Daily evening star. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1852-1854, 1853-05-20
Encouragement to American Poetic Talent!
$500 Premium.


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 acknowled gment 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 d 9uvres of the chisel, is an omen of
good which will be hailed and applauded by
all as cheering pledge of the progress Of re-
fnement. But, whilst they lavish heir thou
sands upon those immobile products OF canvass
and marble and bronze, they offer no reward
for the more exalted more enduring and re-
nowned ovations of the pen. No fostering
hand from these high places has ever yet in
vlted 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 kinains 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 < divine art Of pocsy. What are all the
paintings statues, and regalia of Versailles
of EOntainbleau and the Tuilleries compared
with the " Marseilles Hymn ?" What the
kingly panoply Of gold and gems heaped up
in the Tower Of London what the ;c'ie. ions
OF the Royal Academy, or even the line hal
lowed shrineS Of Yves minister Abbey. when
compared with the songs Of Burns, and Dib-
den and Campbell Or what has the world
that we would take in exchange for :. Hail
Columbia and the = Star-Spanglea Banl err;
We'll might the British statesma:: aim
= let me but write the ballads Of ilat ion
and care not who makes its laws
As far as the living. breathing man : above
the cold insensate marble that is mad 20 re-
present him; rs far as the radian. skies Of
summer are above the perishable canvass 70
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 mind CT
man.
In view of these facts, and considering the
iamentable paucity OF patriotic songs in nv
distinguished and beloved country and with
the hope of being the humble means of pro-
per public feeling upon this interesting sub
lect, L have been induced to offer. and do
hereby offer. the sum of five hundred dollars
as prize fer tie best National Poem, Ode or
iTbo r,,o, -l:o, II, 100000 \,
Of this sum. are as follows:
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Hon. D. r Disney Do J..
Hon T p Ecn,.odr- Sacra.,r,,,r 49,. ,-...--
ID " G. Ey~n. of yn,v -
d. Thos. saunders
Joseph Gales
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DR.. G. Ra;Iov of the Pre-
W. w Seaton
Prof. Henry Of 4ba SD1;tbson;o
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