Daily evening star. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1852-1854, 1853-06-20
TERMS OF SUBSCRIPTION
Encouragement to American Poetic Talent
$500 Premium.

tMPRESSED as am with the controlling in
i huence which Il exercised by the fine arts
arts upon the direction and destiny of human
affairs, it has give. ME infinite pleasure to
witness the bOuntiul manner in which from
time TO time, painting and statuary have been
encouraged and rewarded by the Councils of
the Nation
But, while this acknowled gment 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
incomparably more valuable creations of
poetry.
10 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'9uvres Of the chisel, is an omen OF
good which will be hailed and applauded by
all as a cheering pledge of the progress of re-
fnement. But. whilst they lavish their thou
sands upon those immobilc products of canvass
and marble and bronze, they offer no reward
for the more exalted, more enduring AMI re-
nowned OyatiOns of the pen. No fostering
hand from these high places has ever yet in
yited 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 a work of supcrcrogation 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 Fontainbleau and the Tuilleries, compared
with the = Marseilles Hymn ?" What the
kingly panoply of gold and gems heaped up
in the Tower Of London what the collections
of the Royal Academy, even the time hal
lowed shrines of Westminster Abbey, when
compared with the songs OF Burns, and Dib-
den, and Campbelli Or what has the world
that we would take in exchange for . Hail
Columbia" and the = Star-Spanged Banner2'
Well might the British statesman exclaim
4 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 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
llnentable paucity Of patriotic songs in my
distinguished and beloved country, ana with
the hone Of being the humble means of pro-
Der public feeling upon this interesting sub
feet. | have been induced to offer. and do
hereby offer the sum of five hundred dollars
as prize for the best National Poem. Ode or
Epic.
The rules which will govern the payment
of this sum, are as follows:
1st | 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. o. p. Nicholson. of Tennessee.
Hon Chas Sumner, of L. S. Senate.
Hon r. Nj. T. Hunter, do
Hon. JAS. c. Jones, do
Hon J. R. Chandler, of L. s. H. Reps.
Hon. A1lison White, do do
IIon, lion hhTT' = T ni.ns2, rf nayiS' do do do do
Hon. J. P. Kennedy Secretary of the Navy.
d. J. W c. Evans, of New Jersey.
d. Thos Saunders.
l'a Gen. R. Armstrong Of the Press
Dr. &. Bailey,
w. ". SeatOn,
Prof. Henry, of the Smithsonian Institution.
VIM Seldom. late Treasurer of the I. ).
Rev. c. NJ Butler, Episcopal Church.
Rev. R. r. Gurley Presbyterian Church
Rev S 5. Roszell, NJ. +. Church.
Rev Mr. DOnelan, Catholic Church.
81. These gentlemen. or any three Of them.
are hereby authorized to meet at the Smith
snnian Insjitutute, on the second Monday CT
lie .cIlbCr next. AZ SuCn EOur dS lueN EIdN dp-
point, and there proceed to read and examine
the various poems which may have been re-
ceived aud % determine which of them is
most meritori1uS and deserving of the prize.
AMI I hereby bind mvsclf 70 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 PatriC tic Poem, and upon the repre-
sentation that he or she is an American citizen.
Sd All communications must be sent to NE
at Washin rton (post paid) before the first
Monday in December next, with full and
complete conve vance of the copyright to me
and nv heirs and assigns forever.
18th | hereby bind and obligate myself 10
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
lngton.
9TH No poem will be considered as subject
TO this prize which shall not have been writ
ten subsequent to this date. AMI received be-
lore the first Monday in December next
X. w LATHAM.
WASHINGTON. FER 10, 1858. feb. IL
Liqht KID Gloves. Black Nett Mitts. &C.
~ IN 20 doz. Bajou's light colored Kid Gloves
hliGpiln 10 do. white do.
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