The second half of the 19th century saw an increased cultural activity, with individual instances like , a Bromberg writer and journalist (1865) or Tomasz Śniegocki who founded a Polish bookstore and reading room (1867), which helped Polish society to regain its own lost culture. In 1869, was founded "Reading Poland" – – an important cultural and educational movement, aiming at disseminating Polish literature. In the years 1870–1871, following the military victory over France, German superiority culminated also in cultural field, with the movement called "Kulturkampf" (Fight for Culture). In reaction, appeared Polish companies and organizations, like the Singing Society "Halka" (1883), the People's Libraries Society (1881) or the Society for Popular Education (1873). Following this trend, Poles in Bydgoszcz performed by Wojciech Bogusławski on April 15, 1894 for the 10th anniversary of the Battle of Racławice, and celebrated the centenary of Adam Mickiewicz's birth on December 8, 1898, by staging his ballads and romances.