Daily evening star. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1852-1854, 1853-04-15
For fourteen lines or less
ssvpn lines or less.
0G2aGEMENT TO AMERICAN POETIC
TALENT!
$500 PRE- MUM.

IAIEH
$500 PRE- MUM.
Ip2ESSED ~ am with the controlling influence
xch pXeTclsei by TIE fine arts upon the direc-
Al iestlny Of human affairs, it has given me in
.!.asure 10 wItness the bOuntiful manner in
tom time t. time, painting and statuary have
| outraged and rewarded by the Councils Of the
while this chnowledgment is due to the dis
aad worthy patrons o. these noble arts, it is
L2l source of humi iatiou and sorrow to behold
plrent apathy and iudlifereu with which they
y I, regard the incOmparaby more valuable ere
Of poetry.
-e them adorn the walls OF the Capitol with the
= revelations Of the pencil, and decorate the
.counis with the costly chef G'osuvres of the
j, an omen of good which will be hailed and
iiaI by al! as cheering pledge of the progress
! aement. But, whilst they lavish their thous-
ggoa these immObile products of canvass and
and bronze, they offer no reward for the more
I. more enduring and renowned ovations of he
S0 fostering hand from these high places has
yet invited the prOmethan fire of poetry to ami
| the history of our country, which, with all its
ly Of form and @Onder OF proportion. lies asleep
&. the humble vault OF Mount Vernon, ready to
j. luJo lie and beauty at the first kindling toucn
NAL inspiration.
.u-ey were Il work of supereroration to Introduce
ro7fS that crowd the records OF the past to show
~ above all other stands the - divine art of
j. What are all the paintings, statues, and rega-
Versailles of FOntainbleau. and the Tueries
.-ed with the = Marseilles Hymn ~ What the
gtnoply Of gold and gems heaped up in the
| Z. 4 London; what the collections of the ROYAL
my, or even the time hallowed shrines of West
- Abbey, when compared with the songs of
- and Dibden, and Campbell? Or what has the
i mat We would take in exchange for - Hail CO.
a. AMI the 'Star-Spangled Banner?" Well
tatp c1ait, sJat but
ne ballads Of nation, and L care not who
)ss,L' laws
ar the living, breathing man is above the cold
safe marble that is made to represent him; as
the raiiant skies of summer are above the per-
J.e canvass to which the painter has transferred
feeble resemblance, so far is poetry above all
arts that have their mission to console and ele-
aud inspire the immortal mind of man.
view OF these facts, and considering the lament
Fauci.y of patriotic songs in my distinguished
e9yei country, and with the hope of being the
oe Means ola proper public feeling upon this in
IN subject, have been induced to offer, and
sreoy Ofer, the sum of five hundred dollars as
i5r the best National Poem, Ode, or Epic.
rules which will govern the payment of this
as follows:
/ have selected (without consulting them) the
F.n: persons to act as judges or arbiters of the
thus offered, namely:
President of the United States.
Ia i. o. p Nicholson. of Tennessee.
Chas- Sumner, Of U. s. Senate
T. T. Il. I. Hunter, do
"a Jas. 9. Jones, do
ii. K Chandler, of U. S. House Representatives.
j. ADDISON Whit, do do
L. Ihos- IL Bayly, do do
g. D. =. Disney, do do
l. John F. Kennedy, Secretary of the Navy.
John ". {. Evans, of New Jersey.
thos. Saunders.
~ tales,
g. Bliley, VI 'u0 reo''
!. S-aton,
''',or Henry, ofthe smithsonian Institution.
H1hlen. late Treasurer of the United States.
=, NJ Butler, Episcopal Church.
IA T. Gurie;, Presbyterian Church.
= f'S&ell. Methodist T. Episdopal Church.
.hr' Donei2n, Catholic Church.
ia-'e Gentlemen, or anv three Of them. are
authorized to meet at the Smithsonian Insti-
lne second Monday Of December next, at such
'HrE may appoint, and there proceed to read
--'Alne the various poems which may have
'7eFed, and TO determine which of them is
-.Hl2FiouS and deserving Of the prize. And /
"ft myself to pay the sum aforementioned
"- o. whoever they shall present to me the
'no mas written within the time prescribed the
..'oAai Patriotic Poem, and upon the represen-
,'' ne or she is an American citizen.
~ communications must be sent to me at
'.-'on irost-paid) before the first Monday in De-
"-St with a full aud complete conveyance of
f:H5lt to me and my heirs and assigns for
n7rehy bind and Obligate myself to sell the
"l's sent To me soon as practicable, for the
j.. Wfe' Wr,' and to give the proceeds to the poor of
= o. Washington.
y, =. poem will be considered as subject to this
'IFh sh'll not have been written subsequent
"-e aud received before the first Monday in
r next. Il. w. LATHAM.
-'''i'lN, FEB. 10, 1853 feb17-