Daily evening star. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1852-1854, 1853-05-18
encouragement to american Poetic Ta,en.
$500 rrensis,H.

! - tlnn
| arts upon the direction and destiny of bnmaS
affairs, it has given me infinite pleasure -
witness the bountiful manner in which r.
| time to time, painting and statuary have -
encouraged and rewarded by the Councils 80
| the Nation VI
But, while this acknowledgment is dino ;.
the discerning and worthy patrons of H.
noble, it is an equal source of humiliation ana
sorrow to behold the apparent apathy and in.
difference with which they seem to regard ,bo
lncomparably more valuable creations -
poetry VI
To see them adorn the walls of the CAN'T,
with the glowing revelations of the pencil and
decorate the public grounds with tie ooI+ir
| chef d'euyreS Of the chisel. is an omen g
good which will be hailed and applaulei br
All as a cheering pledge of the progress Of r.,
hncment. But. whilst they lavish their no.
sands upon those immobiie products OF Gangs,
md marble and bronze, they offer no rewsrj
Tor the more exalted. more enduring AID 70.
nowned oHaionS of the PEN No fostcrin,
hand from these high places has ever vet iro'
vlted The Promethean fire of poetry to animal
the history OF our country. which, with all its
harmony OF form and wonder of PROMOTION
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
sIration
Ii surely were work of surererogaiion n
Introduce he proofs ;hat crowd the records of
he past TO show how far above all other and.
he divine arr" Of poesy. What are all tie
paintings statues. and resalia of Versailles
OF Fontanbieau and the Tuilleries. comoared
with the MarSeiiles Hymn % What the
kIEgly paHopiy OF gold and gems heaDel IN
IN the Tower Of London what the collections
OF the Royal academy, or even the time hal
lowed shrlnes of Yves minister Abbey. when
compared with the songs of Burns. and Dib
den, and Campbell? Or what has the world
mat we would take in exchange for Hail
Columbia" and the = Star-Span lied Baurcr2.;
Well might the British stat,cman excla;m
:" let me but write the ballads of nation.
and care not who makes its laws
As far as the living, breathing man is above
he cold insensate marble that is made to re-
present him; as far as the radiant skies Of
summer are above the perishable canvass 10
which the painter has transferred tLeir feeble
resemblance, so far is poetry above all otEer
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
distinguished and beloved country. and with
the hope of being the humble means of Iro-
ger public feeling uron this interesting sub-
M
hereby offer. the sum OF five hundred doIlorS
IS prize FOR tie best National Poem 0da or
Epic.
The rules which will Govern thc navuc,.
of this sum- are as follows
Isl L have selected without consul,in,
-hem) the following persons TO act as ind o.
or arbitcrs Of the prize thus offered nanri,-.
The President of Tie United States
Hon A. o. p. Nicholson. of Tennessee
Hon. Chas. Sumner. of [ :. Senate
Hon. k. N. T, Hunter. do
lion. JAS. c. Jones do
Hon. j. Il. Chandler OF L. s II. Rers.
lion Addison White. do do
Hon. IEos. II. Bayly, do do
Lon ID. I. disney. do do
iiGl. j. L. Kennedy Secretary of the NAVY
j.. y. VI. &. Evans. cf New jersey.
j. IhGs. Saunders.
!oseih Gales.
Gen. II. Armstrong
III. &. Bailey VI uhe freSs.
". W. SeatOn.
Prof. Henry. of the Smithsonian Inst;.nt;o,,
VIM. Seldom. late Treasurer of the /
Rev {. N. Bntlcr. Episcopal Church.
Rev. K. r. Gurlev. Presbyterian Cbrrcb
Rev Mr. = B hp,Iear, q, c.+ T. - I ,,
q. These gentlemen or INV ,1,rooac,
-" li'4'iLSi.- "i an J iDCec OF them