Daily evening star. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1852-1854, 1853-04-29
TERMS OF ADVERTISING
5 or less. For fourteen lines or less.
ENCO TO AMERICAN POETIC
TALENT
$500 PREMIUM.

$500 PRE- MUM
IMPRESSED as L am with the controlling influence
which Is exercised by tie fine arts upon the direc-
ion and destiny of human affairs it has given ME in
mite pleasure to witness the bountiful manner in
ghch, from time to time, painting and statuary have
.een encouraged and rewarded by the Councils of the
Nation.
But, while this acknowledgment is due to the dis
ceing and worthy patrons of these noble arts il s
N equal source of humiliation and sorrow to behold
III. apparent apathy and inifferen with which thew
seem to regard the incOmparably more valuable Gre
atoms of poetry.
To them adorn the walls of the Capitol with the
glowing revelations of the pencil, and decorate the
public grounds with the costly chef doeuvres of the
cuel, Is an Omen of good which will be hailed and
applauded by all cheering pledge of the progress
refinement. But whilst they la Wish their thous-
anIs upon these immobile products of canvass and
marble and bronze, they offer reward for the more
exalted, more enduring and ned ovations of he
pen. No fostering hand from these hirh places has
yet invited the PrOmethan fire of poetry to ami
mate the history of our country which, with all its
harmony Of form and wonder of proportion lies aslepo
around the humble vault of Mount Vernon, ready to
,Drng into life aud beauty at the first kndlng toueh
Of this genial inspiration.
1t surely were work of supererogatop to introduce
the proofs that crowd the records of the past to show
how far above all other stands the sdyine art }, of
p0eSy What all the paintings, statues and rega-
lii. Of Versailles. of FOntainbleau and the Tuileries
compared with the " Marseilles Hymn" What the
kiagy panopiy of gold and gems heaped up in the
Tower of London; what the collections of the Royal
Academy, even the time hallowed shrnes of West
minister Abbey, when compared with the songs of
Burns and Dibden, and Campbell? Or what has the
World tnat We would take IN exchange for Hail Co
lumbia' and the Star-Spanged Banner?" Well
might the British statesman eXclaim, s'let me but
write the ballads of nation, and care not who
nakesit5 laws
As far the living breathing man is above the cold
insensate marble that is made to represent him as
f.r the liant skies of above the per-
shable canvass to which the paiuter has transferred
faph Mo f.r h1Nun oil
other arts that have their mission to console and
Tate and inspire the immortal mind Of man.
In view OF these facts, and considering the lament
able paucty of patriotic songs in my distinguished
aud beloved country, and with the hope of being the
humble means of proper public feeling upon this in
teresting subject, have been induced to offer, and
DO hereby offer, the of five hundred dollars
prize for the best National Poem, Ode, or Epic.
The rules which will govern the payment of this
sum follows:
lst. have selected (without consulting them the
following persons to act as judges arbiters of the
pFize thus offered, namely:
The Presideat of the United States.
Hon. A. U. 2. Nicholson, of Tennessee.
Hon Chas. Sumner, of U. s. Senate
Hon. K NJ. L. Hunter, do
Hon. Jas. Q. JONES' do
lionJ K Chandler, of s.. House Representatives
hon. Addison White, do do
Hon. Thes. III. Bayly, do do
Hon. ID. L. Disney, do do
Hon. John z. Kennedy, Secretary of the Navy.
Dr. John w. c. Evans, of New Jersey.
DR.. ThOs. Saunders.
Joseph Gales,
ten. X. Arms trong, I'LL
Dr.G. Bailey, " " ~
Wv. S.atOn,
Professor Henry, ofthe Smithsonian Institution
Nm. Selden, late Treasurer of the United States.
Key. Z. M Butler, Episcopal Church.
heV r. f. GurleJ, Presby yterian Church.
heV So. Roszell, Methodist Episdopal Church.
lev. Mr.. Donelan Catholic Church.
III These gentlemen, any three of them, are
hereby authorized to meet at the Smithsonian Inst
ae on the second Monday of December next, at such
Aoa as they may appoint and there proceed to read
"A examine the various poems which may have
zen received, and to determine which of them is
most meritorious and deserving of the prize. And
hereby bind myself to pay the sum aforementioned
f'hwith to whoever they shall present to me the
ion who has written within the time prescribed the
National Patriotic Poem, and upon the represen-
''.on tnat he or she is an American citizen.
n All communications must be sent to me- at
""shnytOn post paid before the first Monday in De-
omber next, with a full and complete conveyance of
ne Copyright to me and my heirs and assigns for
ever
4th hereby bind and obligate myself to sell the
poems thus sent to me as practicable, for the
highest price, and to give the proceeds to the poor of
i ~ ,lty Of W Washington.
9h No poem will be considered as subject to this
'Le which shall not have been written subsequent
This date, and received before the first Monday in
D9nember next r. W. LATHAM.
t84sHISGroN, FER. 10, 1858. feb17-