Daily evening star. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1852-1854, 1853-07-23
Encouragement to American Poetic Talent |
$500 Pfesaiusi,l

IMPRESSED as ain with the controlling IN.
i fiiencc which is exercised bs the fine arts
arts upon the direction and destiny Of human
affairs, it has given me infinite pleasure to
witness the bouhtitul manner in which, from
time to time, painting and statuary have been
encouraged Ghd rewarded by the Councils Of
the Eatioh.. -D.~
But, while this acknowledgement 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 thes seem TO REGARD The
ineoinperably more valuable creations Of
poetry
with the glowing revelations of the pencil, and
decorate the public grounds with the costly
chef 'Gavres of the chiscl, is an omen of
good which will be hailed ard aprlauded by
all as a cheering pledge of the progress Of re-
fnetncf1t. But. whilst they lavish their thou
sahds dpoh those iinincbile products If canvass
and marble and bronze they cffer no reward
for the more exalted. more enduring and re-
nowned ovations of the pen. No fostering
hand from these high places has ever yet In
vitSd the Prometheah fire Of poetry 10 animal
the history OF bur 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 ana beauty
at the first kindling todch Of this genial in.
SEPARATION.
1t surely we're a work of supererogation 10
Introduce the proofs that crowd the records Of
the nast TO show how far above oil other sta hds
the divine art of pcesy. What are all the
paintings statues, and regalia of Versailles,
of Foutninbleau and the Tuilleries. compared
with the - Marseilles Hymn ?'' What the
kipgly panoply of gold and gems heapcd up
in the Tower of London F; what the collections
of the Royal Academy, or even the time hal
lowed shrines of Westminster Abbey, when
compared with the songs of Burns and Dib-
den, and Campbell? Or what has the world
that we would take in exchange for - Hail
Columbia and the 90 Star Spangled Banner"
Well might the British statesman exclaim
.'Iet me but write the ballads of a nation,
and / care not who makes its laws"
As far as the living, breathing man is above
the cold insensate marble that is made 10 re-
present him; as far as the radiant skies Of
summer are above the perishablc 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 vie~ of these facts, and considering the
la,hsntable psucity of patriotic songs in my
distinguished and beloved country. and with
the hope of being the humble means of pro-
rer public feeling upon this interesting sub
ject, l have been induced 10 offer, and do
hereby offer, the sum of FIVE hundred dollars
as prize for the best National focm, Ode or
Efle.
The rules which will govern the payment
of this sum, are as follows
LIST 1 have selected without consulting
them) the following pcrsons to act as judges
or arbiters of the prize thus offered, namely:
The President of the United States.
Hon. A. o. P Nicholson. of Tennessee.
Hon. Chas Sumner, Of U. ;. Senate.
. NJ II do
Hon JAS C. Jones, do
Hon. j. r. Chandler, Of L. S. Ill. Rers.
Hon. Addison White, do do
Hon. Thos. n. Bayly, do do
Hon ID. T. Disney, do do
Hon. J. P. kennedy. Secretary of the Navy
D. J. W. C. Evans, Of New Jersey.
D. Thos Saunders
Joseph Gales,
DR.. e. Bailey,
w w Seaton.
Prof Henry, of the Smithsonian institution
Vim. Seldom, late Treasurer of the u s.
Rev. G. NJ. Butler, Episcopal Church.
Rev II. R. Gurley, Presbyterian Church.
Rev s. S. Roszell, NJ j.. Church.
Rev Mr. Donelan. Catholic Church.
I'd. These gentlemen, or any three of them
are hereby authorized to meet at the Smith
sonian Institututc, on the second Monday &c
December next. at such hour as they nav az
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 meritorious and deserving Of the prize
And 1 hereby bind myself 70 pay the sum
aforementioned forthwith, to whoever they
| shall present to me as the person who has
I written, within the time prescribed. the best
| National Patriotic Poem. and uron the repre-
scntation that he or she is an American citizen
Sd. All communications must he sent to me
at Washington (rost paid before the first
| Monday in December next, with n full and
complete conveyance Of the copyright to me
| and my heirs and assigns forever.
4th. l hereby bind and obligate myself 10
sell the poems thus sent to me az 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 a. 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. W. LATHAM
WASHINGTON, FEB. 10, 1853 feb IL