Daily evening star. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1852-1854, 1853-03-23
TERMS OF ADVERTISING
For fourteen lines or less
For seven lines or les
ENCOURAGEMENT TO AMERICAN POETIC
TALENT.
$500 PRE- MUM.

$500 PREMIUM.
IMPRESSED as am with the controlling influence
which is exercised by The fine arts upon the direc-
non and destiny Of human affairs it has given ME in
fuite pleasure to wltness the bountiful manner in
which, from time t. time, painting and statuary have
been encouraged and rewarded by the Councils of the
N8ti0n.
But, while this acknowledgment is due to the dis
cruing and worthy patrons of these noble arts it is
All equal Of huni iiatiou and to behold
III. apparent apathy and Uttered with which they
sesm 70 regard the incompsrabiy more valuable
suOns Of poetry.
70 them aorn the walls Of the Capitol with the
glowing revelations OF the pencil, and decorate the
public grounds with the costly chef doeuyres of the
ch5el is Omeu of good which will be hailed and
applaude1 by ali as cheering pledge of the progress
Of refinement But, whilst they lavish their thous-
anis upon these immobile products of canvass and
marble and bronze, they offer reward for the more
EXALTED, moro enduring aud renowned oyatons Of be
ped. Nc fostering hand from these high places has
ser yet invited the Promethan fire of poetry TO ami
the history OF our country. which, with all its
G4rmGny Of form and 0nder Of proportion, lies asleep
4r0anI the humble vault o; Mount Vernon ready to
Drns into life and beauty at the first kiudling toucn
II this genial inspiration.
Itsurely work of supererogation to introduce
e proofs that crowd the records OF the past show
low far above all other stands the "diyine art of
gesy What all the paintings, statues and rega-
a Of Versailles of Fontainbleau and the Tuileries.
Onpared with the . MarseilleS HyE2n?' What the
siBgy panOply of gold and gems heaped up in the
Tower Of London; what the collections Of the Royal
ASlemy, even the time .hallowed shrines of West
muster Abbey, when compared with the songs of
Burns, and Dibden, and campbell? Or what has the
gOTii that would take in exchange for Hail Co
i lulba" and the ''Star-5pangled Banner?" Well
I might the British statesman eXclaim, "let but
i write the ballads of nation, and care not who
\ makes its laws"
As far the living, breathing is above the cold
insensate marble that is made to represent him; as
Ear the raiiant skies of above the per-
tn fb., irfa has,
their feeble resemblance, far is poetry above all
other arts that have their mission to console und ee
1 vste and inspire the immortal mind of man.
In view Of these facts, and considering the lament
able paucity Of patriotic songs in my distinguished
aud beloved country, and with the hope of being the
humble means ofa proper public feeling upon this in
terestng subject have been induced to offer, and
10 hereby of-r, the sum of five hundred dollars as q
prize for the best National Poem, Ode, or Epic.
The rules which will govern the payment of this
i sum follows:
st have selected (without consulting them) the
Blowing persons to act as judges arbiters Of the
ln5e thus offered, namely:
The President of the United States.
ll0n. A U. Z. Nicholson, of Tennessee.
Hon Chas Sumner, of u. s. Senate.
Hon. K. VI. I. Hunter, do
Hon. Jas. T.. Jones, DO
IIon.J r Chandler, of U S. House Representatives.
Hon. Addison White, do do
Hon fhos IL. Bayly, Go do
iion john 2. Kennedy, Secretary of the Navy.
u lJohn ". c. Evans, Of New Jersey
Df fhos Saunders.
joseph tales
zen. r. Armstrong
Ds.G Bailey, Vi the fFess'
w Sraton
IrfeSsor Henry, of the Smithsonian Institution.
"m Ssien, late Treasurer of the United States.
He'.C H. Butler, Episcopal Church.
NJ NY H. H. Gurlev, Presbyterian Church.
W. NJ S kossell, Methodist Episdopal Church.
T AZ Ar D0ne!an, Catholic Church
- lIrSt gentlemen, any three Of them
roy authorized to meet at the Smithsonian Insti-
|on Ihe second Monday Of December next at such
~ ~ ~ they may appoint, and there proceed to read
0au''he Tie various poems which may have
'VeiYei aud To determine which of them is
'tfitorous and deserving of the prize. And
1 ~! 1lhd myself to pay the sum aforementioned
., i vi % whoever they shall present to me as the
10 has written within the time prescribed the
nn 'Ona , Patriotic Poem, and upon the represen-
: wa, iat lie or she Is an American citizen.
r AH communications must be sent to me at
Postpaid before the first Monday in De-
h. ~. II, with full and complete conveyance of
I 70. 9Flsh' 70 NE and my heirs and assigns for
sm Aere'y bind and obligate myself to sell the
y ;t Us 'eh' % me as soon practicable, for the
tv pTr anu to give the proceeds TO the poor of
~ NY Of Washington
. Viz poem viii be considered as subject to this
:, ;hj, ny u snail not have been written subsequent
II ,q-rt ne and received before the first Monday in
4 IeAt T. W. LATHAM.
4-NE-A,IaS. FEB. 10. 1883. f.bI7-