Daily evening star. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1852-1854, 1853-03-09
TERMS OF ADVERTISING
For fourteen lines or les
7 g,COURAGEM ENT TO AMERICAN POETIC
TALENT!
$500 PRE- MUM.

$500 PRE- MUM.
IMPRESSED 1 an with the controlling influence
which l. exercised by tie fine arts upon tn drec-
IA and destiny of humau affairs, il has given me in
1rIC. pleasure To wit less the bountiul manner in
which tune t. time. paiHti'ig and statuary have
-n encouraged and rewarded by tue Councils of the
Ia.ion.
but while this acknowledgment mt is due to the dis.
.rnnr and worthy patrons of these noble arts it is
sl equal Of huni iatiOn and to behold
;s apparent apathy and fnoifferen with which they
,-eln regard the incOmparabIy valuable Gre
atoms of poetry.
..oaiDg revolutions of the pencil. and decorate the
eublic grounds with the costly chef feuvres of the
.hisel, is of good which will he hailed and
arpauded hy ali as cheering pledge Of the progress
reiinement. But, whilst they lavish their thous-
auis upOa these immobiie products of canvass and
marble aud brpnz,, they offer reward for the more
syated more enduring and renowned ovatons Of he
lel. No fosering hand from these high places has
yet invited the promethan fire of poetry to ami
nate TIE history of country, which, with all its
HrmOny OF form and aOndcr Of proportion, lies asleep
ar)Inj the humble vault oG Mount Vernon, ready to
pn- into Ife aud teauty at the first kidding toucn
Vi this :, nal inspiration.
itSurc work of supereroratioQ to introduce
the proofs that crowd the records OF the past to show
now far above all other stands the divine art " of
F0y What are all the paintings, statues and rega-
IL Of Versailles of Font,inbleau. and the Tuierits
compared with the - Mars"iileS IIymn?' What the
aIas panoply of gold and gems haaped up in the
Tower Of London; what the coiIec ions of the ROYAL
Aitsny, or even the time hallowed shrines of West
mntir Abbey, when compared with the songs of
Barns, and Dibden, and Cam bell? Or what has the
~o-lt that would take in exchange for " Hail Co
UntiI" and the STARS Spangied Banner?" Well
might the kritish statesman excaiIn, .'let me but
w-te the ballads of q nation, and L not who
Make it. laws
AS far the living breai hing man is above the cold
nsensate marble that is made to represent him; as
flr the liant skies of summer are above the per-
-t,afa hi
their feeble resemblance, so far is poetry above all
other arts that have their mission console and ele
rate and inspire the immortal mind OF man.
In view OF these facts and considering the lament
abe pauc.v of patriotic songs in my distinguished
AMI beloved country, and with the hope of being the
humble Means ofa proper public feeling upon this in
i'r-stins subject, have been induced to OFFER and
30 hereby OFF,. the sum of five huntl ed dollars as
rFlhe for the best National Poem, ,tie, or Epic.
The rules which will govern the payment of this
sum follows:
1t have selected (without consulting thern) the
""In5 persons to act as judges arbiters Of the
Irlie thus offered. namely:
In' President of the United States.
lion. 4 >. p Nicholson. OF Tennessee.
! hR ChaS- Summer of L. s. Senate
l.9l. X VI. L. Hunter, do
,oaJ r Chandler, of Us. House Representatives.
ioH. Addison VI hitp, do do
Hon. Thos IL B'yly, do do
Hon. John P. Kennedy. Secretary Of the Navy.
lf-yohn ". q. Evans, OF New jersey.
IT. ThoS. Saunders.
81 81. { s;:5 ,S:S5: S:%:'rons, of tn. Press.
W ". Sratnn,
frae'>0r Henry, of the Smithsonian Institution.
nih SeIden, late Treasurer of the United States.
.''. I VI. Butler, Episcopal Church.
tF'- Il. Guries, Presby yterian Church.
49,. Roszell. Methodist EFis.iopal Church
nv. hr Donelan. Catholic Church.
= lheN' gentlemen, or any three Of them.
-'! authorized TO meet at The Smithsonian Insti-
con the second Monday of December next, at such
q aS they may appoint, and there proceed to read
III examine the yariors poems which may have
~ received. and to determine which of them is
| I rlerItorlouS and deserving of the prize. And
| 10y hind myself to pay the SUN aforementioned
1"lth, II whoever they shall Present to as the
on who has written within the time prescribed the
National Patriotic Poem, and upon the represen-
| ', u tnat he or she is an American citizen.
| II All communications must ba seut to at
'"lngton tpost-pai) before toe first Monday in De
-'-r next. with a full and complete conveyance of
"fyrght to and my heirs and assigns for
e7s-
IA hereby bind and ob,igate myself to sell the
.-H price. and to give the proceeds to the poor of
- NY of Washington.
.'4. No poem will be nsi'ierei as subject to this
'"r ShIch shall not have been WI item subsequent
H. '"l> iate, and received before the first Monday in
ghhrn next. II. W. LATHAM.
i ,nt'HINGToN. FEB 10. 1858. febl7-