Daily evening star. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1852-1854, 1853-04-20
TERMS OF ADVERTISING.
For fourteen lines or les
,sc0 TO AMERICAN POETIC
TALENT!
$500 PRE- MUM.

p
TALENT!
$500 MUM.
IMPRESSED as l am with the controlling influence
when Is exercised by tie fine arts upon the direc-
N and destiny of human affairs, it has given ME in
nit. pleasure to witness the bouniifuI manner in
ach frem time to time, painting and statuary have
zen encouraged and rewarded by the Councils of the
yatl0n
But, while this acknowledgment is due to the dis
s,ning and worthy patrons OF these noble arts it is
Al elual of humiliation and sorrow to behold
d: apearent apathy and in(ifferenc with which they
esn to regard the incomparably more valuable Gre
uons of poetry.
70 see them alorn the walls of the Capitol with the
loving revelations of the pencil, and decorate the
ab.c grounds with the costly chef doeuvres of the
hisel, is of good which will be hailed and
g2auled by all a cheering pledge of the progress
. refnement- But whilst they lavish their thous-
aals upon these immobile products of canvass and
rbe and bronze, they offer no reward for the more
Iltel, more enduring and renowned ovations of he
pen. No fostering hand frem these high places has
r yet invited the Promethan fire of poetry to ami
nate the history of country, which, with all its
lmOny of form and wonder of proportion. lies asleep
rpuni the humble vault OF Mount Vernon, ready to
ng into life aud beauty at the first kndling touch
{ this genial inspiration.
surely were work of fsupererogation to introduce
proofs that crowd the records of the past to show
h1w far above all other stands the "divine art" of
sy. What are all the paintings, statues and rega-
Ia 81 versailles, OF FontalnOleau and the TuerleS,
Ompared with the MarseilleS Hymn 2" What the
la:,y pinoply of gold and gems heaped up in the
lower Of London; what the collections of the Royal
lalemy, even the time, ,hallowed shrines of West
Minister Abbey, when compared with the songs of
Burns, and Dibden, and Campbells Or what has the
world that would take IN exchange for Hail Co
umbia' and the . 'Star-Spangled Banner?" Well
might the British statesman exclaim, "let me but
SrIte the ballads of a nation, and L care not who
makes its laws"
A. far as the living breathing man is above the cold
lsensste marble that is made to represent him; as
lr the raiiant skies of summer above the per-
,labe TO which the painter has transferred
Ier feeble resemblance, SO far is poetry above all
arts that have their mission to console and ee
yate and inspire the immortal mind of man.
In view Of these facts, and considering the lament
able pancity of patriotic songs in my distinguished
n beloved country, and with the hope of being the
humble means of proper public feeling upon this in
erestng subject, L have been induced to offer, and
b hereby offer, the SUM of five hundred dollars as
2rze for the best National Poem, Ode, or Epic.
The rules which viii govern the payment of this
sum follows:
st have selected (without consulting them) the
alOEing persons to act judges arbiters of the
ne thus offered, namely:
The President of the United States.
ion. l. u. P. Nicholson, of Tennessee.
Hon Chas Sumner, of U. s. Senate.
Hon. H. II. L. Hunter, do
Hon. Jas. C.. Jones, do
Hon. J K Chandler, of U. s. House Representatives.
don. ADDISON White, dc do
Hon. Thos. H. Bayly, do do
Ion. ID. L. Disney, do do
Hon. John z. Kennedy, Secretary of the Navy.
Dr Jehn ". c. Evans, of New Jersey.
DF. ThCS. Saunders.
Joseph Gales, !
BEG Bailey, VI '"1 ie'''
Wv SsatOn
rf1tessor Henry, of the Smithsonian Institution.
sm Selden, late Treasurer of the United States.
.F.C VI. Butler, Episcopal Church.
Ae'. H. Il. Guriey, PreSby terian Church.
hsV SIS. Roszell. Methodist Episdopal Church.
N@V. Mr. Donelan, Catholic Church.
Il tneSe gentlemen, any three OF them, are
-1e'! authorized to meet at the Smithsonian Insti
4s On the second Monday of December next, at such
'E as they may appoint, and there proceed to read
u examine the various poems which may have
received, and to determine which of them Is
~ RerItorious and deserving of the prize. And I
.saT bind myself to pay the sum aforementioned
"a'Hh 10 whoever they shall present to me as the
National Patriotic Poem, and upon the represen-
'l9h tnat he or she is American citizen.
"a All communications must be sent to me at
Ehnstsn tpost-paid) before the first Monday in De-
-'es next, with full and complete conveyance of
Copyright to me and my heirs and assigns for
m hereby bind and obligate myself to sell the
hs has sent to me as soon as practicable, for the
,s' price, and to give the proceeds to the poor of
81 II! of Washington.
81 VI No poem will be considered subject to this
! - Smoa shall not have been written subsequent
81 - 10 late, aud received before the first Monday in
Ta'~r next. r. w. LATHAM.
Fl 'NkiSGFoN FEB. 10, 1858. febT-