Daily evening star. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1852-1854, 1853-04-16
For fourteen lines or less
ggC0URAGEMENT TO AMERICAN POETIC
TALENT!
S5Oe PREMIUM.

S5Oe PREMIUM.
IMPRESSED rs Am with the controlling influence
which exercised by tie fine upon the drec-
n IN destiny OF human affairs it has given NE in
III; pleasure To wltaess the bountiful manner ia
,h. from time t time, painting and statuary have
n encouraged and rewarded by the Councils of the
NsJiJn
Eat, while this ackn 1wledgment is due to the dis
rac aud worthy patrons of these noble arts, it is
, eIual source of humiliation and sorrow to behold
~ .pparunt apathy and inditfcrcn with which they
In t. regard the incomparabiy more valuable Gre
.pns OF poetry.
= se them aOrn the walls Of the Capitol with the
..,gar revelations of the pencil aud decorate the
=, /. grounds with the costly chef UOeuvres of the
,S,! is an OFneu of good which will he hailed md
,auIel by all cheering pledge of the progress
fyiuenent. Bat, whilst they lavish their thous-
.1i> upon these immObie products of canvass and
tr0e and bronze, they offer reward for the more
.i.;el, more enduring and renowned oyatOns of he
n No fostering hand from these high places has
yea invited the ironethan fire of poetry to ami
l,te the history sf our country. which, with all it's
aony OF form and Onder OF proportion, lies asleep
r3int the humble vault o. Mount Vernon, ready to
ra- into life and beauty at the first kindliug tOucn
b. this g:nia Inspiration.
ltSureiy ii work of supererogation to introduce
the proofs that crowd the records OF the past to show
JS iir above all other stands the - divine art of
J.y. What all the paintings, statues, and rega-
OF Versailles, of Fontainbeau. and the Tuileries.
nyared with the - 'Marseiiles Hymn" What the
ausy ptnOply of gold and gems heaped up in the
xcr of London what the collections of the Royal
i:emy, Or even the time .hallOwed shrnes OF West
nlISt3r Abbey, when compared with the songs of
Buns. AMI Dibien, and Campbell? Or what has the
s0rll that would take in exchange for Hail Co
Impd' aud the stars pangled Banner?" Well
| ml,h. the British statesman eXclaim, 'let but
vri.s the ballads of nation, and l care not who
naae>it' laws"
f.r as th. living, breathing man is above the cold
l~.nsate marble that is made to represent MIN; as
| th-r !Ian G n lhnVa tha
,habe to which the pai utter has transferred
aelr feeble resemblance, so far is poetry above all
her arts that have their mission to console and ele
yatt aud inspire the immortal mind OF man.
In view OF these facts, and considering the lament
able pauci:y of patriotic songs i'll my distinguished
la beloved country and with the hope of being the
humble means ofa proper public feeling upon this in
;saatns subject, have been induced to offer, and
p 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
follows:
Ist. have selected (without consulting them) the
blowing persons to act judges arbiterS of the
Prize thus offered, namely
Ihe President Of the United States.
Hon. 4. o. p. Nicholson. OF Tennessee.
lion Chas. Sumner, OF U. S. Senate
Hon. X. u. L. Hunter, do
H)a. JAS. q. Jones, do
h9n.J. r Chandler, of [. S. House Representatives.
Ton. Addison \" hit,, do do
lion. Thos, II. Bayiy, do DO
itu u 4. Disney, GO 90
ilol. John z. Kennedy, Secretary of the Navy.
Dr. John W. G. Evans, of New Jersey.
Dr. ThOS Saunders.
Joseph Gales,
ten X. Armstrong, -,
DEG. Bailey, VI 'hio io'''
" W. S1ltOn.
ir'te'SOr Henry. of the smithsonian Institution.
hn Seiden, late Treasurer Of the United States.
''''- y VI Butler, Episcopal Church.
X L. G'ure. Presbyterian Church.
Nv -. Roszel. Methodist EpisClopal Church.
~ Mr. Doneian, Catholic Church.
i these gentlemen, any three of them. are
''e'y authorized to meet at the Smithsonian 1nsti-
neon the second Monday of December next, ut such
II rs they may appoint, and there proceed to read
'' examine the various poems which may have
IN received, and to determine which of them is
~ meritorious and deserving of the prize. And
.,oY bind myself to pay the sum aforementioned
A"Ih, t' whoever they shalt present. to me as the
ron who has written within tlEe time prescribed the
NATIONAL Patriotic Poem and upon the represen-
''h mat he Or she is an American citizen.
v. !. Ali communications must be sent to me at
NliHson poStp paid before the first Monday in De
l'-r a"xt with full and complete conveyance OF
Copyright to me and my heirs and assigns for
IN hereby bind and oblgate myself to sell the
-St price. and u give the proceeds to the poor OF
zI'y Of Washington.
~ No poem will be considered as subject to this
. Which shall not have been written subsequent
II -A' late aud received before the first Monday In
.llo@r next X. W. LATHAM.
"AsaNGToS, FEB 10, 1858. feb IL