There are twelve known letters from José Antonio Ramos Sucre to his younger brother Lorenzo. Now these three new ones are added, previously cited partially in the biography of the poet, granted by the person who keeps them fervently, his niece and goddaughter Chela Ramos González. Other threads of a life whose framework is, secretly, his own oeuvre.
Alba Rosa Hernández Bossio
I
Caracas 11/12/1924
Mr. Lorenzo Ramos
Agencia Banco de Venezuela,
Maracaibo.-
Dear Lorenzo.-
I’m warning you, you should economize urgently, without bothering to give me things. I don’t want nor do I accept gifts. You should establish your house as a bulwark... I insist you should have your own house in Caracas. Otherwise, the campaign of living becomes depressive, anguished.
Our great-grandfather, Miguel Ramos, didn’t come with Morillo; he was born in Cumanacoa around 1770 and 1780, and was its mayor when Humboldt visited in 1799. He was a captain of the white militias of the place when independence began. The Mariscal’s father, colonel Vicente Sucre, accepts our great-grandfather into his army and names him the captain of the white militias don Miguel Ramos. I have the document, published years ago. This same gentleman was married to María Josefa González Velásquez, descendants of the primitive inhabitants of Cubagua, a white person born in the town of San Juan, on the island of Margarita. So we are relatives of doctor Carlos Manuel Velásquez, distinguished surgeon from Caracas, whose father was called Juan Manuel like Blanca’s grandfather.
Many of the principal ladies of Caracas and Cumaná had sons with officers of Morillo. Eliso Silva Díaz tells me that don Silverio was a relative through his father the colonel Tomás García, the one from Valencey.
José, Trinita and sons arrived in Caracas yesterday, at mother’s house.
I will attend to them.
Greetings to your people, goodbye.
J.A.R.S
(Typewritten letter, with the farewell and signature by hand)
II
Caracas: December 23 of 1924
Mr. Lorenzo Ramos
Banco de Venezuela,
Maracaibo
Dear Lorenzo:
I’ve spoken with Lara about you. He warns that he and Lecuna are willing to improve you substantially. This means you can correspond with them about your situation and occupy me with the same purpose.
I repeat that you must economize with a passion. You should set aside the price of a house in Caracas.
I destined the portrait of the niece to mark the books I study. I can conceive of no greater destiny. You know I have nowhere to keep portraits. I like the look. Right now I’m warning you a woman should be English by education. The English language proportions to her a salary and allows her to read and instruct herself. The books that women can read are only written in English.
The child should possess a healthy organism. The best thing is to sleep and eat and that its corporal functions are verified immediately to have the regularity of a clock. Don’t even think about fleeing the sun and air. You should only run away from immmoral acts, from shamelessness and immodesty.
Take care of yourself. Be discreet. Don’t ever call attention to yourself. Live within the four walls of your house.
I cordially greet you and yours and wish you prosperity.
José Antonio
(Typewritten letter, including the signature)
III
Money lets you
work without joy
Caracas 6/13/28
Mr. Lorenzo Ramos.
Economize
Banco de Venezuela,
Maracay-
You always have to work
but without joy
Dear Lorenzo:
I received your letter and account. I recommend that in your letters you don’t make jokes of any kind, no matter how innocent you might think they are, with characters. Always be in charge and make sure your letters are open. —Discrete tongue.—
You have to be honest. Which doesn’t imply being dumb. Respect and attend to everyone. It’s possible the most reliable source of good will is the friendliness we might have awakened in others.
Greetings to Blanca, Doña Luisa and kisses to the dolls.
Send me with all your trust.
Magnificent letter by Jesús
J.A.R.S
(Typewritten letter with handwritten phrases, along with signature. Luisa Pregal de González Mármol is Lorenzo’s mother-in-law)
{ Alba Rosa Hernández Bossio, Papel Literario, El Nacional, 9 June 2007 }
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