Daily evening star. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1852-1854, 1853-05-27
Encouragement to imerican Poetic Talent !.
$500 Premium.

IMPRESSED as am with the controlling in
L hucnce which is exercised by the fine arts
arts upon the direction and destiny of human
affairs il 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 patrous of these
noble, ii is an equal source Of humili ton 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'euvres of the chisel. is an omen Of
good which will be hailed and applauded by
all as u cheering pledge OF the progress of re-
fnement- But. whilst they lavish their thou
sands upon those imfnobile products of canvass
and marble and bronze, they offer reward
for the more exalted, more enduring and re-
uownci ovations Of the pen. No fosterins (
hand from these high places has ever yet in
yitel ;he PrOmethean fire of poetry to animat
the history Of our ceHntry, which, with all its
hlrmDny OF form and wonder of proportion,
lies asleep around the humble vault of Mount
Vernon. ready 10 spring into life and beauty
=; the .irst knllling touch of this -cnial in
spratOn.
II surely were a work OF supercroga to
Introduce the proofs that crowd the records of
the past 10 show how far above all other stands
the divine art of poeSy. What are all the
pliutings statues, and regalia OF Versailles.
OF Fon,anbIeau and the TuiIeries, compared
vi h the Marseillcs Hymn - What the
k:u5ly 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 Dib-
dca. and Campbell? Or what has the world
trat we would take in exchange for < Hail
Columbia and the = S.ar-Spangled Banner
Well mi sht the British statesman cX3ainl
' le. me but wri.e the ballads of q Eatien,
and care not who makes its laws
As far aS the living. brea hing man is above
the cold inscnslte marble that is made to re-
present him; as far as the radiant skies Of
GUNNER are above the Perishabe 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 mind OF
man.
In view of these facts and considering tie
Iamentable paucity of patriotic songs in my
Distinguished and beloved country, and with
the hone OF beiH the humble means Of a pro-
per public feeling upon this interesting sub
le:t. | have been induced to offer. and do
h"~eby offer. the sum of five hundred dollars
"a prize for the best National Poem, Ode or
EFic.
The rules which will govern the payment
of this sum. are as follows:
LIST | have selected without consulting
them the following persons to act as judges
Or arbite:s of the prize thus offered, namely
The President of the United States.
Hon. A. O. p. Nicholson. of Tennessee
Hon. Chas. Sumner, of u. s. Senate.
Hon r. NJ T. Hunter, do
Hon. Jas. C. Jones, Go
Hon. J. r. Chandler, of I. S. II. Reps.
Hon Addison White, do do
Hon Thos II. Bayly, do do
Hon D. T. Disney, do do
Hon. J. p. Kennedy Secretary of the Navy
D. J. ". G. Evans. of New Jersey.
j. Thos Saunders.
,;esSpR as1 r 's!3a: asn.,repg, ., the Press.
DR.. g. Bailey,
W W Seatcn,
Prof. Henry, OF the Smithsonian Institution
Wm. Seldom. late Treasurer of the u. >.
Rev. C. NJ Butler, Episcopal Church
Rev. r. r. Gurlev. Presbyterian Church.
Rev. S. S Roszell. VI. f. Church.
Rev Mr. Donelan. Catholic Church.
2l These gentlemen, or any three of them
IRE hereby authorized to meet at the Smith
Tanian Institutute, the second Monday o.
December next, at such hour as they may ap
aoint. aud there proceed to read and examine
The various poems which may have been re
,eivcl. and to determine which of them Il
most meritorious an1 deserving of the prize
And [ hereby bind myself to pay the sun
aforementioned forthwith, to whoever the,
shall present to me as the person who ha
written, within the time prescribed, the bes
National Patriotic Poem, and upon the repre-
scntation that he or she is an American citizen
81. All communications must he sent to mi
at Washington (post paid before the frs
Monday in December next, with fuli an'
complete conveyance of the copyright to M
and nv heirs and assigns forever.
4th. I hereby bind and oblisatc myself II
sell the poems thus sent to ME as soon as prac
ticablc, for the highest price. and to give tn
proceeds to the poor of the city OF Wash
IngtOn.
5th No poem will be considered as subIec
to this prize which shall not have been writ
ten subsequent to this date, and received be
fore the first Monday in December NEXT
r. W. LATHAM.
WASHINGTON. FEB. 10, 1888. feb IL