Daily evening star. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1852-1854, 1853-04-28
For fourteen lines or les,
yC0URAGEMENT TTOAMERICAN POETIC
TALENT!
$500 PREM MUM.

IMPRESSED as am with the controlling infiuence
which is exercised by tie fine arts upon the direc-
0n and destiny of human affairs, it has given me in
nts pleasure to witness the bountiful manner in
.hh from time to time, painting and statuary have
cen encouraged and rewarded by the Councils of the
lau0n.
But while this acknowledgment is due to the dis
rning and worthy patrons of these noble arts it is
81 elual source of humiliation and sorrow to behold
s apparent apathy and indifferen with which they
~en to regard the incomparably more valuable Gre
lions of poetry.
To see them adorn the walls of the Capitol with the
lowing revelations of the pencil, aud decorate the
cbc grounds with the costly chef d'oeuvres of the
hisel, is omen of good which will be hailed and
pauded by all as a cheering pledge of the progress
refinement. But, whilst they lavish their thous-
nls upon these immobile products of canvass and
marble and bronze, they offer reward for the more
.Isted, more enduring and renowned ovations of he
en No fostering hand from these high places has
yet invited the Promethan fire of poetry to ami
nate the history OF our country, which, with all its
nOny of form and wonder Of proportion lies asleep
rounl the humble vault of Mount Vernon ready to
Dring into life and beauty at the first kindng touch
( this genial inspiration.
Itsurely work of supererogation to introduce
The proofs that crowd the records of the past to show
nov far above all other stands the divine art of
osy. What are all the paintings, statues, and rega-
Of Versailles, of FOntanbleau, and the Tuileries
1mpared with the "Marseilles Hymn2" What the
lasy panoply of gold and gems heaped up in the
lower Of London what the collections of the Royal
icaiemy or even the time hallOwed shrines of West
Minister Abbey, when compared with the songs of
Burns and 0bden, and Campbell2 Or what has the
Eorld that we would take in exchange for Hail Co
ambia' and the "Star-Spangled Banner2" Well
might the British statesman exclam, slet me but
| write the ballads of q nation, and care not who
makes its laws"
As far the living breathing man is above the cold
lnsensate marble that is made to represent him; as
far as the ralant skies of summer are above the per
WI pfa has, frop
their feeble resemblance, so far is poetry above all
other arts that have their mission to console and ele-
rate and inspire the immortal mind of man.
In view of these facts and considering the lament
able paucity OF patriotic songs in my distinguished
and beloved country, and with the hope of being the
humble means of proper public feelI upon this in
eresting subject, have been induce to offer, and
10 hereby offer, the sum of five hundl ed dollars
prize for the best National Poem, Ode, or Epic.
The rules which will govern the payment of this
SUN as follows:
lSt- have selected without consulting them) the
blowing persons to act judges or arbiters of the
Prize thus offered, namely:
The President of the United States
Hon. A. o. z. Nicholson. of Tennessee.
Hon Chas. Sumner, of U. s. Senate.
Hon. X. VI. T. Hunter, do
Hon. Jas c. Jones, do
Hon. Hon j. r. Chandler, of s. House Representatives
Hon. Thos H. Bayly do do
lion. d. T. Disney do do
Hon. John p. Kennedy, Secretary of the Navy.
Dr. John w. G. Evans, of New Jersey.
d. Thos. Saunders.
f. IT s; ( S,''ss 1S!ss' z'':$''rons of tn. Press.
WV. S.atOn,
Professor Henry, ofthe Smithsonian Institution.
Mm Selden, late Treasurer of the United States.
heV. u NJ. Butler, Episcopal Church.
new H. r. Gurley, Presbyterian Church.
neE IS. Roszell, Methodist Episdopal Church.
ne HeV Mr. Donelan, Catholic Church
IL These gentlemen, or any three of them, are
eeoy authorized to meet at the Smithsonian Insti-
a, on the second Monday of December next, at such
'af as tney may appoint and there proceed to read
-a examine the various poems which may have
Eea received, and to determine which of them Is
ss meritorious and deserving of the prize. And
.%ey bind myself to pay the sum aforementioned
"fASith, to whoever they shall present to the
ton who has written within the time prescribed the
NATIONAL Patriotic Poem, and upon the represen-
Alon tnat he or she is an American citizen.
~; All communications must be sent to me at
@hlngtOn paid) before the first Monday in De-
a0er next, with full and complete conveyance of
Ae copyright to me and my heirs and assigns for
'h hereby bind and obligate myself to sell the
Ems thus sent to me soon as practicable for the
price, and to give the proceeds 20 the poor Of
~e city of Washington.
9'n No poem will be considered as subject to this
y we which shall not have been written subsequent
aS date, and received before the first Monday in
+euenber next. r. W. LATHAM.
-nASHINGToN, FEB. 10, 1858. feb IL
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