Brothers Ivan, Mykola and Petro Sokalski, the Great Kharkiv residents in the public and cultural life of Odesa in the late XIX century

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Department of Ukrainian History I.I. Mechnikov Odessa National University

Brothers Ivan, Mykola and Petro Sokalski, the great Kharkiv residents in the public and cultural life of Odesa in the late XIXth century

K. Sorokina

The second half of the XIXth century became the peculiar turning point in «Odeskii Visnyk»'s history. The period of improvement and active development of central periodical was marked by the activity of editorial headed by great Kharkiv residents - Ivan, Mykola and Petro Sokalski. Honored as the active public figures in their native city, they are rarely mentioned in Odesa history although the range of interests and achievements of each of them can be a theme for individual scientific investigation in the context of their variety.

So, in the 1830s, in the family of Kharkiv scientist and a professor of political economy Petro Ivanovych and his wife Olga Petrivna three boys were born. Brothers came from the ancient Ukrainian lineage, the members of which went down into Zaporizka Sich history. Unfortunately, the family idyll was discontinued by the mother's immature death. Father was a widower not for a long time, and soon a stepmother appeared at home. Apropos of this, the family biographers have the assertion that father couldn't totally understand his children's great creative potential; they immersed themselves into the art world in order to abstract away of daily occurrence. And really, the brothers devoted much time to studing music since childhood. Ivan learnt playing the violin, Mykola - the cello and Petro the piano and then also the flute by observing the playing of grandfather who was the musician and Kapellmeister of the local orchestra. By the way, we found out from Petro Sokalskyi's diaries that their first concert, the brothers gave at the age of ten.

Petro Petrovych's playing which attracted the family ambiance thanks to his sincerity and talent, especially took the viewers' fancy. The abilities gave him the opportunity to catch up quickly the academic activity and, also to learn difficult foreign language during the studies in German gymnasium. A boy spared a lot of time reading the books from the library collected by his father, and the native history engaged him more than other humanities. Mykola addicted literature at school and even had the intention to publish some small authorial novels, the fragments of which were found in publicist's private papers. The learning of English was also easy for him, so he could translate the favorite Shakespeare's and Byron's works without difficulties.

After finishing school, siblings entered the university without delaydue to their productive studies. Thereby, in 1848 Petro Petrovych was officially enrolled into a higher education establishment. One year previously, Mykola submitted the documents to physics and mathematics department. And Ivan ended the learning as a graduated philology specialist. The high school graduation marked for the brothers not only new specific and professional stage but also it became the direct forerunner of Odesa period. Ivan was assigned as a lecturer in Odesa Richelieu Lycee at once after the ending of studies. Father Petro Ivanovych agreed with the eldest son's proposal as to the move of Mykola and Petro to Odesa where he could petition about their employ after the line of suasions. The family meted together in the south of Ukraine in September of 1852. Talented Sokalski brothers were hardly twenty when they continued the thorny way of search of their own destiny in our city [5: 7-29].

Further, Ivan Petrovych taught political economy and commerce for 7 years in the status of adjunct and then the professor of Richelieu Lycee [3]. His name figured in archival documents connected with the planning of lyceum curriculum. By the way, the special place was allotted to New Russia and Odesa trade in the document personally signatured by Ivan Sokalskyi. It must be noted that our town was highlighted among the world leading trade centers [4]. At the same time, Ivan Petrovych defended his dissertation “The role of consentient labour in the field of industry” in fateful 1852. He also issued four brochures on “The trade in New Russia and in Besarabia in 1850-53”. Since 1853 Ivan Sokalskyi began to draw up the reports about the external commerce after Pylyp Brun'disposal from the Statistical Committee [14: 281-284].

On the other hand, we have little information on Mykola Petrovich's life during 1851-57. From the family correspondence, we found out that the future head editor was employed in chancellery of Odesa educational district trustee after his arrival to Odesa; then he taught mathematics at Gymnasium II, and, finally, began to cooperate with «Odeskii visnyk» editorial due to the invitation of the then leader Oleksandr Troinytskyi. The general director and disposer Mykola Novoselskyi proposed him a promotion after the initiation of Russian Steam Navigation and Trading Company in Odesa in 1856 [2: 73-75].

Petro Sokalskyi got the removal to Katerynoslavskyi Gymnasium where he had to teach the course of natural sciences soon after coming to Odesa. He returned to Odesa again to occupy a vacant position of lecturer in Gymnasium II in the summer of 1853. The youngest brother had time to complete the dissertation, then to occupy a post of adjunct in Kharkiv University and at last to realize his old dream about the journey to Saint Petersburg during the next four years. The absence of job in the metropolitan center forced Petro Petrovych to change the sequence of posts [5: 39-73]. Finally, the thirst for travelling inclined him to take the proposal from Russian Empire's general consul in the USA, and, thus, he became the assistant of a diplomat [12].

The year of 1859 brought faithfully changes to the family. «Odeskii visnyk» was returned under the authority of the Governorate chancellery, so Mykola filled the position of chief editor which he hadn't left till his death in 1871. The specialists in the sphere of regional print media development noticed that the new editor team continued to defend the periodicals in order to participate in the discussion of public questions. The newspaper also gained authority among the readers and its edition invariably increased [2: 75-79].

