Daily evening star. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1852-1854, 1853-07-09
Encouragement to American Poetic Talent
$500 Premium.

IMPRESSED as am with the controlling in
/ iuenee which is exercised by the fine arts
arts upon the direction and destiny OF human
affairs, it has given me infinite pleasure to
witness the bouptitul manner in which, from
time to time painting and statuary have been
encouraged and rewarded by the Councils OF
the Nation
But. while this acknowledgment is due TO
the discerning and worthy patrons OF these
noble, it is an equal source of humiliation and
sorrow to behold the apparent apathy and in
difference with which they seem to regard the
ncomparably more valuable creations OF
poetry
To see them adorn the walls of the Capitol
with the glowing revelations of the pencil, and
decorate the public grounds with the costly
chef d'puvres Of the chisel, is an omen of
good which will be hailed and applauded by
all as cheering pledge of the progress of re-
tinement But, whilst they lavish their thou
sands upon those immobile products of canvass
and marble and bronze. they offer no reward
for the more exalted, more enduring and re
nowned oyations Of the pen. No fostering
hand from these high places has ever yet in
vited the Promethean fire of poetry to animal
the history of our country, which, with all It's
harmony of form and wonder of proportion.
lies asleep around the humble vault of Mount
Vernon. ready to spring into life and beauty
at the first kindling touch % this genial IN
| spiration.
1t surely were work of supererogation to
| introduce the proofs that crowd the records OF
| the past to show how far above all other stands
| the divine art of poesy What are all the
paintings statues and regalia of Versailles
! of Fontainbieau and the Tuilleries, compared
| with the Marselles Hymn What the
| kingly panoply of gold and gems heaped up
in the Tower of London what the collections
| Of the Royal Academy or even the time nal
| lowed shrines of Westminster Abbey when
compared witn the songs Of Burns and DID
| den, and Campbell Or what has the world
that we would take in exchange for Hail
| Columbia and the Star-Spangled Banner
Well might tno British statesman exclaim
" let me but write the ballads of a nation.
and | care not who makes its laws .
As far a. the living. breathing man is above
the cold insensate marble that is made to re-
present him far as the radiant skies of
summer are above the pershable canvass to
which th2 pointer has transferred their feeble
resemblance. - tar ~ purtcy G.oTe all other
arts that have their mlssion ~ console and
elevate and inspire the immortal mind Of
man
In view ni these facts anu considering the
! lauentahie paucity of patriotic songs in my
distinguished aud beloved country. and with
the hone of hem, 'i'- humble means OF pro
" -.,h-
lert. | have been induced to offer. and do
hereby offer, the sum of FIVE hundred dollars
rs prize for the best National Poem, Ode or
Epic
The rules which will govern the payment
of this sum are as follows
LIST. | have selected without consulting
the1ny the following persons to act As Judges
OF arbiters of the priza thus offered. namely
The President OF the United States.
! nf
Hon. ChaS. Sumner, of L. s. Senate
Hon. K, NJ I. Hunter, do
Hon Jas e. Jones do
Hon. } K. Chandler, Of L. s Ii Reps
Hon. Addison White, do do
Hon. Tho il Bayly, do do
Hon. ID. 4 Disney, do Do
d. j. W. u Evans, of New Jersey
ID. Thos Saunders
Joseph Gales,
DIR. e.. Bailey, "a INV
W. W. Seaton.
Prof Henry. of the Smithsonian Institution
VIM. Seldom. late Treasurer of the L. S
Rev. c. VI Butler. Episcopal Church
Rev. K. K Guriev. Presbyterian Church
Rev. S. 5. Roszell, u. Z Church
Rev Mr. Donelan. Catholic Church
ID These gentlemen, or any three of them
are hereby aatnerized to meet ut the Smith
s0Hian lnst;tutute, oil tnp seC,,nd Hupday of
December net; at such hour az they may ap-
point, and there proceed '" reau ana examine
the various poems which may have been re-
ceived, and to determine which of them is
most i.leritorious and deserving of the prize
And [ hereby bind :pyself to pay the sum
aforementioned forthwith, to whoever they
shall present to me as the person who has
written, within the time prescribed the best
National Patriotic Poem. and upon the repre-
sentation that he or she is an American citizen
Sd. All communications mus he sent to me
at Washington (post paid) before the first
Monday in December next. with a full and
complete conveyance of the copyright to me
and my heirs and assigns forever
4th. l hereby bind and nbiigate myself to
sell the poems thus sent TO me IA soon as prac-
ticable. for the highest price, and to give the
proceeds to the poor of the city of Wash
ingtOn.
5th. No poem will be considered as subject
to this prize which shall not have been writ
ten subsequent to this date, and received be-
fore the first Monday in December next
R. ". LATHAM
WASHINGTON FEB. 10. 1853 feb II