Daily evening star. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1852-1854, 1853-06-06

huence which IS eHertI51l gy the fire arts
arts upon the direction aIi ,cs.iny Of human
affairs, it has given me infinite pleasure to
witness the bountiful manner IN which, from
time TO time, painting ana 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 hunii alton 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'OeuyreS of the chiseI. is an omen of
good which will be hailed and applauded by
all as u cheering pied ge of the progress of re-
hnement Bat. 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 oyations of the pen. No fostering
hand from these high places has ever yet in
vitel the PrOmetheam fire Of poetry TO animat
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.
Il surely were 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 all the
paintings statues and regalia Of Versailles
Of Fontainbleau and the Tuiileries, compared
with the Marseiles Hymn ?" What the
kinsiy panOply of gold and gems hoaped 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-
den, and Campbell Or what has the world
that We would take in exchange for - Hail
".Unbia" " and the = ar-Sparg,ei Banner?"
Well mi sht tie British statesman exclaim
" LEI me but write the ballads of 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 the radiant skies OF
summer are above the perishabe canvass to
which she painter has transferred their feeble
resemblance, so far is poetry above all other
ats that have their mission to console and
elevate and inspire the immortal mind OF
nan.
In view of these facts, and considering the
lanentable paucity of patriotic songs in my
d.:.iu .uished and beloved country, and with
the hone of being the humble means OF pro-
per public feeling uyon this interesting sub
lit, [ have been induced to offer, and do
hereby offer the sum of five hundred dollars
as a prize for the best National Poem, Ode or
Epic:
The rules which viii govern the payment
Of this sum. are as follows:
1st [ have selected (w;hout consulting
them) the following nersOns 70 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 Chas sumner, of I. 5. Senate.
Hon. K. NJ T. Hunter, do
Hon Jas g. Zones. do
Hon. J. r. Chandler. of T. S. II. Reps.
Hon. Addison White, do do
lion. Thcs, Fl. Bayly. do do
E,n D r. Disney do. do
Ton. ]. p. Kennedy Secretary of the Navy.
DJ W c. Evans, of New Jersey.
D. Thos Saunders.
Joseph Gales.
Dr. g. Bailey,
W ". Scaton,
Prof Henry. Of he Smithsonian Institution.
Wm. seldom. late Treasurer Of the U. 5
Rev. C.. NJ Butler EniScO0al Church.
Rev. r. r. GurIev Preshvterian Church.
Rev. : s Rosze1I. VI. r. church.
Rev. Mr. Donelan. Catholic Ehu~cH.
2I These zen Ienen u" my .bree d hem.
are hereby author re-, 81, T-eaa az he m h
-auian Ins:i,u+uFc. ~ -ne so.anj Monday Of
December next. ut Sa-l aary IL thew may
point. aud there nro:5e5 70 reti and examine
me various poems With nav ave been re-
eeived. and to determine ~a,cn Of hem is
most meritorious ard deserving of he p:lze.
AMI [ hereby bind myself to nav he sum
aforementioned forthwith. 10 whoever they
shall present TO me as the nerSon who has
written. within the time prescribed. the best
National Patriotic Poem, and upOn the repre-
sen-ation that he or she is an American citizen.
81 All communications must be sent to me
a. Washington post paid before the first
Npudav in December next, with full ana
complete conveyance Of the copyright to me
aai nv heirs and gns forever.
It'll. l hereby bind and obigate myself o
SeN he poems thus sent to me as soon As prac-
ticable for the highest price. and to give the
proceeds to the poor of the city OF Wash
lngtOn.
5th. No poem will be considered as subject
10 this prize which shall not have been writ
ten subsequent to this date. and received be-
lore the first Monday in December next:
R. W. LATHAM
WASHINGTON. FEB. 10. 1858. feb. IL
L'ght K d Gloves. Black Nett Mitts. &c.
i, fIr ~ doz. Bajou' light colored Kid Gloves
llEVilf 10 do white do.
4VII 10 doz. Black Nett Mitts