthropologist) and his son Dr. Hans Virchow (professor of Descriptive Anatomy)
Met Dr. W. Joest (noted German geographer)
Worked in the clinic of Dr. Karl Ernest Schweigger (famous German ophthalmologist)
Rizal became a member of the Anthropological Society, the Ethnological Society, and the Geographical Society of Berlin, upon recommendation of Dr. Jagor and Dr. Meyer
Rizal was the first Asian to be accorded such honors by Europe's scientists
Rizal's lecture in Berlin
1. Dr. Virchow invited Rizal to give a lecture before the Ethnographic Society of Berlin
2. Rizal wrote a scholarly paper in German, entitled Tagalische Verkunst (Tagalog Metrical Art), which he read before the society in April 1887
3. The paper was published by the society in the same year and elicited favorable comments from all scientific quarters
Rizal's reasons for living in Berlin
To gain further knowledge of ophthalmology
To further his studies of sciences 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's daily routine in Berlin
Worked as an assistant in the clinic of Dr. Schweigger during the day
Attended lectures at the University of Berlin at night
Kept himself in physical trim by daily exercises and practised speaking German, French, and Italian
Took private lessons under a professor of French, Madame Lucie Cerdole, to master the idiomatic intricacies of the French language