Daily evening star. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1852-1854, 1853-02-26
ENcoURAGENENT TO AMERICAN pOKr.
&c TALENT!
$500 PRE- MUM.

$500 PREMIUM.
l APRESSED / am with the controlling inauenes
which j. exercised by tie fine arts upon tina dirro
ton and destiny Of human Affairs it3has given M. in
hnit- pleasure to witLess the bOun,isul manner IN
which, from time t. time, painting and ststua, have
been encouraged and rewarded by the Councils of the
Nation.
But, while this acknowledgement is due to III. dis
eerning and worthy patrons OF these noble art it il
an equal source of humi iatiou and to ehold
tn: apparent apathy and iDdiferen with which thew
seem to regard the iucompsiaby more valuable ere
atoms of poetry
To see them adorn the walls Of the Capitol with III.
glowing revelations Of the pencil. aud deco ate the
public grounds with the costly chef duvres of the
chise Is an omen of good whith will be hailed and
applaude1 by all cheering pledge Of the progress
OF refinement. But whilst they lavish their thous-
auds upon these immObie p Oducts Of canvass and
marble and bronze, they offer no rsWard for The more
exalted, more enduring and renowned ovations Il he
pen No fostering hand from these high places has
ever yet invited the Promethan fire Of poetry to ami
mate the history of our country. which, with ell its
'rmony OF form and onder OF proportion lies asleep
around the humble vault OF Mount Vernon, ready 10
spring into life and beauty ut the INST kidding touch
Of this NAL inspiration.
1t surely were work of Supererogaton to Introduce
the proofs that crowd the records OF the past to show
how tar above all other stands the d. inc art of
poesy. What all the paintings, statues and resa.
liza of Versailles. of Fontainbeau. and the Tuer g.
compar. with the IS Narcotics IL mn?" What the
king y inoply Of gold and gems heaped I'D in the
Tower Of London what the coIlec ions of the Royal
Academy, or even the time halowed shriEes of " est
munster Abbey, when compared with the songs of
Burns, and DibIep, and Campbell, Or what has the
world that We would take exchange for Hail Co
lumbia" and the "Star-Spangied Bann*r?" Well
mi.h the British statesman exclaim, 'let me but
write the ballads of nation, aud care not who
makes it, laws"
As far as the living breathing man is above the cold
Insensa,e marble that is made tu represent him: rs
f,r as the IA liant skies of summer above the per
ishabe canvass 10 which the lai tr ,nsferred
their feeble resemblance, far is poetry above all
other arts that have their mission console and ele
waite and inspire the immor tai mind o. man.
In view OF these facts and considering tire lament
able paucity OF patriotic songs in my distinguished
aud beloved country and vi t. hope of being the
humble means ola proper pubic ell ng upon this in
tere ting sui Ject, have cen induced to offer, and
DO hereby Oft r. tie sum of five hund, ed dollars as
prize tor the best Nato 1al Pom, Ode. or Epic
The rules which will govern the payment of this
sum a Q rs follows:
lst have selected (wi:hout consulting them) the
following PERSONS to act as judges ar;ters Of the
prize thus offered. namely:
The Preside of the United States.
bon. A .. P. Nicholson OF Tenness {.
Hon Chas Sumner, of U. 5. Senate.
lion. NJ. I. Hunter, do
Hou. JAS O. Jones, d,
Hon Chandler, ofU. s. House Representatives.
Hon. Thos II B.yly, do DO
lion d. L. Diney, do do
lion John 2. Kennedy Secretary of the Nayv.
Dr. Johu W. C. Evans, Of New jersey.
Joseph Gales
Or. g. Bailey, "a WIG ''e'''
W. w. Seaton,
Professor Henry ofthe 3n ithsori,n Institution.
VIM Selden. lace Treasurer of the United States.
Rev q NJ. Butter, Episc pal Church.
Rev K X. Cure fresby terrain church.
Rev. :. :. Rvszell, Mel hodi t + s,lopal Church.
Rev. Mr.. DoDeian, Catholic Church.
"a. These gentl linen, any three cf them. are
hereby authorized to meet at he Smit hsonan Insti
tute On the second Monday Of December next at such
hour as they may app int, and there t., read
aud examine tie var:ous poe which may have
| been received, aud 10 determine which of them is
most merio, ious and deserving of the prize. And
hereby bind myse to Fay the sum aforementioned
for hwth, t. whoever they shall present to me as the
per on who has liten within the time prescribed the
ct National Patriotic Poem, and upon the epresen
t.tion That he or she is an American citizen.
3D. All communications must be seut to me at
Washington Post-paitD before e first Monday in De
cembcr next with full and complete CONVEYANCE of
| the copyright to me and my heirs and assigns for
ever.
4th. hereby bind and obligate myself to sell the
poems tn sent t., practicable Tor the
high st Price, and to give the proceeds the loor
| the city of Washi gton.
5th. \" loem viii be consi Tered subject to this
prize which sh Ill not been written subseq ueIt
to this date and received before the frat Monday in
December next. +. W. LATHAM.
WASHINGTON, FEB. TO- 1858 fhlT-
H0USEKEEPERs' GOODS.
| 1OHN NJ DDNN BROTHER have just opened
q and arranged handsome assortment of Good,