May 13, 1849 is the birthday of Panas Myrniy (Rudchenko), a prominent Ukrainian writer, folklorist, publicist, social and cultural activist. Author of novels "Oxen do not roar if there is enough to eat?", "Prostitute", "Limerivna", "Evil people", "Hungry will."
Panas Myrniy never sought fame as a writer. His colleagues did not know that the state councilor Rudchenko and the writer Panas Myrniy were the same person.
In April 1892, the premiere of the "Limerivna" drama with Maria Zankovetska starring excited the audience. The show ended with loud applause, the curtain was raised multiple times. Fascinated with theacting of the brilliant actress, moved to tears, in frenzied ovation Panas forgot is promise not to disclose his secret nickname. To the shouts of the audience,“Author! Author!”,he appeared on stage. The astonished eyes of the audience caught sight ofthe collegiate counselor P.Y. Rudchenko, excited and embarrassed.
In later life Panas Rudchenko continued to adhere to conspiracy on his literary activity. And this helped him in 1915 when we was 66 years old. He was known and respected as a talented and conscientious, high-ranking official, but at the same time Poltava gendarmerie issued a circular on the search for unreliable people, including Panas Myrniy.