Daily evening star. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1852-1854, 1853-07-21
Encouragement to American Poetic Talent
$500 Premium.

$500 Premium.
| IMPRESSED as am with the controlling in
l. fuence which is exercised by the fine arts
arts upon he direction and destiny of human
affairs, ii has given me infinite pleasure 10
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 10
the discerning and worthy patrons Of these
noble il is an equal source of humiliation and
sorrow to behold the apparent apathy and in
difference with which they seem TO regard the
incomparsbly 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'9uyres of the chisel, is an omen of
good which will be hailed and applauded by
all as a cheering pledge of the progress of re-
6nement 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-
newned oyations of the pen. No fostering
hand from these high places has ever yet in
vited the Prcmethean fire of poetry to animal
the history Of our country, which, with all it's
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
SEPARATION.
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 poesy. What are all the
paintings statues, and regalia of Versailles
of Fontainbleau and the Tuilleries compared
with the - Marseilles Hymn - Wha. the
kingly panoply of gold and gems beared 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 Dbl
den, and Campbell, Or what has the world
that we would take in exchange for - Hail
Columbia" and the - Star-Spangled Banner?''
Well might the British statesman exclaim
g let me but write the ballads Of a nation.
and 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 the radiant skies of
summer are above the perishablc 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
lamentable raucity 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
ject, L have been induced TO offer, and DO
hereby offer. the sum of five hundred dollar.
prize for the best National Poem, Ode or
Epic.
The rules which will govern the payment
of this sum, are as follows
LIST / have selected without consulting
theml the following persons to act as judges
or arbiters of the prize thus offered. namely:
The President of the United States
Ron A. o. p. Nicholson. of Tennessee
Hon. ChaS SIMMER Of Il Senate
Hon. r. NJ. T. Hunter, do
Eon. JAS. c. Jones do
Hon. J. R. Chandler, of Z. S. L. Reps.
Hon. Addison White, do do
Bon. Ihos. II. Bayly, do do
Hon. ID. 7. Disney, do do
hon. j. p. Kennedy. Secretary of the Navy.
D. J. W. c. Evans Of New Jersey.
D. Thos Saunders
Joseph Gales,
Gen. r. Armstrong
DR.. q. Bailey, Vi 'ne iess'
W w 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
Rev. S. s. RoszeIl. NJ T. Church
Rev. Mr.. Donelan. Catholic Church
Cd. These gentlemen. or any three Of them.
are hereby authorized to meet at the Smith
sonlan lnstitutute, on the second Monday Of
December next, at such hour as they NAV ap-
point. and there proceed to read and examine
the various poems which NAV have been re.
ceived, and TO determine which of them is
most meritorious and deserving of the prize
And 1 hereby bind myself to pay the sum
aforementioned forthwith, to whoever they
shall present TO NE the person who has
written, within the time prescribed. the best
National Patriotic Poem, and upon the repre.
sentation that he or she is an American citizen
I'd. All communications must be sent to me
at Washington post paid before the first
Monday in December next, with a full and
complete conveyance of the copyright to me
and my heirs and assigns forever
4th. hereby bind and obligate myself to
sell the poems thus sent TO me as soon as rrac-
ticable, for the highest price, and to give the
proceeds to the poor of the city of Wash
ington.
5th No poem will be considered as subject
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. 1853. feb IL