Daily evening star. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1852-1854, 1853-05-31
encouragement TO 3msricsn Poetic Talent |!
$500 premium.


IMPRESSED Us / am with the controlling in
4 huence which is exercised by the fine arts
arts upon the direction and destiny of human
affairs, it has given 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 acknowledg glnent is due to
the discerning and worthy patrens 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
incomparably more valuable creations ef
poetry
To see them adern the walls Of the Capitol
with the glowing revelations of the pencil, and
decorate the public grounds with the costly
chef deuFres of the ch;sel, is omen Of
good which will be hailed and appauded by
all cheering pledge of the progress of re-
fnement But. whilst they lavish their tho,-
sands upon those i,nmobie products of canvass
and marble and bronze, they offer no reward
for the more exalted, more enduring and re-
nowned ovations of the pen. No fostering
hand from these high places has ever yet in
vited the Prone thean fire of poetry to animat
the history of cur 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 CT this genial in
spiration-
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
the = divine art'' of poesy. What all the
paintings statues and regaia OF Versailles
of Fontainbleau and the TuIIeries, compared
with the - Marseillcs LYNN p What the
kia 5!y panoply of gold and gems heaped up
in the Tower ef London what the collections
OF the is0yaI Academy. or even the time hal
nf amin N sta JCh
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 aud the : Star-Spangled Banner"
Well sht the British statesman ex5laim
= Ies me but write the ballads OF q nation,
and care not ~hO makes its laws. y
As far as the living, breathing man ls above
the cold insensate marble that is made TO
present him as far as the radiant skies Of
summer are above the perishable canvass to
which the painter has transferred their feeble
resemblance, 50 far is poetry above all other
arts that have their mission to console and
elevate aud inspire the immortal mind of
man.
In view Of these facts and considering the
Iamentahle paucity OF patriotic songs in my
d:E-in.ru .ruished and beloved country, and with
the hone of being the humble means OF a pro-
per public feeling upon this interesting sub
ie.t I have been induced TO offer and do
ha.e5y offer. the sum of five hundred dollars
rs Il prize for the best National Poem, Ode or
Epic
The rules which will govern the payment
of this sum. are aS follows:
LIST. [ have selected '(without consulting
them) the following persons 10 act rs 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. 3 Senate.
N RI
Hon Jas c. Jones, do
Hon. J. r. Chandler, Of T. S. II: Reps
Hon. Addison White. DO do
Hon. Thos- II. Bayiy, do do
Hon. d. T. Disney, do do
Hon. 7. p. Kennedy Secretary of the Navy.
D. J. w C. Evans, of New Jersey
u. Thos Saunders.
Joseph Gales,
DIR. q. Bailey,
w w Seaton,
Prof Henry, of the Smithsonian Institution.
VIM Seldom, late Treasurer of the T. 5.
Rev G. NJ Butler, Episcopal Church
Rev. R r. Gurley. Presbyterian Church.
Rev. s s. RoszelI, NJ. E. Church.
Rev. Mr. Donelan. Catholic Church,
81. These gentlemen. or any three of them.
are hereby authorized TO meet at the Smith
-sonian Institutute, on the second Monday OF
December next, at such hour as they may ap-
point and there proceed to read ana examine
the various poems which may have been re-
ceivcd. 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-
sentation that he or she is an American citizen.
81. All communications must be sent to me
at Washington post paid) before the first
Monday in December next, with full and
complete conveyance of the copyright to me
and nv heirs and assigns forever.
4th. I hereby bind and obligate myself 10
sell the poems thus sent to me as soon as prac-
tieable. 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 suoJect
to this prize which shall not have been writ
ten subsequent to this date, and received be-
fore the first Monday in December next;
R. W. LATHAM.
WASHINGTON, Fen 10. 1853. feb II
Light Kid Gloves, Black Nett Mists, &C
In sia 90 doz. Bajou's light colored hid uioVes
nlTVlln 10 do. white do.