W kręgu „tutejszości”: Czesław Jankowski jako spadkobierca spuścizny Władysława Syrokomli

Abstract

On the Rasos (Rossa) Cemetery in Vilnius there are two gravestones nearly facing one another: Władysław Syrokomla’s (1823–1862) and Czesław Jankowski’s (1857–1929). Both poets were „local” artists for they came from the historic Grand Duchy of Lithuania and accentuated their attachment to the historical and cultural heritage of this land. However, Jankowski is considered a heir to the literary legacy of Syrokomla. Deeply fascinated by Syrokomla’s works since his early childhood, Jankowski wrote some of his poems obviously inspired by the „village lyrist (e.g. his debut Piosnki i ludzie of 1876, or a poem Napoleon w Oszmianie. Z opowiadań kaprala Terefery of 1898). In the late 1890’s Jankowski actively spread knowledge about Syrokomla’s writings and the places important to his life (mainly Borejkowszyzna/ Bareikiškes) in his work titled Powiat oszmiański. Materiały do dziejów ziemi i ludzi (Petersburg 1896–1900) as well as in the series of articles Trakt Oszmiański („Tygodnik Ilustrowany” 1911–1912). At the beginning of the 20th century, Jankowski took the initiative to erect Syrokomla’s statue in Vilnius, but did not manage to achieve this goal. However, he paid tribute to Syrokomla in the preface to reprint edition of Syrokomla’s Urodzony Jan Dęboróg (Vilnius 1928).