The daily Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1841-1845, 1843-09-18

Inc success atleuuant on Irtthi aiuiitdi ''''N
draw out literary talent, well as continued desire
the part Of the publishers 10 excite spirit oil emu
ldtion among writer's by holding out an ample re-
ward for their labors and the greater incentive to eA
erton and study, the honor OF being awarded mos'
successful, have induced them TO make the liberal Of
fer Of
$500 ~ Prizes
for the Five BEST AMERICAN STORIES that shall
be furnished them by The LIST day Of December next,
as follows, viz:
500 BEST,
80 ron THE % no,
90 FOR TnE 81 no,
40 ron THE ARA DO,
80 FOR THE JrH DO.
The merits Of the several contributions offered 10
be passed upon by Committee OF Gentlemen OF ac-
knowedged literary taste and judgment, the names
of which committee shall be made known at the time
Of announcing the award OF Prizes.
With view 10 leave the Committee entirely un-
embarrassed in their decision by even suspicion oil
the possibility OF collision with any OF the writers,
the names Of the individuals composing It viii be
withheld until the time mentioned. And That even
the appearance of all grounds, real or imaginary, ol
parality may be avoided, and the award made solely
upon the merits OF the contributions, free from any
supposed MI lcnCe OF name or position, the writers
requested 10 withhold any endorsement from The
back Of their Stories which they viii address, under
seal, to the Committee Of Decision to the care OF
tie publishers. Competitors for the prizes are each
requested to enclose the title Of their production and
The name of lie writer i'm nriy,t. note 10 the cub.
fishers.
The proprietors mean thi. as a fair and honorable
propo,ilion 10 the hterati of the country aud one
which on their part shall be rairly honestly and
mpartlally carried out and the prize money prompt
is bald 10 the successful competitors as awarded by
the committee
The only restrictions which are imposed upon the
writers are that the scene OF the stories shall be
Americans and that their length shall not be less than
four columns of the 'rmE Dollar NEWSPAPER, (about
seven thousand Words much longer as the writer
may choose
ln case sufficient merit Is not discovered in any Of
the productions TO warrant am award all the Stories
will be returned to their respective author- but if
the award is made il Is understood that all the CON
rbuons received Shall belong to the propretors Of
the paper
twere an easy matter to make flourish of offer.
ing for effect $500 or 81 600 where collision and IA
yorilism would be brought 10 bear in compounding
for the payment OF a part or the whole of the sum
offered by a different aud perlap, more readily rem
deled consideration But the injustice direc, 10 the
parties and the injury Indirect TO the public of such
a mode of foistng an unearned reputation upon an
author render, if not olly not one of ours but one
with which the publisher, Of TuE Dollar NEwspA-
PER will have nothing TO do Authors who hope for
am enduring rrput,tion r, for II rather ,,pnn the
merit of their own PRODUCTIONS han upon ,Daper
nuH. conce,ppg them which are at hest but tle ex
ire,son of individual onipions While therefore the
Prizes above announced may appear les, magnificent
10 the public eve than some which have been embla-
zoneJ 10 lie World ibev win Inc considered by Wr-
rers Of merit adeouati reward. and vet moi more
beral tin he randly increasing sub,cIiption isl of
Tur Dollar NrwspiprR can afford to promptly