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DURING the reign of princes іп Ukraine, the province of Buko- vina which is now under the do- mination of Roumania was known as Ukrainian territory. In the 13th century it was occupied by the Tartars. In the 16th century it was subjected to the rule of the Turks and this period is known as one of complete darkness, for the inhabitants knew no education. In the year of 1775 Austria be- came the ruler of Bukovina and as a result conditions were im- proved. Schools were organized, but they were limited to the teaching of the German and Roumanian languages. In 1786 Bukovina was annexed to Ga- licia and the Polish language was introduced into the schoois. The Ukrainian language was not allowed to be used until the year 1808. Beginning with this point, Ukrainian consciousness w a 5 slowly aroused and a few writers began to use the Ukrainian language. in their literary works. But the man who really awakened Bukovina and forced its inhabit- ants, through the medium of his literary efforts, to realize that they were Ukrainians, was Osyp Juri Fedkowich, popularly known as the “Nightingale of Bukovina.” Fedkowich was born in 1834. As a child, his sensitive soul was deep- ly impressed by his surroundings. The numerous fairy tales and sto- ries related to him by his sister and the great and imposing beauty of the Carpathian Mountains in the midst of which Fedkowich lived, stirred his imagination and aroused his poetical talents. A mere youngster of fifteen, he began to write poetry in the German language, influenced by his study of the German literature and his German acquaintances, At the age of 19, Fedkowich was persuaded by his father to join the army, During ten years of military service he had a: time to become acquainted’ w th the monotonous routine of the army and the horrors of war. This was not a fitting environment for a young poet and it is not surpris- ing that Fedkowich came to de- spise the army. But it was in the Osyp Juri Fedkowich course of his army life that he хе his first Ukrainian poem, Hed “Nichlih.” Several well-known German poets and authors were close friends of Fedkowich. Their high regard for his German poetry induced him to continue writing in German and in time he might have been complet- ly lost for the Ukrainians. But his chance meeting with two рготі- nent Ukrainians, Antin Kobylan- sky and Kost Horbal, saved him for the Ukrainians. From that time on, Fedkowich wrote almost e: ciusively in the Ukrainian language. In 1862 Fedkowich became very ill. After recovering, he left the army, discarded his uniform and donned the peasant attire of a Hutzul-mountaineer. Then he re- turned to his mother’s small estate in the Carpathian Mountains. There he dwelt, enjoying the company of 30 і beloved books and trying his hand at farming. There he gained the respect and love of his neighbors ard the village folks who elected him mayor (wiyt) of the village. But administrative matters did not prevent Fedkowich from con- tinuing his literary work. He be- came interested in pedagogy and prepared a primer for the use of school children. Later he was appointed school inspector for the county of Wyzniw and serv- ed in that capacity for two years. In 1872, Fedkowich was cal- led to Ly to fill the position of editor of “Prosvita.” At this time he wrote numerous pamph- lets dealing with popular sub- jects and also prepared plays for the Ukrainian theater. But because of a misunderstanding with some of his associates he esigned from this position and returned to Putyliv, his birth- place. After the death of his father, which followed soon after, he went to Cherniwei to live in the house willed to him by his father. There he spent ten years devoting himself to the study of astrology. Later he worked on the editorial staff of the newspaper “Bukovina.” He also assisted in the publication of the “Library for the Youth.” At this time he published much of both his beautiful prose and poetry which gained him the title of the “Nightingale.” In 1886 the Ukrainians of Cher- ci, the capital of Bukovina, ra Fedkowich on the oc- casion of the 25th anniversary of his literary activities. Many sincere messages of acclamation came from the Ukrainians of Galicia. Fedko- wich, animated and encouraged, was eager to delve into new work but the Grim Reaper upset his plans. He died unexpectedly, Jan- uary 11, 1888.
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