Daily evening star. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1852-1854, 1853-05-12
TERMS OF ADVERTISING.
For seven lines or less For fourteen lines or les,
ENC0 0URAGEMENT TO AMERICAN POET
TALENT!
$500 PRE- MUM,

1ALCNI
$500 PRE- MUM.
IMPRESSED AS L am with the controlling Influence
which Is exercised by tie fine arts upon tn direc
and destiny of human affairs it has given me in
anite pleasure to witness the bountiful manner in
which, from time to time painting and statuary have
een encouraged and rewarded by the Councils of the
Nation.
But, while this acknowledgment is due to the dis
cerning and worthy patrons these noble arts it is
equal source of humiliation and sorrow to behold
th! apparent apathy and indieren with which they
seem to regard the incomparably more valuable Gre
atoms of poetry.
To them adorn the walls of the Capitol with the
glowing revelations of the pencil, and decorate the
public grounds with the costly chef deuvres of the
chSel IS an omen of good which will be hailed aud
appauded by all as cheering pledge of the progress
IL refinement But, whilst they lavish their thous-
anls upon these imniobile products of canvass and
marble and bronze they offer reward for the more
exalted more enduring aud renow ned ovations of he
pen. Nc fostering hand from these high places has
yet invited the promethan fire of poetry to ami
mate the history of 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 life aud beauty at the first kDdliug touch
Of this g"nia inspiration.
1t surely were work of supererogaton 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 rega-
2ia OF Versailles. of Fontainbeau, and the Tueres
compared with the - Marseilles Hymn" What the
kiasly panopy of gold and gems heaped up in the
Tower of LondOn what the collections of the ROYAL
Academy, or even the time. .halowed shrnes of West
minister Abbey, when compared with the songs of
Burns, and Dibden, and Campbell? Or what has the
world that would take in exchange for Hail CO.
iumbia" and the "Star-Spangled Banner?" Well
might the British statesman exclaim, "let me but
write the ballads of nation, and 1 care not who
makeSi laws"
star the living, breathing man is above the cold
insensste marble that is made to represent him as
far the radiant skies of summer above the per-
habe canvass to which the painter has transferred
rbor f.nhl Tar 50 ill
other arts that have their mission to console and ee
Tate and inspire the immortal mind of man.
In view of these facts, and considering the lament
able paucity of patriotic songs in my distinguished
aud beloved country and with the hope of being the
humble means of proper public feeling upon this in
eresting subject have been induced to offer, and
do hereby offer, the sum of five hundred dollars
prize fer the best National Poem, Ode, or Epic.
The rules which will govern the payment Of this
sum follows:
lst. have selected (without consulting them) the
following persons to act judges or arblers OF the
prize thus offered namely:
The Presideut of the United States.
lion. A. o. P Nicholson, of Tennessee.
Hon Chas. Sumner, of U. s. Senate.
Hon. X. W. T. Hunter, do
Hon. Jas. G. Jones, do
Hon j. r. Chandler, of U. s. House Representatives.
Hon Addison White, do do
Hon. Thos. III. Bayly, do do
lion John P Kennedy, Secretary of the Navy.
DIR. John w. c. Evans, of New Jersey.
Sss; s'spE z es'Ss: 1T%strong, Of the Press.
Dr.G Bailey, y, 'A0
W. W S.aton,
Professor Henry, of the Smithsonian Institution.
VIM Selden, late Treasurer of the United States.
Rev. c. VI. Butler, Episcopal Church.
Rev. L. X. Gurey, Presbyterian Church.
Rev. s.. :. Roszell, Methodist EpisdOpal Church.
Rev. Mr.. Donelan, Catholic Church.
II. These gentlemen, any three Of them, are
hereby authorized to meet at the Smithsonian Insti.
tute the second Monday of December next at such
nour they may appoint, and there proceed to read
and examine the various poems which may have
been received, and to determine which OF them Is
most meritorous and deserving of the prize. And
hereby bind myself to pay the sum aforementioned
fOrhwth whoever they shall present to me as the
person no has writ within the time prescribed the
best National Patriotic Poem, and upon the represen-
tItOn tnat he or she is American citizen.
3D. All communications must be seat to me at
Washington postpaid before the first Monday in De-
cember next with full and complete conveyance of
the copyright to and my heirs and assigns for
ever.
4th I hereby bind and obligate myself to sell the
poems thus sent to practicable, for the
highest price, aud to give the proceeds to the poor OF
the city of Washington.
9Th. No poem will be considered subject to this
prize which shall not have been written subsequent
t. this date and received before the first Monday in
December next X. W. LATHAM.
WASHINGTON FER TO- 1853 feb IL