Daily evening star. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1852-1854, 1853-04-27
TERMS OF ADVERTISING,
/. For fourteen lines or less
ENCOURAGEMENT TO AMERICAN POETIC
TALENT!
$500 PRE- MUM.

$500 PREMIUM.
IMPRESSED as am with the controlling influence
which Is exercised by tie fine arts upon the ,irec-
m and destiny of human affairs, it has given me in
ate pleasure to witness the bountiful manner in
lrh, from time to time, painting and statuary have
s.a encouraged and rewarded by the Councils of the
,at0n.
But, while this acknowledgment is due to the dis
.railg and worthy patrons of these noble arts it is
o equal of humiliation and sorrow to behold
apparent apathy and indifferenc with which thew
rn to regard the incomparably more valuable Gre
cons Of poetry
10 them adorn the walls of the Capitol with the
lowing revelations Of the pencil, aud decorate the
0ic grounds with the costly chef d'euvres of the
lse IS an omen of good which will be hailed aud
pauded by all as cheering pledge of the progress
reinement But, whilst they lavish their thous-
al' upon these immobe products of canvass and
arble and bronze they offer reward for the more
zlltel more enduring and renowned ovations of he
en No fostering hand from these high places has
yer yet invited the PrOmethan fire of poetry to ami
1te the history OF our country, which, with all it's
mony of form and wonder OF proportion lies asleep
ouui the humble vault of Mount Vernon, ready to
-ng into life and beauty at the first kindlng touch
sthis genial inspiration.
iiSurely were work of fsupererogation to introduce
proofs that crowd the records of the past to show
oT far above all other stands the divine art :" of
oy. What are all the paintings, statues, and rega-
Of Versailles, of Fontainbeau, and the Tuileries
impaired with the g Marseilles HYMN What the
ll-y panoply OF gold and gems heaped up in the
over OF London; what the collections of the ROYAL
i'aiemy, or even the time halowed shrines of West
1lster Abbey, when compared with the songs of
IIns, and Dibden, and Campbell? Or what has the
world that We would take in exchange for Hail Co
ln6la' and the "Star-Spangled Banner?" Well
night the British statesman exclaim, "let me but
're the ballads of nation, and care not who
makes it laws"
As far the living breathing man is above the cold
l'ensate marble that is made to represent him; as
i, as the raant skies of summer above the per-
habe canvass to which the painter has transferred
elr feeble resemblance, far is poetry above all
her arts that have their mission to console and ele-
ale aud inspire the immortal mind of man.
In view OF these facts, and considering the lament
oe paucity of patriotic songs in my distinguished
nd beloved country, and with the hope of being the
lmbe means of proper public feeling upon this in
resting subject, have been induced to offer, and
hereby offer, the sum of five hundred dollars as a
aIe for the best National Poem, Ode, or Epic.
lie rules which will govern the payment Of this
IN are as follows:
st have selected (without consulting them) the
loving persons to act as judges or arbiters of the
2ze thus offered, namely:
lhe President of the United States.
hOn A. D. 2. Nicholson. of Tennessee.
Hon Chas. Sumner of U. 5. Senate.
Hon. K. VI. L. Hunter, do
hon Jas. G. JONES' do
Ion. j. r Chandler, of U. S. House Representatives.
Hon. Addison White, do do
Hon. Thos. III. Bayly, do do
lion D. L. Disney, do do
Ion John 2. Kennedy, Secretary of the Navy.
D' John W. c. Evans, of New Jersey.
d. ThOs. Saunders
joseph Gales
DEG. Bailey VI Ine fress'
". ". Seaton.
y yEN&sor Henry, ofthe Smithsonian Institution.
"m Seden late Treasurer of the United States.
Hf''C VI. Butler, Episcopal Church.
Ie' H. X. Gurley, Presbyterian Church.
n7'. IS. Roszell, Methodist Episdopal Church.
AZ s'. air Denelan, Catholic Church.
:" These gentlemen, any three of them, are
aeoy authorized to meet at the Smithsonian Insti-
.F'on The second Monday of December next, at such
,' as tney may appoint, and there proceed to read
= examine the various poems which may have
~ received and to determine which of them is
s merltorious and deserving of the prize. And 1
-? oind myself TO pay the sum aforementioned
ASth to whoever they shall present to me as the
'Vn M VINO has written within the time prescribed the
Na'iona Patriotic Poem, and upon the represen-
A ~ tnat he Or she is an American citizen.
=, All communications must be sent to me at
~hngton tpost-paidl before the first Monday in De-
1'-f next, with full and complete conveyance of
Upright to me and my heirs and assigns for
'N hereby bind and obligate myself to sell the
/ - mus sent to me as soon as practicable, for the
lsl price and to give the proceeds to the poor of
"a ny Of Washington.
sa' No poem will be considered as subject to this
@ 1s date, and received before the first Monday in
raoer next. r. w. LATHAM.
4 LEXINGTON FEB 10, 1858 feb17-