Daily evening star. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1852-1854, 1853-06-04
Encouragement to American Poetic Talent /!
$500 Premium

>HI ItE-tocI-D dS ain WIN the controls NO n
J. fuence which is exercised by the fins arts
arts upon the direction and destiny of human
affairs, it has given me infinite pleasure to
witness the b0untiful 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, 1T 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 oeuvres 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 their 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
Vited the Promethean fire of poetry to animat
the history of cur country which, with all its
harmony of fern 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 supereroeation to
Introduce the proofs that crowd the records of
the past to show how far above all other stands
the = divine art of poesy. What are all the
paintings statues, and regalia of Versailles
Of Fontainbleau and the Tuillegies, compared
with the . Marseilles Hymn % What the
kngly panoply of gold and gems heaped up
in the Tower of London ; what the collections
Of the Royal Academy, or even the time hal
II, orIT A L
compared with the songs of Burns, and Dib-
den, and Campbell? Or what has the world
that would take in exchange for g Hail
Columbia" and the . 'Star-Spangled Banner?"
Well might the British statesman exclcim
let me but write the ballads of a nation,
and I care not who makes its laws. -
As far as the living, breathing man is above
the cold insensate marble that is made to re-
present him; as far as the radiant skies OF
summer are 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 mind OF
man.
In view of these facts, and considering the
l1mentabe paucty of patriotic songs In my
distinguished and beloved country, and with
the hone of being the humble means of pro-
per public feeling upon this Interesting sub
i.,t I have been induced to offer, and do
hereby offer. the sum Of five hundred dollars
a, nrize for the best National Poem, Ode or
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
or arbiters of the prize thus offered. namely :
The President of the United States
Hon A. O. P. Nicholson, of Tennessee.
Hon Cbas Summer Of u. :. Senate.
Hon. r. NJ T. Hunter, do
Hon. Jas G. Jones, do
Hon J. R. Chandler, of L. S Ii: Reps
Hon. Addison White, do do
lion Thos. H. Bayiy, do do
Hon d. T. Disney, do DO
Hon J. P Kennedy. Secretary OF the Navy
D. J. W. G. Evans, of New jersey
D. Thos Saunders,
sss s5s;;ph (. ss'sa: ARMSTRONG, Of til. Press,
DR.. e. Bailey,
W VI. Seaton,
Prof. Henry, of the Smithsonian Institution,
VIM Seldom late Treasurer OF the Y. ,.
Rev. c. NJ Butler, Episcopal Church.
Rev. r. r. Gurley, Presbyterian Church.
Rev. s. S Roszell, NJ. E. Church
| Rev Nr- Donelan, Catholic Church.
II These gentlemen, or any three of them,
| srp herebv authorized to meet at the Smith
sari,n Tnstitutute on the second Monday OF
! december next at such hour as they may ap-
ant, and there proceed to road and examine
ne various poems which may have been re-
ceiveI and to determine which of them is
most meritorious and deserving of the prize
Ind I hereby bind myself to pay the sum
aforenentioned forthwith, to whoever they
shall present to me the person who has
written, within the time prescribed, the bes
National Patriotic Poem, and upon the repre-
.entation that he or she is an American citizen
1 81. All communications must be sent to me
2, Washington (post paid before the frs
Monday in December next, with full ano
,omplete conveyance of the copyright to m'
and my heirs and assigns forever D..
ith. | hereby bind and obligate myself Il
| 'ell the poems thus sent to me as soon as prac
ticable. for the highest price, and to give th'
Proceeds to the poor of the city OF WASH
ln,ton.
9TH. No poem will be considered as suoJec
10 this prize which shall not have been writ
Ten subsequent to this date, and recelvco De
lore the first Monday in December next;
r. W. LATHAM.
WASHINGTON FEE. 10, 1858. fen. II
Light Kid Gloves, Black Nett Mitts, &C.
II Nh 90 doz. Bajou's light colored hid 0ioVe
HTllf 10 do. white do.
4 tNHV A.. Elooly Natt