Daily evening star. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1852-1854, 1853-02-24
ENcoURAGEMENT TO AMERICAN POET.
5.=' 225 -"f &c TALENT!
fl $500 PRE- MUM

~ TALENT!
- $500 PREMIUM,
IMPRESSED a. am with the controIlin1 influence
l. which is exercised by tie fine arts upon the dreo-
ton and destiny of human affairs, ithas given me in.
mite 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 to the dis
equal source of humiliation and sorrow to behold
the apparent apathy and ndiferen with which thew
seem to regard the incomparably more valuable Gre
atoms of poetry.
To see them adorn the walls Of the Capitol with thu
glowing revelations Of the pencil and decorate the
public grounds with the costly chef duvres of the
chissl, is an omen of good which will DO hailed and
applauded 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 bronxe, they offer reward for the more
exalted, more enduring and renowned ovatons Of be
pen. No fostering hand from these high paces has
yet invited the Promethan fire of poetry to ami
mate the history Of country, which, with all its
harmony of form and wonder Of proportion lies asleep
around the humble vault of Mount Vernon, ready to
spring into life and beauty vt the first kindling touch
Of this genial inspiration.
1t surely were work of supererogaton 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 all the paintings, statues and rega-
liza of Versailles, Of Fontainbleau and the Tueres
compared with the " Marseilles Hymn ?" What the
kiBgly panoply of gold and gems heaped I'D in the
Tower OF London; what the collections of the Royal
Academy, or even the time. halowed shrnes of est
minister Abbey, when compared with the songs Of
Burns, and Dibden, and Campbell. Or what has the
world that We would take exchange for " Hail Co.
lumbia" and the "Star-Spangled Banneri" Well
might the British statesman exclaim, "let me but
write the ballads Of nation, and l care not who
makesits laws"
AS far the living breathing man is above the cold
insenssts marble that is made to represent him; as
far as the radiant skies of are above the per
shabe canvass to which the painter has transferred
their feeble resemblance so far is poetry above all
ther arts that have their mission to console and ele
waite and inspire the immortal mind Of man.
In view OF these facts, and considering the lament
!ole pauclty OF patriotic songs ia my distinguished
nd beloved country and with the hope of being the
tumble means of proper public feeling upon this in
resting subject, have been induced to offer, and
, hereby Offer the sum of FIVE hundl ed dollars as
:ize for the best National Poem, Ode, or Epic.
I'm al e Is follows: .-.. 80
LIST. l have selected without consulting them) the
r. lowing persons to act as judges arbiters of the
II ize thus offered, namely:
The President of the United States.
Hon. A. .. P. Nicholson of Tennessee.
Hon Chas Sumner, of U. S. Senate.
Hon. K. NJ. T. Hunter, do
don. j. R. Chandler, of U. S. House Representatives
Ion. Addison White, do do
ion Thos. H. Bayly, do do
on ~ h. P's R:nns, s..r DO o ~. do
f. John W. c. Evans, of New Jersey.
r. Thos. Saunders
'seph Gales,
re. Bailey, - 'ne Ae0S'
e.. w. Seaton,
rofessor Henry, ofthe Smithsonian Institution
I'm Selden, late Treasurer of the United States.
{ ev. c. NJ. Butler, Episcopal Church.
| ev r. X. Gurey, Presbyterian Church.
I ev s. !. Roszell, Methodist Episdopai Church.
ev. Mr. Donelan, Catholic Church. g..
/ I. These gentlemen, any three Of them, are
eby authorized to meet at the Smithsonian Insti.
tut on the second Monday of December next at such
h as they may appoint and there proceed to read
an examine kthe various poems which may have
be received, and to determine which of them is
m meritorious and deserving of the prize. And
het by bind myself to pay the sum aforementioned
TO- hwith to whoever they shall present to the
pei on who has written within the time prescribed the
be National Patriotic Poem and upon the represen-
ia on tnat he or she is American citizen
| l. All communications must be sent to me at
'hington tpostpaid) before the first Monday in De-
cek Der next. with full and complete conveyance of
til copyright to me and my heirs and assigns for
eIr.
18th hereby bind and obligate myself to sell the
ms thus sent to me practicable, for the
hest price, and to give the proceeds to the poor Of
], city of Washington.
9TH No poem will be considered subject to this
ize which shall not have been written subsequent
,cembtr next +. w. LATHAM.
| WASHINGTON, FEB. 10, 1853 feb17-
InHN M OONN A. pp0rurp