Daily evening star. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1852-1854, 1853-06-15
to American Poetic Talent
$500 Premium.


IMPRESSED as am with the controlling in
| fuence which is exercised by the fine arts
arts upon the direction and destiny of human
afairs, it has given me infinite pleasure to
sitness the bOantiful manner in which, from
tine to time, painting and statuary have been
and rewarded by tho Councils Of
The Nation.
But, while this acknowledgment is due to
.he discerning and worthy patrons of these
roble. it is an equal source Of humiliation and
.Orrow to behold the apparent apathy and in
difference with which they seems to regard the
moro valuable creations of
yOetry.
To see them adorn the walls of the Capitol
With the glowing revelations of the pencil, and
decorate the public grounds with the costly
chef d'euyres of the chisel, is an omen of
.ooi which will be hailed and applauded by
Ill az cheering pledge Of the progress of re-
fnement. But whilst they lavish their thou
sands upon those iminobilc products Of canvass
and marble and bronze, they offer ne reward
i0r the more exalted, more enduring and re-
nswned evations Of the pen. No fostering
hand from these high places has ever yet in
rite1 the Promethean fire Of poetry to animal
he history Of our 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
1t the first kindling touch Of this genial in
spiration-
II surely were a work Of supererogation to
Introduce the proofs that crowd the records of
tne past to show how far above all other stands
ne divine art Of poesy. What are all the
r2intings statues, and regalia of Versailles
u Fontain bleau and the Tuilleries, compared
With the 'Marseilles Hymn % What the
kinsly panoply of gold and gems heaped up
in the Tower of London what the collections
of the Royal Academy or even the time hal
loved shrines of Westminster Abbey, when
compared with the songs of Burns, and Dib-
len, and Campbell, Or what has the world
hat we would take in exchange for q Hail
C9lumbia' and the . ar-Spangled Banner?"
Well might the British statesman cxclaim
let me but write the ballads of nation,
and | care not who makes its laws"
As far az the living, breathing man is above
tie cold insensate marble that is made to re-
present him; as far rs the radiant skies of
summer are above the perishable canvass to
ghch the painter has transferred their feeble
rtsenblance, 80 far is poetry above all other
at. that have their ruission to console and
elevate and inspire the immortal mind Of
nln.
In view of these facts and considering the
iamentable paucity of patriotic songs In my
DISTINGUISHED and beloved country, and with
the hone of being the humble means of pro-
per public feeling upon this interesting sub
ie:t, | have been induced to offer. and do
hereby offer, the sum of FIVE hundred dollars
as prize for the best National Poem, Ode or
Epic.
The rules which will govern the payment
Of this sum, are as follows:
lst. | have selected (without consulting
theml the following persons to act as judges
OF arbiters of the prize thus offered, namely :
The President of the United States.
Hon. A. O. p. Nicholson. of Tennessee.
Hon Chas. Summer. of L. S. Senate.
Hon R. NJ T. Hunter, do
Hon JAS G.. Jones, do
Hon. J. R. Chandler, Of Z. s. H. Reps.
Hon. Addison White, do do
Hon. Thos II. Bayly, do do
Hon. D. I. Disney, do do
Hon. J. P. Kennedy. Secretary of the Navy.
y. J. ". C. Evans, Of New Jersey.
ID. Thos. Saunders.
Joseph Gales,
Gen Il. Armstrong, or ,bs proz.
Dr. G. Bailey,
". W. Seaton,
Prof. Henry, of the Smithsonian Institution
Wm. Seldom, late Treasurer Of the L. S.
Rev c. NJ. Butler, Episcopal Church.
Rev. R. Il. Gurley, Presbyterian Church.
Row. S. S. Roszell, NJ E. Church.
Rev. Mr. Donelan, Catholic Church.
ID. These gentlemen, or any three of them.
are hereby authorized to meet at the Smith
sonian Institutute, on the second Monday Of
december next ut such hour as they may ap-
POINT and there proceed to read and examine
the various poems which may have been re-
ceived, and to determine which of then, is
most meritorious and deserving of the prize.
and I hereby bind myself to pay the sum
forthwith, to whoever they
shall present to me as the person who has
written, within the time prescribed. the best
National Patric tic Poem, and upon the repre-
sentation that he or she is an American citizen
Sd. All communications must be sent to me
at Washington (post paid) before the first
Monday in December next, with tuil and
complete conveyance Of the copyright TO me
end nv heirs and assigns forever.
4th I hereby bind and obiigate myself TO
sell the poems thus sent to me as soon as prae-
ticable, for the highest price, and to give the
proceeds to the poor Of the city of wash
ington.
5th No poem will be considered as subject
to 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.
WASHINGTON Fen. 10, 1853. feb. IL
Light KID Gloves, Black Nett Mi:ts, &C.
Il, Il, 20 doz. Bajou's ght colored hid Gloves
hlftlh 10 do white do.
4ug Is doz Black Nett Mtts