Daily evening star. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1852-1854, 1853-05-24
Encouragement to .merican Poetic Talent !.
$500 Premium.

Encouragement to .meriean Poetic Talent.
$500 Premium.
IMPRESSED as am with the controlling in
J. huence which is exercised by the fine arts
arts upon the direction and destiny of human
affairs, 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 acknowled gment 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 see them adorn the walls Of the Capitol
with the glowing revelations of the pencil, and
decorate the public grounds with the costly
chef d'euvres Of the chisel, is an emen of
good which will be hailed and applaaded by
all as cheering pledge of the progress Of re-
hneInent. But. whilst they lavish their thou
sands upon those immobile products of canvass
and marble and bronze, they offer no reward
for the more exalted, more enduring and re-
nOwned Ovatiens of the pen. No fostering
hand from these high places has ever yet in
vited the Premethean fire of poetry to animat
the history of our country, which, with all its
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 in
spiration.
1t surely were work of supererogation to
introduce the proofs that crowd the records of
the past to show how far above all other stands
the = divine art of pOesy What are all the
paintings statues, and regaia of Versailles
of Fontainbleau and the Tuilleries. compared
with the 'Marselles 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
Columbia" and the - Star-Spangled Banner?n
Well night the British statesman exclaim
lie. me but write the ballads Of nation,
and care not who makes its laws
As far as the living, brea hing 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 palmer has transferred their feeble
resemblance, so far is reetry 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
lunenFa6l paucity of patriotic songs IN my
distinguished AMI beloved country. and with
the hope Of being he humble means of pro-
per public feeling upon this interesting sub
e.t. I have been induced to offer, and do
hereby offer the sum of five hund ed dollars
as n nrize for the best National Poem, Ode or
Enic
The r1les which will govern the payment
Of this sum. are as follows:
1st. | have selected (wi 3hout 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 e. S. Senate.
Hon. T. NJ T. Hunter, do
Hon las C. Jones, do
Hon J. r. Chandler. of I. S. II. Reps.
Hon. Addison White. do do
Hon Thos H. Bayly, do do
Hon D. T. Disney, do do
Hon. J. p. Kennedy Secretary of the Navy,
DJ W. C. Evans of New Jersey.
ID. Thos Saunders.
Joseph Gales,
Gen. r. Armstrong, of Tho Prose
DR.. g. Bailey,
w W Seaton,
Prof. Henry of the Smithsonian Institution.
Wm. Seldom late Treasurer of the u. s.
Rev. G.. NJ Butler, Episconal Church.
Rev. R. r. Gurley Presbyterian Church.
Rev. S S. Roszel, M. f. Church.
Rev. Mr.. D0nelan, CatnOl1c SnuTcH
ID These gentlemen. or any three of them
are hereby authorized to meet at the Smith
.<onian Ins.itutute on the second Monday of
December next, at such hour as they may ap-
point, and there proceed to read and exami ne
the various poems which may have been re-
rceived 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-
sen.ation that he or she is an American citizen
81 All communications must be sent to me
at Washington (post paid before the FIRST
Mond,v in December next, with full and
COMPLETE conveyance of the copyright to me
and nv heirs and assigns forever
4th. hereby bind and obligate myself 70
sell the poems thus sent to me as soon as prac.
ticable. for the highest price, and to give the
proceeds to the poor Of the city OF wash
ington
5th. No poem will be considered as subject
to this prize which shall not have been writ
ten subsequent to this date. and received De-
fore the first Monday in December next:
r. W. LATHAM.
WASHINGTON. FEB TO. 1853. feh II