Daily evening star. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1852-1854, 1853-06-30
encouragement 20 American Poetic Talent
S3& y Premium.

INTERESTED as am with the controlling in
L huence which is exercised by the fine arts
arts upon the direc ion and DESTINY of human
affairs, it has given me infinite pleasure to
witness the bOuntiful 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, 1t Is an equal source of humiliation and
sorrow to behold the apparent apathy and in
difference with which they seem to regard the
lncOmparably 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'euvres of the chisel. is an omen of
good which will be hailed and applauded by
all as cheering pledge of the progress of re-
6nement. But whilst they lavish their thou
sands upon those immobile products of canvass
and marble and bronze, they offer no reward
tor the more exalted, more enduring and re-
neWned ovations of the pen. No fostering
hand from these high places has ever yet in
ylted the PrOmethean fire of poetry to animal
the history OF our country, which, with all its
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 Of this genial in
spiration.
1t surely were work of supcrerogation to
introduce the proofs that crowd the records of
the past to show how far above all other stands
the d" divine art' Of poesy. What are all the
paintings statues, and regalia Of Versailles
of Fontainblcau and the Tuillcries compared
with the Marseilles Hymn 2" 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 hal
lowed shrines of Westminster Abbey, when
compa; With the songs OF Burns and Dib-
den, and Cn npbcll! Or what has the world
that We woulc take in exchange for q Hail
Columbia" and the Star-Spanged Banner1"
We'll might the British statesman cxclaim
" let me but write the ballads of nation.
and care not who makes its laws
AS far as the living, breathing man is above
the cold insensate marble that is made to re-
present him. as far as the radiant skies of
summer are above the perishable canvass to
which the painter has transferred their feeble
resemblance, so far is poetry above all other
arts that have their mission to console and
elevate and inspire the immortal mind of
man.
In view of these facts. and considering the
lamentable paucity of patriotic songs in my
and beloved country. and with
the hope Of being the humble means of pro-
per public feeling upon this interesting sub
ject | have been induced to offer. and tlo
hereby offer. the sum Of five hundred dollars
as prize for the best National Poem, Ode OF
Epic.
The rules which will govern tie payment
OF this sum. are as follows:
LIST. [ have selected (without consulting
them) the following persons to act as judges
or arbiters Of the prize thus offered. namely
The President of the United States.
Hon. A Q. p. Nicholson. of Tennessee.
Hon. Chas. Sumner of u s. Senate
Hon. T. NJ. T. Hunter, do
Hon. Jas. c. Jones, do
Hon. J. r. Chandler, of [. S. II. REPS
Hon. Addison White, do do
Hon. Ihes, H. Bayly, do do
Hon. J. ?. Kennedy. Secretary Of the Navy
d. J. W. c. Evans of New Jersey.
ID. Thos. Saunders.
Joseph Gales.
Gen. K. Armstrong,
DR.. g. Bailey, u 'he rress'
W. W. Scaton.
Prof. Henry, of the Smithsonian Institution.
VIM Seldom. late Treasurer Of the L. S.
Rev. G. NJ. Butler, Episcopal Church.
Rev. r. R. Gurley. Presbyterian Church.
Rev. S. S. Eoszell NJ. f. Church
Rev MIR. DOnc1an. Catholic Church.
I'd. These gentlemen. or any three of them.
are hereby authorized to meet at the Smith
sOnian lnstitutute. on the second Monday of
December next. at such hour as they NAV ap-
point, and there proceed to read and examine
the various poems which may have been re-
ceived, and to determine which of them is
most merltorious and deserving of the prize
And [ hereby bind myself to pay the sum
forthwith. to whoever they
shall present to me as the person who has
written, within the time prescribed the best
National Patric tic Poem, and upon the repre-
that he or she is an American citizen
3D. All communications must be sent to me
at Washington tpost paid) before the first
Monday In December next with full and
complete conveyance Of the copyright to me
and my heirs and assigns forever
4th. l hereby bind and obi gate myself to
sell the poems thus sent to me as 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 subjec+
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. W. LATHAM.
WASHINGTON. FEB. 10, 1853 feb. IL
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