Daily evening star. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1852-1854, 1853-04-19
For fourteen lines or les.
0URAGEMENT TO AMERICAN POETIC
TALENT!
$500 PRE- MUM,

SOOO u M
kVPRESSED as [ am with the controlling influence
which exercised by tie fine arts upon the direc-
and destiny OF human affairs, it has given NE in
Z. pleasure to witness the bountiful manner in
H. from time t1 time, painting and statuary have
n encouraged and rewarded by the Councils of the
goa.
]lt. while this aekn owledg,nent is due to the dis
ming and worthy patrons OF these noble arts it is
-iual source Of humiliation and sorrow to behold
1Dparent apathy and indifferen e with which they
! u u regard the incomparably more valuable Gre
! n of poetry.
.es them adorn the walls of the Capitol with the
siu: revelations Of the pencil, aud decorate the
Il. grounds with the costly chef d'euvres of the
! Il. IS an omen of good which will be hailed and
aulcl by ali as cheering pledge of the progress
-.hnement. But, whilst they lavish their thous-
/ /, upon these immObile products of canvass and
-5e aud bronze, they offer reward for the more
| 4.I. more enduring and renowned ovations of he
g.. No fostering hand from these high places has
get invited the Promethan fire of poetry to ami
Z. the history of our country, which, with all its
ony OF form and wonder Of proportion, lies asleep
| mi the humble vault OF Mount Vernon, ready to
IN. into life and beauty at the first kindling touch
! ls genia inspiration
surely were work of supererogation to introduce
proofs that crowd the records of the past to show
fur above all other stands the 'sdiyine art of
y. hat are all the paintings, statues, and rega-
of Versailles, Of Fontainbeau and the Tuileries,
! aFared with the :. Marseilles Hymn? 20 What the
MY ptnoply of gold and gems heaped up in the
ErT Of London; what the collections of the ROYAL
aiemy, or even the time hallowed shrines of West
l,t4r Abbey, when compared with the songs of
-ns. and Dibden, and Campbell? Or what has the
I'll that we would take in exchange for &c Hail Co
mia and the 'Star-Spangled Banner?' Well
.hJ the British statesman exclainl, 'slet me but
tie the ballads Of nation, and l care not who
iieSit, laws"
far the living, breathing is above the cold
elsate marble that is made to represent him; as
as the raiiaut skies of summer are above the per-
.ble canvass to which the painter has transferred
II feeble resemblance, SO far is poetry above all
arts that have their mission to console and ele
Z: and inspire the immortal mind of man.
IN view OF these facts, and considering the lament
pauclty OF patriotic songs in my distinguished
beloved country, and with the hope of being the
mble means of proper public feeling upon this in
'Stng subject, have been induced to offer, and
hereby offer, the sum of five hundred dollars as
le for the best National Poem, Ode, or Epic.
ne rules which will govern the payment of this
N as follows
s. have selected without consulting them) the
owing persons to act as judges or arbiters of the
e thus offered, namely:
ne President of the United States.
.t1n. 4. .. z. Nicholson, of Tennessee.
In Chas. Sumner, of U. S. Senate.
ill K. VI I. Hunter, do
tla jas. Z. Jones, do
a. Addison White, do do
an. fhos. Ii. Bayly, do do
don D. 7. Disney, do do
H. John z. Kennedy, Secretary of the Navy.
>" S0nn v. e. Evans, of New Jersey.
D' ThOs Saunders
bseph tales
ra; L. Armstrong, of tho pross
YcG. Bailey, fol 'he rress'
w. y. SeatOn,
'',Sor Henry, Ofthe Smithsonian Institution.
WI selden, late Treasurer of tie United States.
= VI Butler, Episcopal Church.
-'' X K. GureY, Presbyterian Church.
" IS. Roszel. Methodist Episdopal Church.
T ~ Nj Donelan, Catholic Church.
- ifeSe gentlemen, or any three of them, are
authorized to meet at the Smithsonian Insti-
"a the second Monday of December next, at such
d 'hty may appoint, and there proceed to read
Aahiae the various poems which may have
l'elved. and to determine which of them Is
I5Itorlous and deserving of the prize. And
!? hind myself to pay the sum aforementioned
1'Rf. to whoever they shall present to me as the
E ID Nhe has written within the time prescribed the
:'0nal Patriotic Peem, and upon the represen-
1 .La1 ne or she is American citizen.
al communications must be sent to me at
lHston tpost-paid) before the first Monday in De.
= EtAt with full and complete conveyance of
gErlght te me and my heirs and assigns for
= = Hereby bind and obbgate myself to sell the
: mus nus sent to me soon as practicable, for the
:: plicc- and to give the proceeds to the poor OF
81 " Washington.
8 :" No poem will be considered as subject to this
- 'llch shall not have been written subsequent
Il So, Ite and received before the first Monday in
u W1-s' next. Z. W. LATHAM.
-l''iToN, FEB 10, 1858. feb17-