Daily evening star. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1852-1854, 1853-02-23
e. C0URAaEMENT TO AMERICAN POET.
&c TALENT!
-

&c TALENT!
$500 PREMIUM. qsLI
/ PRESSED as am with the controlling influence
which is exercised by tie fine arts upon thu direc-
d pleasure to witoess the bouniifll manner in
vi ,:h, from time t. time, painting and statua, have
b encouraged and rewarded by the Councils Of the
n. ION.
s1t, while this acknowledgment is due to the dis
c. Ang aud worthy patrons OF these noble arts it is
equal of humi iatioa and sorrow to behold
tt apparent apathy and indidtren with which thew
Be-: tc regard the incomparably valuable ere
At -ne OF poetry. r<.
see them adorn the walls of the Capitol with the
g ting revelations Of the pencil aud d. co ate the
p die grounds with the costly chef duvres of the
c ell is omen Of good which will be hailed aud
ri auded by all as q cheering pledge Of the progress
OF refinement. But, whist they lavish their thous-
n 3 upon these immotie p oducts of canvs AIS and
IN .bie and bronze, they offer reward for The more
~ sted, more enduring and renowned ovations If he
p 5. No fostering hand from these high places has
=, r yet invited the Promethan fire Of poetry to ami
u te the history of country, which, with all its
fmony of form and onder Of proportion lies asleep
q innd the humble vault OF Mount Vernon, ready to
ing into life and beauty At the first kidding touch
OF this 3. NAL inspiration.
surely were 3 work of supererogation to introduce
proofs that crowd the records OF the past to show
" far above all other stands the .ine art" Of
ssy. What are all the paintings, statues. and rega
c. npar.d with the Narcotics Hymn % What the
X 's;y panopy Of gold and gems hpaped up in the
~er of London; what the collec ions of the Royal
\ "demy, or even the time halowed shrines of " est
u nst;r Abbey, when compared with the songs Of
L rms, and Nbden, and Campbell? Or what has the
.ird that We would take exchange for Hail Co
II nbia' and the "star-Spangled Bann~r?" Well
ut the British statesman excaim, ''let me but
'. lite the ballads Of nation, and care not who
u iXes it; laws"
s far as the living, breathing man is above the cold
III tsnsste marble that is made represent him; as
as the liant skies of summer are above the DER
l., sAb tn w fha
'ir feeble resemblance, so far is poetry above all
Of aer arts that have their mission console and ele
', . and inspire the immortal mind o. man.
IL vie" OF these facts and considering the lament
r. e paucty of patriotic songs in my distinguished
Il beloved country, and with t! hope of being the
'mble means Of a proper pubic cling upon this in
sestng subject, have leen induced to offer, and
hereby Uf r, the sum of five hund, ed dollars as
lze for the best National Poem, Ude, or Epic
The rules which will govern the payment of this
stln a; as follows:
Lat. have selected without consulting them) the
flowing persons to act as judges or ar5ters Of the
fize thus offered. namely:
The President of the United States
Hoo. Y. 7. Nicholson. OF Tennessee.
Hon Chas. Sumner of u 5. Senate.
Hon. X. NJ. I. Hunter do
Hon. JAS T.. Jones, do
Hon Chandler, of US. House Representatives
Hon. Thos IL Bayly, do do
lion. D. T. Disney, do do
lion. John r Kennedy, Secretary of the Navy.
Dr. John w. Z. Evans, of New jersey.
DR.. ThoS. Saunders.
Joseph Gales,
Gen. t. Armstrong, ..n
Jr.G. Bailey, "a 'ne AieSS'
w. W. S-aton,
Professor Henry, the Smithsonian Institution
VIM Selden, late Treasurer of the United States
Rev. q. NJ. Butler, Episcopal Church.
kev. K. X. Gurie. Presbyterian Church.
= Rev. IS. Roszell. Methodist Fl isdopal Church.
Rev. MIR. Donelan, Catholic Church.
"a. These gentlemen, or any three # them. are
treby authorized to meet at the Smi hsonian Insti
ate, on the second Monday Of December next such
our as they may apps int, and there rce d to read
I'D examine ttke various poems which may have
cen received, and to determine which Of them is
lost meritorious and deserving of the prize. And
ereby bind myself to Fay the sum aforementioned
or hwith, wh' ever they shalt present to as the
eron who has written within the time prescribed the
eat National Patriotic Poem, and upon the represen
.tton tnat he or she is an American citizen.
sd. All communications must be seut to me at
Washington ,post-pad) before first Monday in De
enlber next. with full and complete conveyance of
he copyright to me and my heirs and assigns for
4th. hereby bind and obligate myself to sell the
poems thds sent to me practicable, Tor The
highest price, and to give the proceeds the poor OF
the city of Washington.
5th. No poem will be consi Tered subject to this
prize which shsl not have been written subsequ ent
to this date, aud received before the first Monday
December next. II. w. LATHAM
WASHINGTON, FEB. 10, 1858. f.bI7-