The further fate of Ivan Petrovych was connected with Odesa at least. He returned to native Kharkiv in the connection with the invitation to occupy the post of professor at the statistical department. It occurred after two months in the role of «Odeskii Visnyk»'s head editor where his adumbrations were signed with popular pseudonym D. Dnistrovskyi; also he cooperated with “Novorosiiskyi Telegraph”. But lecturer saved the connections with honorable edition in the form of episodic notes. Particularly, his public lectures about “The Land banks” and “Choosing the place for New Russia University” read in Kharkiv University in 1861, were published in newspaper columns. It must be noticed that the Kharkiv residents gave the preference not to Mykolaiv but exactly to Odesa. He claimed that “only the atmosphere of a big city could promote scientific studies and explorations”. So, he was an ardent supporter of university's foundation in our city [14: 281-284].

The next years of Petro Sokalskyi's life formed the replete story. He actively cooperated with «Odeskii visnyk»'s editorial as the publicist and chief editor's helper during 1851-57 [2:81-82]. As for public activity, Petro Petrovych was chosen as the secretary of Royal Society of South Russia Agriculture, and was chosen «Notes»' editor at the beginning of 1869 [5: 170]. At the same time, he was an active member of “The Association of mutual loan” [6]. His brothers were members of these associations too. Ivan Sokalskyi also was a member of “Odessa Society of History and Antiquities” [7; 8; 9]. After Mykola's sudden death, Petro Sokalskyi showed the liability to continue the publishing business. So, he edited “Odeskii visnyk” startin from 1872 till his conversion in “Novorosiiskyi Telegraph” in 1877 [5: 170-171].

Petro Petrovych's musical creative work was a particular page in his biography. In his cultural inheritance there are about 40 music works for the piano, more than 40 romances among which some were written based on Shevchenko's lyrics; the operas were inspired by the works of O. Pushkin, M. Hohol, and P. Hulak-Artemovskyi works [11]. The musician was also remembered thanks for his contribution to Odessa cultural life where he organized “Association of music amateurs” (later “Odesa Music Society”) in 1864 [5: 100-106]. Moreover, Petro Sokalskyi took part in a music contest organized by “Royal Music Society” and was awarded for his cantata “Peter the Great's banquet” in 1861. The city community perceived the first composer's success with honor [13].

Petro Sokalskyi in 1870 Ivan Sokalskyi

Let's reveal the end of outstanding Kharkiv residents' life. Mykola Petrovych prematurely died at the age of 40 from abdominal inflammation. It happened in 1871 after he had been more than twelve years «Odeskii visnyk»'s head editor [10]. 16 years later the world lost Petro Sokalskyi. Famous composer died from the febrile catarrh. This coincidental misfortune strongly remained Mykola Petrovych's death. So, the young brother untimely perished in spring. He died from the light lung trouble at the age of 55 in March [1].The eldest Ivan Petrovych was the last to die. It occurred ten years later in Kharkiv. The death again repeated itself. It took away the last talented brother not prematurely because Ivan Sokalskyi was 67 years old [14: 281-284].

So, brothers Ivan, Mykola and Petro Sokalski lent their souls to the tasks of our city's public and cultural life. The family registered itself by productive work in the field of education and also by publishing “Odeskii visnyk” on the base of authoritative edition. Moreover, the brothers repeatedly showed themselves as patriots because they supported Ukrainian national values. As for “Odesa society”, today there are no memorial signs of Sokalski's honor in the city. Perhaps, their collective acts will be duly appreciated by scientists and Odesa governance in the course of time.

References

1. Год восемнадцатый. Известие о кончине // Новороссийский телеграф. - 1887. - 31 марта (12 апреля); Ф.Фельетон. Воспоминания о П.П.Сокальском // Новороссийский телеграф. - 1887. - 1 (13) апреля.

2. Гребцова И.С. Периодическая печать в общественном развитии Южного степного региона Российской империи (вторая треть XIX в.). - Одесса, 2002.

3. Каришева Т.И. П.Сокальський. Нарис про життя і творчість. - Київ, 1959.

4. Новороссийский календарь на 1871, издаваемый от Канцелярии Новороссийского и Бессарабского генерал-губернатора. - Одесса, 1870.

5. Новороссийский календарь на 1857, издаваемый от Ришельевского лицея .-1856.

6. Новороссийский календарь на 1860 високосный год, издаваемый от Ришельевского лицея. - Одесса, 1859.

7. Новороссийский календарь на 1865, издаваемый от Ришельевского лицея .-1864.

8. Одесский вестник. - 1871. - 19 мая; Некролог// ОВ. - 1871. - 20 мая; О похоронной процессии // ОВ. - 1871. - 22 мая; Очерк о жизни. - 1871. - 26 мая.

9. Сокальский П. Путевые заметки: Переезд через Атлантический океан / Содержание Одесского Вестника за 1859-й // ОВ. - 1860. - 5 января; Сокальский П. Фельетон. Утро в Нью-Йорке // ОВ. - 1860. - 13 августа.

10. Тедеско И. Русская кантата «Пир Петра Великого» для хора и оркестра, сочинения П. Сокальского // ОВ. - 1861. - 18 мая.

11. Юридический факультет Харьковского университета за первые сто лет его существования (1805-1905) / Под. ред. М.П. Чубинского. - Харьков, 1908.

Abstract

Keywords: Ivan Petrovych Sokalskyi, Mykola Petrovych Sokalskyi, Petro Petrovych Sokalskyi, Kharkiv, Odesa, "Odeskii visnyk".

Ключевые слова: Сокальский Иван Петрович, Сокальский Николай Петрович, Сокальский Петр Петрович, Харьков, Одесса, «Одесский вестник». sokolsky collective cultural development