Daily evening star. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1852-1854, 1853-03-26
-.sovon lines or less. For fourteen lines or less
TO AMERICAN POETIC
TALENT
$500 PRE- MUM.

$500 PIX Il MEU Nj.
,,fPyESSE Ed as an with the controlling influence
| which +, exercised by tie fine upon the direc-
- n ul .>tIn% OF human affairs, 1t has gwen me in
nj pleasure T. wItIess the bOun,itul manner in
,j.n from time t. time, painting and Statua have
., encouraged and rewarded by tie Councils of the
NatiJu.
%Ij while this acku 1wledgment is due to the dis
-ulr aud worthy patrons Of these noble arts, it is
Ill emu al S0uc. of hunl iatiOu and sorrow to behold
~ apfIreut apathy and iuditferen with which they
--.u t. regard the iuconpal abiy valuable ere
,r,yls Of poetry.
+, SEE tnem aIorn the walls of the Capitol with the
-laging revelations of the pencil, aud decorate the
h.ic scouilts witl the costly chef dCeuyrcs OF tile
,bi.e! Is ali omen of good wh"h will be hailed and
,sra riei by all Cheering pledge Of the progress
.;-1iiucment. Bat, whilst they lavish their thOus-
.i,l. upon these mmObiie p oducts of canvass and
,l-o e and hrDnZ, they offer reward for the more
~ztt9I more enduring and renowned Ovations Of be
.rJ. IrStccIuS htnd from these high places mas
r,r We. invited tine frOmethdn IRE of poetry to ami
mt, the history OF Our country, which, with all it's
ltr.9olv fJrm and Onder Of proportion, lies asleep
.r1Iut Tn humble vault o. Meant Vernon, ready to
,prin life and beauty at the fist kidding touch
C.. fais !. ni:ti inspiration.
ltsure, work of supere-o gation to Introduce
the pr0 Is that crowd the records the past to snow
klT lar ABOVE nil other stands the divine art of
rsy. What all the paintings statues, and rega-
"a OF Versailles of FOntainbleau. and the Tuileri, s.
,9npGred with the - MarsriLeS lymn?' What the
eia.Iy D tnOply of gold aud gems heaped up in the
AIruy, or even the time hallOWed ShrineS of West
nin>t;r Abby, when compared with the songs of
Barns. AMI Dib1en, and Campbell? Or what has the
world that would take exchange for . Hail Co
iun5ia' and the "Star-5 pangled Banner?'' Well
nigh: the British statesman exclanl, ''let me but
write tue ballads of nation, and L care not who
nlkeSiIs laws"
As far as the living, breathing is above the cold
inseasaJe marble that is made to represent hi.l
f,r As the "a itat skies of above the per
snabe TO which the pal ter has transferred
their feeble resemblance, so far is poetry above all
other arts that have their mission to console and elc
y@te and inspire the immortal mind o. man.
In vie: OF these facts, and considering the lament
able paucity OF patriotic songs III my distinguished
and beloved country and with the hope of being the
humble means of prOpac public feeling upon this in
r-cstlnr subject, have been induced to offer, and
10 hereby oil the sum OF five hundred dollars
rrize for the best National Poem, ode, Epic.
rhe rules which will govern the payment of this
sIm follows:
SLOWING persons to act judges or arb,ters ot the
g.ize thus offered. namely:
The Preside t Of the United States.
lion. \ - z. Nicholson or TenncsS e..
lloI CilaS. Sumner, of U. ). senate
Hoa. NJ I. Hunter, 10
liod. Jas. Z. Jones, Do
IIon.J. L Chandler, of US House Representatives
Hon. Addison Whit, do do
Hon. TGOs IL Bayly, do do
lion. D. L. Disney, Go do
Ion. Joan z. Kennedy. Secretary of the Navy.
hr. John ". C. Evans, of New Jersey.
br. rhOS Saunders
Joseph tales,
ten K. Armstrong, ! e tb D
Dr.ii. Bailey. - ~
y. W. Stat1n,
Professor Henry. of the smithsonian Institution.
Nm Seilen. late Treasurer of the United States.
Rev. c ". Butler, EpiscJ pal Church.
lev. * i. Gurle. Presbyterian Church.
R.v. y :. R1szell. Methods Z, islOpal Church.
Rev. Mr. Donclan, Catholic Church
Il TheS- gentlemen, any three # them.
hereby authorized to meet ut the Smithsonian Insti
ute, on the second Monday of December next at such
lur as they may app int and there proceed to read
"nt examine the vdriOus poems which may have
h''n received, and TO determine which of them is
most mertoriouS and deserving of the prize. And
lereOy bind myself to pay the sum aforementioned
9cthSth. u VIII ever they shal! present to the
fron who has written within the time prescribed the
ct National Patriotic Poem. and upon the represen-
''ilon tnat he Or she is American citizen.
"l Ali communications must he sent to ME At
Washington poSt-pa1) before 'e first Monday in De
e-moer next. with full and complete conveyance of
ne copyright TO me aud my heirs and assigns for
ever.
lh | hereby bind and obgate myself to sell the
POEMS thus Seut to me rs practicable, Tor the
aA-St price, and to give the proceeds to the poor of
"1' city of Washington
IN. No poem will be consi Tered subject to this
.'te which she'll not have been written subsequent
Ill, date, and received before the first Monday IN
Deeab"r next Il. W. LATHAM.
h'SHINGroN, FEB. 10. 1858 fbll-