Daily evening star. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1852-1854, 1853-02-22
ENCOURAGEMENT TO AMERICAN POET
IL TALENT!
$500 PRE- MUM.

&c TALENT!
$500 PRE- MUM.
| IMPRESSED az am with the controlling influence
i which is exercised by tie fine arts upon the direc-
ton and destiny of human affairs ihas given me in.
finite pleasure to WITH the bountful manner in
which, from time to time painting and satuary have
been encouraged and rewarded by the Councils of the
Nation.
But, while this acknowledgment is due to the dis
corning and worthy patrons of these noble arts is
an equal source of humiliation and sorrow to behold
the apparent apathy and indifference with which thew
seem to regard the incomparabiy more valuable Gre
| atons of poetry.
70 see 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
chisel is omen of good which will be hailed and
appauded by all cheering pledge of the progress
OF refinement But, whilst they lavish their thous-
| ands upon these immobile products of canvass and
marble and bronze they offer reward for the more
exalted, more enduring and renowned ovationS of he
pen No 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 into life and beauty at the first knding touch
| of this genial inspiration.
1t surely work of supererogation 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-
liza of Versailles of Fontainbleau, and the Tueres
| compared with the &c MarseilIes Hymn What the
kingly panoply of gold and gems heaped up in the
Academy or even the time hallowed shrines 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
| lumbia'' and the 'star-Spangled Banner?" Well
| might the British statesman exclainl, "let me but
write the ballads of nation, and I not who
| makes its laws
AS far the living, breathing man is above the cold
insensate marble that is made to represent him as
far the radiant skies of summer are above the per-
ishabe canvass to which the painter has transferred
their feeble resemblance far is poetry above all
other arts that have their mission to console and ele
vate and inspire the immortal mind of man.
In view OF these facts, and considering the lament
able paucty OF patriotic songs in my distinguished
and beloved country, and with the hope of being the
humble means of proper public feeling upon this in
terestng subject, have been induced to Offer and
do hereby offer, the sum of five hundred dollars
| prize for the best National Poem, Ode, or Epic.
| The rules which will govern the payment of this
sum as follows:
1st have selected without consulting them) the
following persons to act az judges arbiters of the
| prize thus offered, namely:
The President of the United States.
Hon. A. U. P. Nicholson, Of Tennessee.
Hon Chas. Sumner. of U. S. Senate.
Hon. r. NJ T. Hunter, do
Hon J. R; Chandler, of z. House Representatives
Hon. Addison W bite, do DO
Hon. Thos II. Bayly, do do
| Hon. John P. Kennedy, Secretary of the Navy.
DR.. John w. c. Evans, of New Jersey.
Dr. mos. saunders.
Joseph Gales,
Ger. H. Armstrong.
| Dr.G. Bailey, u 'ne ieSs'
W. W. Seaton,
| Professor Henry, of the Smithsonian Institution.
| VIM. Seden, late Treasurer Of the United States
Rev. G. NJ. Butler, Episcopal Church
Rev. K. 4. Gurley, Presby terian Church.
Rev. s. S. Roszell, Methodist Episdopal Church
! Rev. Mr.. Donelan, Catholic Church.
I'd. These gentlemen, or any three of them, are
htreby authorized to meet at the Smithsonian Insti
tute, on the second Monday of December next such
hour as they may appoint and there proceed to read
and examine sthe various poems which may have
been received, and to determine which of them is
| most mertorious and deserving of the prize. And
hereby bind myself to pay the sum aforementioned
forthwith tn whoever they shall present as the
person who has written within the time prescribed the
best National Patriotic Poem and upon the repreSen-
tation tnat he or she is an American citizen.
Sd. All communications must be sent 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. hereby bind and oblgate myself to sell the
poems thus sent to practicable, for the
highest price, and to give the proceeds to the poor of
! the city of Washington.
9Th. No poem will be considered as subject to this
prize which shall not have been written subsequent
to this date and received before the first Monday in
| December next. r. W. LATHAM
| WASHINGTON, FEB 10, 1853 feb17-
j