Daily evening star. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1852-1854, 1853-03-01
.ss. For fourteen lines or less
Cor seren lines or less.
ENCOURAGEMENT TO AMERICAN POET
&c TALENT!
$500 PR MINI

-
IMPRESSED as | am with the controlling influence
which i, exercised by tie fine arts upon the drec-
nm and destiny OF human atnrs it has given me in
euit. pleasure to Wit ess the buunIitu manner in
which from time t. time, painting and statua have
ta encouraged aud rewarded by the Councils Of the
Niti9u
But while this ackn )wledgment is due to the dis
ernag and worthy patrons OF these Eoble arts. it is
Al equal of humi iatiou and sorrow to behold
H. apparent apathy anu indiifertn with which they
u regard the 1ncUmpala ABLY more valuable
atoms Of poetry.
70 gee them adOrn the walls Of the Capitol with the
gsia. revolutions Of the pencil and deco rate the
Ihiic grounds with the costly chef deuvres of the
rhi>el. is an of good which will be hailed and
spaude by all cheering pledge of the progress
d rrfnement. But, whilst they lavish their thous-
aDIs upon these immobia p. oducts of canvass and
marble and bronze they offer reward for the more
exalted, more enduring aud renowned ov;,tions Of he
E-I. No k'SteFlng hand trOm these high places has
yet invited tbe rrOmethan fire of poetry TO ami
ne the history Of our country, which with all its
hrm0ry OF form and cnder OF proportion lies asleep
aJuni the humble vault 0. Mount Vernon, ready TO
grug into lif. and beauty at the first kiGdiing toucn
q his NAL inspiration.
EsuTely were work of supererogation to introduce
W proofs that crowd the records OF the past to show
iar above all other stands the " divine art of
a3y. What all the paintings, statues and rega-
Of Versailles. of FOntaiubleau. and the Tuerts
0Gpar, u with the - Marscies Hymn" What the
aacy p,nOpy of gold and gems heaped up in the
lover Uf LOndOn what the cOllec ions of the ROYAL
A1Jemy, or even the time halowed shrines OF West
E-nstr Abbey, when compared with the songs of
yTus, and DiDieD, and Campbell? Or what has the
so,ll that we would take exchange for = Hail Co
u4bit and the "Star-S SpangIed Banner?" Well
ul-Et the British statesmau eXclaim, ''let me but
TEte the ballads of nation, and L care not who
ul5esi,, laws"
As lar us the living breathing is above the cold
nensa,e marble that is made to represent him; as
N - the liant skies of summer are above the per-
tn no has tr,
their feeble resemblance, so far is poetry above ali
other arts that have their mission to console and ee
vae aud inspire the immortal mind o. man.
In vlew Of these facts, and considering the lament
able paucity OF patriotic songs in my yuishcd
ami beloved coUatry and with the hope of being the
humble means Of proper pubic f-ei'ng upon this in
i-ratlns subject, have Eeen induced to offer, and
% hereby oil r the sum of five hundred dollars
i1lc Tor the best National Poem, Ode, or Epic
iae rlleS which will govern the payment of this
sum Il aS follows:
st have selected without consulting them the
SI9"ins PERSONS to act as judges arblters of the
iille thus offered. namely:
Ia: Preside of the United States.
h9i.A y. p. Nicholson. OF Teuncss.
A'u Chas. Sumner, of L. 5. senate.
Hoax 81 L. Hunter, do
Hon. r Chamber, oft S. House Representatives.
,'l' aidiSon ~ hit, do do
A'a, Iaos BAyIy, do do
y,
v''Jehh V. {. tvaus, of New Jersey.
IT. IhoS Saunders.
ri J'sepL Gales,
\ ten. K. ArmStron
4 D'';. Bailey. Oh Ihe fress.
u ". S.atyn.
~ ~ ie,or Henry, the Smithsonian Institution.
"m I'm seLien. late Treasurer of the United States.
''' = VI Butter, Episc pal Church.
~ " L. Gurie Presbyterian Church.
- RtSzell. Meihodi t Il, sdopal Church
Ut Doneian, Catholic Church.
iicN- Gentlemen, or any three Of them.
- 7' aatho. lied TO meet at the Smithsonian Insti-
I'm lhe second Monday Of December next, at such
80 a. 'ity may aPp' int, and there proceed to read
= A'Hle TIE various poems which may have
''1eiltd, aud 10 determine which of them Is
'ATfItOrlous and deserving of the prize. And l
81! una myself to pay the sum aforementioned
sta wiz ever they shall present to me as the
Sa Nho has written within the time prescribed the
.'@'lohu Patriotic Poem, and upon the represen-
-l tldt he or she Is an American citizen
AL communications must be sent to me at
td'nston postpaid before 1e first Monday in De.
~-r liz xt. with full aud complete conveyance of
afyright To ME and my heirs and assigns for
N hereby bind and Obligate myself to sell the
.FIs Ii sent tn as soon as practicable tor the
~ price, and to give the proceeds to the poor of
- ijy Of Washington.
~. No poem will be considered as subject to this
i ~ Which sh'll not have been written subsequent
! - uat1, and received before the first Monday in
l NJ neAt Il. W. LATHAM
-I-N''oN FEB. 10. 1885. frb17-
II