Daily evening star. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1852-1854, 1853-03-03
TERMS OF ADVERTISING,
ENCOURAGEMENT TO AMERICAN POETIC
/ r ACN l
$500 PRE- MUM.


IMPRESSED as L am with the controlling influence
| which /, exercised by tie fine arts upon the direc-
rn and destiny OF human affairs it has given ME
faI. pleasure tn wItGeSs the boun,itul manner in
which, time t, time, painting and statua have
en encouraged ami rewarded by the Councils of the
Nation.
But while this acknowledgment is due to the dis
ernns and worthy patrons OF these noble arts it is
All equal of huInl latlOu and behold
m apparent apathy and indifference with which they
-..n t. regard the iucOmpaiabIy valuable ere
.1Gns of poetry.
o see them adorn the walls of the Capitol with the
.Jging revelations of the pencil and decorate the
It,ic grounds with the costly chef duuvres of the
-li>ei, Is of good which will be hailed and
apJaudei by all cheering pledge Of the progress
refinement. But, whilst they lavish their thous
aatS upon these imm0biie pr prOducts of and
marble and brUnze, they offer reward for the
liitcd more enduring aud renowned ovatons Of he
ti. No fostering hand FROM these high places has
yet invited tine fromethan fire of poetry to ami
me the history Gf our country, which, with all its
a,Tm0ny of form and onder OF proportion, lies asleep
around the humble vault OF Mount Vernon, ready 10
n- life aud beauty at the first kindling touch
u this NAL inspiration.
Isurel, ii work of supererogatioE to Introduce
he proofs that crowd the records the past to show
above all other stands the :. Iii vine art of
0ty What all the paintings statues. and regi-
Il. Of Versailles OF FOntainbleau. and the Tuileries,
compared with the - MarsciiieS Hymn Z" What the
| ;ia:y panoply of gold and gems heaped up in the
Tower of London; what the coec ions OF the Royal
Academy. the time hallOwed shrnes of West
mn,t;r Abbey, when compared with the songs of
Burns and Dibden, and Campbell? Or hat has the
world that would take exchange for Hail CO.
umba and the stars Spangled Banner?' Well
might the British statesman eXclam ''let me but
write the ballads of nation, and care not who
maseSit' laws"
As far as the living breathing man is above the cold
insensate marble that is made to represent him as
fur the liant skies of above the per-
IShabe to which the pai ter has transferred
their feeble resemblance, far is poetry above all
other arts that have their mission to console and ee
vate and inspire the immortal mind OF man.
In view OF these facts, and considering the lament
| able paIey of patriotic songs i'll my distinguished
au beloved country, and with the hope of beug the
humble means ofa proper public feeling upon this in
-estlng subject, have been induced to offer, and
10 hereby O-r, the sum of five hundred dollars
me Tor 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
h,oWins persons to act judges arblters of the
t1le thus offered. namely:
Iha Preside Of the United States.
Hon 4 d. p Nicholson, of Teuncss e.
it'n ChaS. Sumner, Of u. 5. Senate.
Hon 81. [. Hunter, do
HL Jas c. Jones, do
Ia.J r Chandler, OF U S. House Representatives.
Hga. Addison " hite do 90
Hln. rhos III Baylv, do do
lion: Johu ?. Kennedy, Secretary of the Navy
Ut. John ". G. Evans, of New jersey.
Ir. rh0S. Saunders
Joseph tales
ten K. Armstrong.
Dit Bailey, VI Tic ies9'
y" W. Srat1n,
N nris%or % Lienry ofthe Smithsonian Institution
"h >eiien late Treasurer of the United States
nv I H. Butler, Episcopal Church.
NV H. Gure,, Presbyterian Church
nv = RaSzel, Methodist E.isiopai Church.
I-'lir Douelan. Catholic Church.
=" ih'St gentlemen, or any three Of them.
authorized 10 meet at the Smithsonian Insti
-' II Ihe second Monday OF December next, at such
" - tHey Inlay app int. and there proceed to read
90 eAihllhe the various poems which may have
-ttrlvei. and to determine which of them is
mrrItorlouS and deserving of the prize. And
! oind myself to ray the sum aforementioned
-'th, t wh' ever they shall present to $ the
~ who has written within the time prescribed the
'"0hai Patriotic Poem and upon the repreSen-
fa tIdt ne or she is an American citizen.
~. Al communications must lie sent to at
'Lll sOn postpaid before the first Monday in De.
-arr next. with full and complete conveyance of
ttyrght to me and my heirs and assigns for
I'll hereby bind and obgate myself to sell the
u ihls sent To me as soon practicable, Tor the
,lSi Irce, and to give the proceeds to the poor of
NY Of Washington.
'' No poem will be considered as subject to this
Which shsll not have been written subsequent
"', date aud received before the first Monday in
INT rneAt. II. ". LATHAM.
q lll\e1aN. Fee. TO- 1858. feb IL