Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1853-05-24
Cumberland, April 5, 1853
Five Hundred Dollars Reward.

IMPRESSED as am with the controlling influence
:! which IS exercised by the fine upon the drcc-
uon ana destiny OF human affairs, it has given inf
mite pleasure 10 witness the bountifu in which,
from time to time, painting and statunry has been en-
Outraged and rewarded by the councils of the nation
But while the Acknowledgement is due to the DISCERN
ing and worthy patrons of the noble arts is an equal
source OF humiliation and behold the anna
rent apathy and indifference with which thew scc IN
regard the incompar,by more valuable creations Of
poetry.
To them adorn the walls of the Capitol with thc
glowing revelations of the pencil, and decorate the
public grounds with the costly D'GuvREs of the
chisel IS an omen of good which will be hailed and
aPplauded by all cheering pledge of the progress
of refinement. But, whilst they lavish their Thousands
upon these nnobIIc products of canvass and marble
and bronco they offer reward for the more exalted
more enduring and renowned ovations of the pen
NO fostering hand from these high places has ever vet
invited the PrOmcthcan fire of poetry to animate the
history OF country, which with all its harmony of
form and wonder of proportion, lies asleep around the
humble vault of Mount Vernon ready to snrinur into
life and beauty at the first kindlng touch of this genial
inspiration
1t surely work of supcrerogotion To iptroluc,
the proofs that crowd the records the past to show
how far above all others stands the ''divnc art of poe
Sy hat are all tho paintings, statues, and rcgalia
Versailles of FOnainblcau the Tuilerics compared
with the .NIarsccs IIymn?'' What the kingly pano-
don; what the Collections of the Royal Academy or
even the time lnlOwcd shrines of Westminster Abbey
and Campbell? Or what has the world that VIC would
take in exchange for 'Inil Columbia and the Star-
SPangtcd i'anncr?" We'll might the British states
man cNclaim ''Lct me but write the ballads of ma
ton, and care not who makes its laws
above the cold
ingensatc marble that is made represent him; as far
the radiant skies of summer are above the nerisbo
bic canvass to which the painter has transferred their
feeble resemblance far poetry above all other arts
that have their mission console and elevate and in
sPirc the Immortal mind of mnn.
In view oil these iacts and considering the lamcnta-
bic paucity of patriotic songs in my eshct and
beloved country and with the hope being the hum
bic means of nrousing proper public feeling upon
this interesting subject have been induced to offer
ana do hereby otter the sum Of five hundred dollars
prize Tor the best National Poem, Ode or Epic.
rules which foft
arc as follows: -
LIST. have selected (without consulting them) the
prize thus offered, namely:
The President of the United States
Hon \; o; p Nicholson, of Tennessee.
Hon. Charles Sumner, L. s. Senate.
Hon. II. NJ. T Hunter, ditto.
Hon. James {. Jones, ditto.
Hon. }. +: Chandler, of L. S H. of Reps.
Hon. addison White, do. do
Hon. Thomas H. Bayly, do. do
Hon: John P. Kennedy, Secretary of the NAVY.
Dr. John w. c. Evans, of New Jersey.
Dr. Thomas Saunders.
s s%sep r C ARMSTRONG, ., D.. n...
Dr. G. Bailey, Vi inc Frcss.
R M% s sssys Of the nstituton
Rev. C. NJ Butler, Episcopal Church.
Rev. S. S. Rozsell, NJ. E. Church.
Rev. Mr.. Donelan, Catholic Church.
I'd These gentlemen, or any three ofthem arc here
by authorized to meet at the Smithsonian Institute ON
the I'd Monday of December such hour MS thew
may appoint, and there proceed to read and examine,
the various poems which may have been received and
serving of the prize: And hereby bind MYSELF to nav
the sum aforementioned forthwith, whoever thew
within the time prescribed the best national patriotic
poe and upon their representation that he or she is
an American citizen
3D. All communications must be sent to me Mt
Washington, (post paid before the first Monday in
December next, with full and complete conveyance
OF the copyright to me and my heirs and assigns for
poems thus sent to me practicable for the
highest price, and to give the proceeds the poor of
the city of Washington. r.
5th No poem will be considered as subject to this
prize which shall not have been written subsequent to
tins date, and received before the first Mon py in De-
cenIbcr next. r. w LATHAM
Washington, Feb %, ls53-tf