Daily evening star. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1852-1854, 1853-04-25
TERMS OF ADVERTISINt
For fourteen lines or less.
ENCOURAGEMENT TO AMERICAN POETIC
TALENT!
$500 PRE- MUM.


$500 PREMIUM.
IMPRESSED as am with the controlling influence
which exercised by tie fine arts upon the direc-
Ton anI destlny of humao affairs, it has given me in
nit. pleasure to wltoeSs the bountiful manner in
which, from time t. time, painting and tuary have
encouraged and rewarded By the Councils of the
yatOn.
But, while this acknowledgment is due to the dis
rains and worthy patrons of these noble arts it is
IN elual source of humiliation and sorrow to behold
iii. apparent apathy and indferen with which thew
to regard the incomparably more valuable Gre
ATOMS of poetry.
70 them adorn the walls of the Capitol with the
ogag revolutions of the pencil, and deco rate the
yubic grounds with the costly chef deuvres of the
:lre is an omen of good which will be hailed and
ayyaude1 by all cheering pledge of the progress
Il refinement But, whilst they lavish their thous-
aus upon these immobie products of canvass and
marble and BRONZE they offer no reward for the more
x.ted, more enduring and renow ned ovations of he
pen. No fostering hand from these high places has
ever yet invited the Promethan fire of poetry to ami
nate the history of our country which, with all its
harmony OF form and wonder OF proportion, lies asleep
rOlnt the humble vault OF Mount Vernon, ready to
spring into life and beauty at the first kindline touch
.: this gsnial inspiration.
ltsurely were work Of supererogatioa to introduce
the proofs that crowd the records OF the past to show
l)w far above all other stands the divine art of
T04sy. What all the paintings statues and rega-
la Of Versailles, of Fontainbleau. and the Tueres
"Ompared with the I" Marseilles Hymn" What the
alhsy panoply of gold and gems heaped up in the
lover OF London; what the collections of the ROyal
Academy or even the time hallOwed shrines of West
minister Abbey, when compared with the songs of
Burns. and Dibien, and Campbell? Or what has the
world that We would take in exchange for :" Hail Co
unbia" and the "Star-Spangled Banner?" Well
hi ,ht the British statesman exclaim, "let me but
write the ballads of nation, and L care not who
makesits laws"
As far the living. breathing man is above the cold
nsensae marble that is made to represent him; as
r the I'd liant skies of summer above the per-
hable Canvass to which the pa has transferred
their feeble resemblance, far is poetry above all
other arts that have their mission to console and ee
yate and inspire the immortal mind of man.
IL view OF these facts, and considering the lament
abIe pauciy of patriotic songs in my distinguished
aud beloved country and with the hope of being the
humble means Of proper public feeling upon this in
erestlng subject have been induced to offer, and
do hereby offer, the sum of FIVE hundred dollars as
prize for the best National Poem, Ode, or Epic.
The rules which will govern the payment of this
sum follows:
lst have selected (without consulting them) the
loWlng persons to act as judges or arbters of the
prize thus offered, namely:
The Preside It of the United States.
Hon. A. .. p Nicholson. of Tennessee.
Hon Chas. Sumner, of q. s. Senate,
Hon K. NJ L. Hunter, do
Hon. Jas. G. Jones, do
Aon.J. Chandler, of US. House Representatives.
lion. Thos. III Bayly, do do
don. John p Kennedy, Secretary of the Navy.
III. John W. G. Evans, Of New Jersey.
Dr. ThOs Saunders.
e.; e. +; z,,'s4 sS:ss z.$''rons, of tn. Press.
". W. Seaton,
Prote'sor Henry, ofthe Smithsonian Institution.
mm Selden, late Treasurer of the United States.
A'V O. VI. Butler, Episcopal Church.
Rev H. X. Gure.. Presbyter Church.
lev ). :. Roszel, Methodist Epislopal Church.
hsT Mr. Donelan, Catholic Church.
d. These gentlemen, or any three of them, are
Efeoy authorized to meet at the Smithsonian Insti-
lN'on the second Monday of December next, at such
-af as they may appoint, and there proceed to read
lVi examine the various poems which may have
tsh received, and to determine which of them is
IHt meritorious and deserving of the prize. And 1
tFeoy bind myself to pay the sum aforementioned
'Nn who has written within the time prescribed the
80 NATIONAL Patriotic Poem, and upon the represen
','on taat he or she is an American citizen.
'L All communications must be sent to me at
'Salngton tpost-paid) before the first Monday in De-
Copyright to me and my heirs and assigns for
IN hereby bind and obligate myself to sell the
est price, and to give the proceeds to the poor of
1ty of Washington.
e'h. No poem will be considered "a subject to this
'al date, aud received before the first Monday in
D,enber next R. W. LATHAM.
-HAsHINGTOy, FEB. 10. 1853. eb17-
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