Daily evening star. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1852-1854, 1853-06-03
j D Sc P II B. T AT ]
Encouragement to american Poetic Talent I!
$500 Premium.

arts upon the direction and destiny Of human
afairs it has given me infinite pleasure to
witness the bOuntiful manner in which, from
time to time, painting and statuary have been
encouraged and rewarded by the Councils OF
the Nation.
But, while this acknowledgment is due to
the discerning and worthy patrons Of these
noble, 1T IS an equal source of humiliation and
sorrow to behold the apparent apathy and in
difference with which they seem TO regard the
incOmparably more valuable creations of
poetry
To sec them adorn the walls of the Capitol
with the glowing revelations Of the pencil. and
decorate the public grounds with the costly
chef euyres of the chisel, is an omen OF
good which will be hailed and applauded by
all as cheering pledge of the progress Of re-
fnement. But. whilst they lavish their thou
sands upon those immobile products of canvass
AMI marble and bronze. they offer 10 reward
for the more exalted, more enduTing and re-
n9wnel ovatiOnS Of the pen. No fostering
hand from these high places has ever yet in
yited the PrOmethean fire Of poetry to animat
the history Of our country, which, with all It's
harmony Of form and wonder of proportion,
lies asleep around the humble vault of Mount
Vernon. ready to spring into life and beauty
at the first kindling touch Of this genial IL
spiratiOn.
Ii surely were work of supererogation to
Introduce the proofs that crowd the re lords of
the past TO show how far above all other stands
the divine art of poeSy. What all the
paintings statues, and regalia of Versailles.
Of Fontainbeau and the Tuileries, compared
with the Marseilles Hymn % What the
kingly panoply of gold and gems heaped up
in the Tower of London what the collections
of the Royal Academy. or even the time hal
lowed shrnes of Westminster Abbey. when
compared with the songs Of Burns, and Dib
den. and Campbell Or what has the world
that we would take in exchange for = Hail
Columbian and the = Star-Spangled Banner?1
Well might the British statesman exclaim
let me but write the ballads Of nation,
and [ care not who makes its laws. y
As far as the living breathing man is above
the cold insensate marble that is made to re-
present him: as far as the radiant skies of
summer are above the perishable canvass to
which the painter has transferred their feeble
resemblance, so 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
lamcntable paucity of patriotic songs IN my
distinguished and beloved country, and with
the hope of being the humble means OF pro-
per public feeling upon this interesting sub
ject | have been induced to offer and do
hereby offer. the sum of five hundred dollars
Is prize lOT tne DeoO NdtiOi''i '0" N''O w
Epic.
The rules which will govern the payment
of this sum. are As follows:
Ist | have selected (without consulting
theml the following persons to act as Judges
or arbiters of the prize thus offered, namely:
The President of the United States
Hon. A. o. p. Nicholson Of Tennessee.
Hon Chas Sumner, of L. s. Senate.
Hon. K. NJ. 7. Hunter, do
Hon. Jas. C. Jones, do
Hon. J. r. Chandler, of L s H Reps.
Hon Addison White. do do
Hon. Thos. II. Bayly, do do
Hon d. T. Disney, do do
Hon. J. P. Kennedy Secretary of the Navy.
D. J. W c. Evans. of New Jersey.
D. Thos Saunders.
Joseph Gales,
Dr e. Bailey,
". W. SeatOn.
Prof Henry of the Smithsonian Institution.
Wm. Seldom. late Treasurer of the Z. S,
Rev G. NJ Butler, Episcopal Church
Rev r. r. Gurlev, Presbyterian Church.
Rev. s. s Roszell, NJ. F. Church.
Rev Mr. Donelau. Catholic Church.
"a. These gentlemen. or any three of them,
are hereby authorized to meet at the Smith
s9nian Institutute. on the second Monday of
december next at such hour rs they may ap
the various poems which may have been re-
ceived. and to determine which of them is
most meritoriOus and deserving of the prize.
And [ hereby bind myself to pay the sum
aforementioned forthwith, to whoever they
shall present to me as the person who has
written, within the time prescribed. the best
National Patriotic Poem. and upon the repre-
sentation that he or she is an American citizen.
81. All communications must be sent to me
at Washington post raid) before the first
Monday in December next, with a full and
complete conveyance of the copyright to me
and nv heirs and assigns forever
4th | hereby bind and ohligate myself to
sell the poems thus sent to me as soon as prac-
ticable, for the ighest price, and to give the
proceeds to the poor Of the city OF wash
lngton
5th. No poem will he considered as subject
10 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. FER 10, 1858. feb. IL
Light Kid Gloves, Black Nett Mitfs. &C.