Daily evening star. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1852-1854, 1853-06-09
encouragement to meriean Poetic Talent
$500 szrer,afuss,

arts upon the direction and destiny OF human
affairs, it has given me Infinite pleasure TO
witness the bountifd 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 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 tie
incOmpara5ly more valuable creations of
poetry.
To see them adorn the walls of the Capitol
with the glowing revelations of the pencil. and
decorate the publ: grounds with the costly
chef CeuYTes Of the chisel, is an omen of
good which wi. be hailed and appauded by
aii cheering ..iet5e OF the progress Of re-
finement But. whilst uhcy lavish their thou
sands upon those imnObi.e products OF canvass
and marble and bronze. they offer no reward
for the more exalted, more enduring and re-
novned OyatiOns of the pen. No fostering
hand from these high places has ever yet in
viJed the Promethean fire of poetry to animal
the history of our country, which, with all its
harmony of form and wonder Of proportion,
les asleep around the humble vault of Mount
Vernon, ready to spring into life and beauty
at the first kindling touch Of this genial in-
spiraJi0n-
& surely were a work Of supererOgation to
introduce the proofs that crowd the records of
iLe past 10 show how far above all other stands
the divine art'' of poesy. What are all the
rain5ings statues, and regaHa Of Versailles
Of Fontainblcau and the Tuileries. compared
VIII the ..Mar5eiIle5 Hymn ?s What the
kjngiy 1auo = u gold and gems heaped up
in The E..,- ~ .41g}1D what the collections
# the : va .a..Is.1 OF even the time hal
lowed snr'..es r Us minister Abbey. when
d. .,r..-,}f.... -..-h trn sourS Of Burns and Dih-
.-.. tll Campbell? Or what has the world
tlay we would lake in exchange for = Hail
Columbia aud he =. Star-Spangi ed 3anner?'
Well might the British statesman eXclaim
- lee me but write the ballads Of a nation,
and / care not who makes its laws.
As far as the living. breathing man is above
the cold insensdte marble that is made to re-
present him; as far as the radiant skies of
summer are above the perishable canvass 10
which the painter has transferred their feeble
resemblance. so far is poetry above all other
ats that have their mission to console and
elevate and inspire the Immortal mind OF
man.
In view of these facts and considering The
lemcrtable paucity OF patriotic songs IN my
d.s-in ruished and beloved country. and with
tie hone of being the humble means of pro-
per public feeling Upon this interesting sub
let. | have been induced to offer. and 90
h.rcbv offer. the sum of five hundred dollars
a. prize for the best National Poem, Ode or
Eri.
The rules which will govern the payment
Of this sum, arc as follows:
ISt. I have selected (withOut consulting
theml the following persons to act as judges
Or arbitcrs of the prize thus offered. namely
The President of the United States.
Hon. \. 0. P Nicholson. of Tennessee.
Hon Chas Sumner. of U. ,. Senate
N
Hon Jas C. Jones, do
Hon J r. Chandler, of l. ). H. Reps.
Hon. Addison White. do do
lion. Thos. II. Bayly, do 90
Hon y Y Disney do do
Hon. 7. P. Kennedy. Secretary of the Navy.
DIV. c. Evans, of New Jersey.
D. Thos Saunders.
Joseph Gales,
Gen r. Armstrong, of tbo Press
Dr. q. Bailey,
". ". Seat0n,
Prof. Henry. of The Sm thsonian Institution,
VIM. Seldom. late Treasurer of the u. 5.
Rev. G.. VI. Butler Episcopal Church.
Rey r r.. Curlev. PRESBYTERIAN Church.
Rev. s. S Roszell, NJ. f. Church
Roy Mr.. D0nelan. Catholic Church.
2J These gentlemen. or any three Of them
sre hereby authorized 70 meet at the smith
s9nian Tnstitutute, on the second Monday OF
December next. at SUCH tpUi IL thtN tii'ty
point. and there proceed to read and examine
-he various poems which may have been re-
ccivct. and TO determine which of them Is
most meritorious and deserving OF the prize.
And I hereby bind myself TO pay the sum
aforementioned forthwith, to whoever they
shall nresent to me as 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.
81 All communications must be sent TO me
at Washington (post paid before the first
Monday in December next, with full and
comDletc conveyance of the copyright to NE
and nv heirs and assigns forever.
9TH. | hereby bind and obIigate myself 20
sell the noems thus sent to Inc aS soon as prac-
uclble for he highest price, and to give me
proceeds 70 the poor OF The city OF Wash
In.-on
9TH No pocm will be considered rs suhlec'
Ia 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.
NAsHrH iroN. FER. 10. 1888. teh Il
L'qht KID Gloves, Black Nett Mltts, &c.
:, Il, % doz. Bajou's light colorcd hid dioVeS
tfpf 20 do. white do.
qW9 ID dog Black Nett Mitts
4, nd IL Tl,roaH Gloves,