Daily evening star. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1852-1854, 1853-05-28
infringement to American Poetic Talent {!
$500 Premium.

IMPRESSED as am with the controlling in
| huence which is exercised by the fine arts
arts upon the direction and destiny of human
4fairs, it has given me infinite pleasure to
witness the bountiful manner in which, from
;ime to time, painting and statuary have been
eEeouraged and rewarded by the Councils OF
The Nation.
But. while this acknowledgment is due to
he discerning and worthy patrons of these
noble, it is an equal source of humiliation and
sorrow to behold the apparent apathy and in
difference with which they seem to regard the
iacomparably more valuable creations Of
T0etry-
To see them adorn the walls of the Capitol
with the glowins revelations of the pencil, and
decorate the public grounds with the cestly
chet d 'Ceuvres Of the chisel, is an omen of
god which will be hailed and applauded by
III as a cheering pledge of the progress of re-
fuement But. whilst they lavish their thou
sands upon those immebile products of canvass
and marble and bronze, they offer no reward
f,r the more exalted, more enduring and re-
uowne1 ovations of the pen. No fostering
hand from these high places has ever yet in
yi,ed the Promethean fire of poetry TO animal
the history of our country, which, with all its
harmony of form and wonder OF proportion,
les asleep around the humble vault of Mount
:. the first kindling touch Of this genial in
syiration.
II surely were a work of supererogation to
Introduce the proofs that crowd the records of
the past to show how far above all other stands
tie divine art" of poesy. What are all the
paintings statues, and regalia of Versailles,
q: Fontainbleau and the Tuilleres. compared
With the * Marseilles Hymn 20 What the
kin-ly panoply of gold and gems heaped up
in the Tower of London what the collections
q: the Royal Academy. or even the time hal
l9wei shrines of Westminster Abbey, when
eJmpared with the songs of Burns, and Dib-
len and Campbel2 Or what has the world
,aat we would take in exchange fer Hail
Clfumbia'' and the = Star-Spangled Banner?'
Well mi ght the British statesman exclaim
le, me but write the ballads of nation,
a1l care not who makes its laws
Is far as the living, breathing man is above
lie cold inseHsate marble that IS made to re-
resent him; as far as the radiant skies of
summer are above the perishable canvass to
which the painter has transferred their feeble
resemblance, far is poetry above all other
arts that have their mission to console and
elevate and inspire the immortal mind OF
nan.
In view of these facts, and considering the
lamentable paucitv of patriotic songs In my
distinguished and beloved country, and with
the hone of being the humble means of pro-
Der public feeling upon this interesting sub
ie.t | have been induced TO offer, and do
hereby offer the sum of FIVE hundred dollars
a. prize for the best National Poem, Ode or
Epic.
The rules which will govern the payment
q this sum. are as follows:
1st I have selected without consulting
theml the following persons 10 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. 5. Senate
Hon r VI T. Hunter. do
Hon Jas c. Jones, do
Hon ]. R. Chandler, of L s II. Reps.
Hon. Addison White, do do
Hon. Thcs- H. Bayly, do do
Hon u T Disney. do do
Hon. ]. P. Kennedy. Secretary of the Navy
n J. ". C. Evans, OF New Jersey
D. ThoS Saunders.
Joseph Gales.
Dr.. c. Bailey,
W ". Seaton,
Prof Henry. of the Smithsonian Institution
Wrn Seldom. late Treasurer of the [. 5.
Rev G. VI Butler, Episcopal Church
Rev. R r Gurley. Presbyterian Church
Rev. :. : Roszell, NJ E. Church
Rev Mr. Donelan. Catholic Church.
"A These gentlemen. er any three of them.
zre hereby authorized TO meet at the smith
sanian Iustitutute. en- the second Monday of
ot.ember next. at such hour as they may ap-
pbint. and there proceed TO read and examine
ne various poems which may have been re-
-eivei. and to determine which of them is
most meritorious and deserving of the prize
And I 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
Sd All communications must be sent to me
a: Washington (post paid before the hrst
Monday in December next, with a full ana
complete conveyance of the copyright to me
a1t nv heirs AMI assigns forever
4th. hereby bind and obFigate myself TO
sell the poems thus sent to me as soon as prae-
ucable for the highest price, and TO give the
Proceeds TO the poor Of the city OF " ash
inyton.
5th, No poem will be considered as suo]ecf
70 this prize which shall not have been writ
zen subsequent to this date. and received be-
lore the first Monday in December next
r. ". LATHAM.
WASHINGTON, FEB. 10, 1858. feb II
Light Kid Gloves, Black Nett Mitts. &c.
ff N % doz. Bajou's light colored Kid Gloves
NIFllr 10 do white do.