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 MODERN TIMES

RACOW is the town which earliest and most easily of all in Central Europe passed under the influence of the new Italian architecture. Already in the reign of Casimir Jagello (1447-1492) we see the dawning of a new epoch, characterized by deeper insight into and critical appreciation of the literature of antiquity. There is lively intercourse both with Italy and with Hungary, where messengers of

the new learning had already appeared. The susceptibility and the imitative instinct, which are both among the most essential qualities of Polish national character, secured to the new ideas an eager reception and complete success. The first humanists came to Poland; besides the prelate and virtuoso Gregory of Sanok, mentioned before as professor of philology in the University, there came to the royal court a poet banished Rh