The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1843-09-18
THREE HUNDRED DOLLARS PREMIUM FOR
THE FIVE BEST TALES WRITTEN FOR
TIE DOLLAR NEWSPAPER.


THE FIVE BEST TALES WRITTEN FOR
THE DOLLAR NEWSPAPER.
The success attendant on recent similar effort to
draw out literary talent well as continued desire
the part of the publishers to excite spirit OF emu
latlon among writers, by holding cut an ample re-
ward for their labors, and the greater incentive to eX
eron and study, the honor OF being awarded most
successful. have induced them to make the liberal Of
fer Of
$500 IN PRIZES
for the FIVE BEST AMERICAN STORIES that shall
be furnished them by the LIST day Of December next,
as follows, viz:
500 ron THE BEST,
90 FOR THE 2D DO,
90 81 DO,
Az ATH DO,
80 FOR THE 5rH DO.
The merits Of the several contributions offered to
be passed upon by Committee of Gentlemen OF ac-
knowedged literary taste and judgment, the names
of which committee shall be made known at the time
Of announcing the award Of Prizes
With view to leave the Committee entirely I'M
embarrassed in their decision by suspicion OF
the possibility of collision with any OF the writers,
the names Of the individuals composing 1T VIII pe
withheld until the time mentioned. And that even
the appearance OF all grounds real or imaginary, oi
Partially may be avoided, and the award made solely
upon the merits Of the contributions, free from any
supposed influence OF name or position, the writers
are requested to withhold any endorsement from the
back Of their Stories, which they will address, under
seal, to the COMMITTEE of Decision, to the care OF
tie publishers. Competitors for the prizes are each
requested to enclose the title of their production, and
the name Of the writer in private note to the pub
fishers.
The proprietors mean this as fair and honorable
proposition to the lerat OF the country, and one
which, on their part shall be fairly, honestly, and
mpartially carried out and the prize money prompt
y paid to the successful competitors, awarded by
the committee
b The only restrictions which are imposed upon the
writer$Gro,s That the OF the stories shaw be
American, and that their length shall not be less than
four columns of the The DOLLAR NEWSPAPER, (about
thousand words) Jas much longer as the writer
may choose.
III case sufficient merit is not discovered in any OF
the productions to warrant an award, all The Stories
will be returned TO their respective authors but if
the award is made it is understood that all the con-
rbutons received shall belong to the proprieors of
the paper.
|. Itwere easy matter to make flourish of offer
ing for effect $500 81 000 where collision and ia
vortism would be brought 10 bear in compromising
for the payment Of part or the whole of the sum
offered, by different, and perhaps more readily rem
dercd, considerations But the Justice direct to the
parties, and the injury indirect to the public, OF such
a mode of ioisting unearned reputation upon an
author renders it not only not of ours, but one
with which the publishers of The DOLLAR NEwsPA-
PER will have nothing TO do Authors who hope for
enduring reputation rely for it rather upon the
merit of their productions than upon newspaper
pufs concerning them, which at best but the ex-
preston of individual opinions While, therefore, the
Prizes above announced may appear less magnificent
to the public eye than some which have been emilia
zoned to the world, they Will be considered, by wr-
ters Of merit, adequate rewards, and yet not more
liberal than the rapidly increasing subscription list OF
The DOLLAR NEWSPAPER afford to promptly
pay.
OF the honesty Of intention Of the publishers in
these propositions, and the fairness and impartialy
with which tn will be carried out the public are
referred to the similar proposals wdich they made in
May last and the prompt manner in which they ho-
nored the award of the Committee of Decision on
that occasion. With this guarantee for the future,
they hope to see this second offer spritedy met by
the genius andtaent OF the country male and female,
Old and young
The object Of eliciling mertorous literary arti-
ces is 10 maintain the high character and popularity
which the Dollar newspaper now enjoys and TO con-
tnue It, in all It's departments an interesting and IN
slructve family newspaper. That the publishers
possess facilities for publishing later news from a
wider scope of country than any contemporary press,
is fearlessly asserted and the fact that they do pub
li,h later news is admitted by all who have taken the
trouble to institute comparl ons. In fact IN con-
sion with regular series of the most popular sto-
res that liberal rewards draw forth, must main
tain the Dollar Newspaper where 1t now is, at the
very head oil family newspapers, al hall the cost 10
subscribers, too, charged by any Of similar merit.
I%Such Of our contemporaries may publish, or
other se notice, The obo~o proposition, will do lis a
service and perhaps put Of their readers in pc
session Of information that may be the means of lead
ing them to literary dstlr otlon and profit. With
such papers shall cheeriuily afford an exchange,
and forward them, at the earliest practicable mo-
ment, the first fruits of the enterprise.
A. H. SIMMONS & Co. Publishers,
S. w. corner Sd and Chestnut St. Phad'a.