The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1853-02-16
Poetry Looking Up-A FInancier Coming 10
the Rescue.
FIVE HUNDRED DOLLARS REwABD.

FIVE HUNDRED DOLLARS REWARD.
Impressed as am with the controlling influence
which is exercised by the fine arts upon the direc
ton and destiny of human affairs, it has given me
infinite pleasure to witness the bountfu manner in
which, from time TO time, painting and statuary has
been encouraged and rewarded by the councils of
the nation
But while this acknowledgment is due TO the dis
corning and worthy patrons OF these noble arts it is
an equal of humiliation and sorrow TO behold
the apparent apathy and indifference with which
they seem to regard the incomparaby more valuable
creations of poetry.
To see them adorn the walls of the Capitol with
the glowing revelations of the pencil and decorate
the public grounds with the costly chet fnpres OF
the chisel an omen of good which will be hailed
and applauded by all as cheering pledge of the
progress OF refinement But whilst they lavish their
thousands upon these immobile products OF canvas
and marble, and bronze, they offer no reward for the
more exalted, more enduring and renowned oyations
OF the pen. No fostering hand from these high places
has ever yet invited the Promethean fire Of poetry
to animate the history of our country, which, with
all its harmony of form and wonder of proportion,
lies asleep around the humble vault ofMount Yer
non ready to spring into lite and beauty at the first
kindling touch of this genial inspiration.
1t surely were work of supererogation to intro
duce the proofs that crowd the records of the past to
show how for above all others stands the "divine
art" of poesy What are the all paintings, statues,
and regalia Of Versailles, Of Fonainbleau, and the
What the kingly panoply of gold and gems heaped
up in the Tower OF London; what the collections OF
the Royal Academy, even the time-halowed
shrnes of Westminster Abbey, when compared with
the songs of Burns, and Dibden, and Campbell? Or
what has the world that we would take in exchange
for Hail Columbia" and the 'Star-Spangled Ban
ner?' Well might the British statesman exeaini,
"Let me but write the ballads of nation, and care
not who makes its laws
As far as the living, breathing man is above the
cold insensate marble that is made to represent him.
as far as the radiant skies of summer above the
perishable canvas to which the painter has transfer
red their feeble resemblance, far is poetry above
all other arts that have their mission to console and
elevate and inspire the immortal mind OF man.
In view Of these facts, and considering the lamen
table paucy of patriotic songs in my distinguished
and beloved country, and with the hope Of being the
humble means Of arousing a proper public feeling
upon this interesting subject, 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 them
the following persons to act as judges OF artiters Of
the prize thus offered, namely
The President of the United States.
Hon. A. 0. P. Nicholson, Of Tennessee.