Daily evening star. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1852-1854, 1853-05-19
Encouragement to American Poetic Talent!
$500 Premium.

IMPRESSED as am with the controlling in
/ fuence which is exercised by the fine arts
arts upon the direction and destiny Of human
affairs, it has given me Infinite pleasure to
witness the bountiful manner in which, from
time to time, painting and statuary have been
encouraged and rewarded by the Councils of
the Nation.
But, while this acknowledgment is due to
the discerning and worthy patrons Of these
noble, it is an equal source of humiliation and
sorrow to behold the apparent apathy and in
difference with which they seem to regard the
incomparably more valuable creations Of
poetry.
To see them adorn the walls of the Capitol
with the glowing revelations of the pencil and
decorate the public grounds with the costly
chef ,ouvres of the chisel, is an omen of
good which will be hailed and applauded by
all as cheering pledge Of the progress of re-
inement. But, whilst they lavish their thou
sands upon those immobie products of canvass
and marble and bronze they offer no reward
for the more exalted, more enduring and re-
hand from these high places has ever yet in
vited the Promethean FIRE Of poetry to animal
the history of our country, which, with all its
harmony Of form and wonder of proportion.
lies asleep around the humble vault Of Mount
Vernon, ready to spring into life and beauty
at the first kindling touch Of this genial in
spiration.
1t surely were a work of supererogation to
introduce the proofs that crowd the records of
the past to show how far above all other stands
the g divine art of poesy What are all the
paintings statues. and regalia of Versailles.
of Fontainbeau and the Tuilleries. compared
with the g Marseilles Hymn % What the
kingly panoply of gold and gems heaped up
in the Tower of London what the collections
of the Royal Academy, or even the time hal
lowed shrines of Westminster Abbey. when
compared with the songs of Burns. and DID
den, and Campbell Or what has the world
that we would take in exchange for g Hail
Columbian and the {" StarSpangled Banner?'
Well might the British statesman exclaim
= let me but write the ballads Of nation
| and L care not who makes its laws
As far as the living. breathing man is above
the cold lnsensate marble that is made to re-
present him as far as the radiant skies of
summer arc above the perishable canvass to
which the painter has transferred their feeble
resemblance, SO far is poetry above all other
arts that have their mission to console and
elevate and inspire the immortal miad Of
man.
In view Of these facts, and considering the
lamentable paucity of patriotic songs in my
distinguished and beloved country. and will
the hope of being the humble means Of a pro-
per public feeling upon this interesting sub
ject, [ have been induced to offer, and d.
hereby Cfer the sum of five hundred dollars
rs prize for the best National Poem, Ode
Epic.
The rules which will govern the payment
OF this sum- are as follows:
lst. have selected without consulting
them the following persons to act as judges
er arbiters of the prize thus offered. namely
The President Of the United States.
Hon. 4. o. ?. Nicholson, Of Tennessee.
lion. Chas. Sumner, of U. S: Senate
Hon. R. NJ. T. Hunter, do
Hon. Jas. c. Jones' DO
Hon. J. r. Chandler. of I. S. H. Reps
Hon. Addison White do do
Hon. Thos. II. Bayly, do do
Hon. d. 7. Disney, do do
lion. ): 7. Kennedy: Secretary of the Navy.
d. j. ". c. Evans, of New Jersey.
ID. Thos. Saunders
Joseph Gales,
Gen. R: Armstrong of tho p-.
DR.. G. Bailey u Tie rIess.
". ". Seaton.
Prof. Henry, Of the Smithsonian Institution
VIM. Seldom. late Treasurer of the L S
Rev. c. NJ. Butler, Episcopal Church
Rev. r. R. Gurley: Presbyterian Church
ID