Daily evening star. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1852-1854, 1853-07-19
announcement to American Poetic Talent.
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$500 Premium.
IMPRESSED as am with the controlling in
i fuence which is exercised by the fine arts
arts upon the direction and destiny of human
affairs, it has given me infinite pleasure to
witness the bountiful manner in which, from
time to time, painting and statuary have been
encouraged and rewarded by the Councils of
the Nation.
But, while this acknowledgment is due 20
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 they seem to regard the
incomparably more valuable creations of
poetry.
To 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'ouvres 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-
fneInent But. whilst they lavish their thou
sands upon those immobile products of canvass
and marble and bronze. they offer no reward
for the more exalted, more enduring and re-
newned ovations of, the pen. No fostering
hand from these high places has ever yet in
vited the Promethean fire Of poetry 10 animal
the history of our 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 into life and beauty
at the first kindling touch of this genial in
spiration.
1t surely were a work of supeTerogation 10
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 aud the Tuilleries compared
with the MarSeilles Hymn ," What the
kingly panoply of gold and gems heaped up
in the Tower of London what the elections
of the Royal Academy. or even the time bal
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 Star-Span gled Banner2"
Well might the British statesman exclaim
'let me but write the ballads of a nation,
and care not who makes its laws
As far rs the living, breathing man is above
the cold insensate marble that is made 20 re-
present him 4; as far as 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 miss TO console and
elevate and inspire the immortal mind of
man.
In view Of these facts, and considering the
lamentablc paucity of patriotic songs in my
distinguished and beloved country and with
the hope of being the humble means of a pro-
per public feeling upon this interesting sub
ject. / 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:
LIST. l 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. @. p. Nicholson. of Tennessee.
Hon. Chas. Sumner of Z. S. Senate.
Hon. r. NJ. T. Hunter, do
Hon. JAS. c. Jones, do
HON HON la r c5; %bs of q Z. S II 90 Reps
Hon. Thos H. Bayly, do do
Hon d. 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.. G. Bailey. "a INC TIVE
W. W. Seaton.
Prof. Henry, of the Smithsonian Institution
VIM. Seldom, late Treasurer of the T. s.
Rev c. NJ Butler. Episcopal Church
Rev. X. X. Gurley. Presbyterian Church.
Rev s. S Roszell, NJ L. Church.
Rev. Mr.. Donelan. Catholic Church
I'd. These gentlemen. or any three of them
are hereby authorized to meet at the Smith
sonian Institutute. on the second Monday of
December next, at such hour a. they NAV ap-
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 [ hereby bind myself TO pay the sum
aforementioned forthwith, to whoever thew
shall present to me the person who has
written, within the time prescribed. the best
National Patriotic Poem, and upon the repre-
sentation that he or she is an American citizen
Sd. All communications must be sent to me
at Washington post paid before the first
Monday in December next. with a full and
complete conveyance Of the copyright to me
and my heirs and assigns forever
4th. | hereby bind and obligate myself to
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
ington.
5th. No poem will be considered as 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, FEE. 10. 1858 feb II
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