In composing songs, which Moniuszko wrote from his youth to the end of his life, he was guided by a definite idea. He wished to present Polish society with national, Polish songs, which could occupy an important place in the everyday life of the Polish people, so displacing imported trash. In a similar way Józef Ignacy Kraszewski, with an extensive and comprehensive series of novels, supplanted the French romance, so popular, especially with contemporary ladies. Having composed a considerable ...