Daily evening star. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1852-1854, 1853-03-16
n lines or less. For fourteen lines or less
TO AMERICAN POETIC
TALENT!
$500 PREMIUM,

$500 PREM MUM.
TupHESsED as am with the controlling influence
wct. exercised by tie tine upon the direc-
~ anu destiny OF human afajrs, it has given ME in
IL. pleasure WItoeSS the bOunIiful manner in
raa tine II time. painting and statuary have
20 encouraged aAc rewarded BY tue Councils of the
Ea. whiie this acknowledgment is due to the dis
-.irE and worthy patrons OF these noble arts it is
. -iu4l source of hupi iatOn and sorrow to behold
APPARENT apathy and indiiftreu with which they
regard the iuconpaIaby more valuable Gre
--ls If poetry.
1ste them ,iorn the walls OF the Capitol with the
sug revclatiOnS of the pencil. aud decorate the
IL grounds With the costly chef d'euyres of the
,-i Is du omen OF good which will he hailed and
auiei by all cneering pledge of the progress
rinencnt. But, whilst they lavish their thouS-
l, upon these imnObiie products of canvass and
-n.e and bronze, they oIer reward for the more
d I'd enduring and renowned oyations of he
40 fostering hand from these nigh places has
yet invited the pr0mcthan fire OF poetry to ami
e The history OF our country, which, with all its
uouy OF form and onder OF prOpOrti IN. lies asleep
-;ai the humble vault OF Mount Vernon, ready to
into life aud beauty at the first kindling toucn
In, -.nlal Inspiration
i,,Irry Il work Of supereroration to introduce
frg1fs that crowd the records OF the past to show
ar above all other stands the divine art of
s hat are all the paintings, statues, aud resa.-
r. ot versailles Of FOntalnbleau. and the Tuileries.
aP4rei with the - Marsniies Hymn n What the
u rinOpIy of gold and gems heapel up in the
err II London; what the collections OF the Royal
.r,ag, or even the time halOycd shrines of West
a.l-J-r Abbey, when pared with the songs of
i.ra aui Dibden, and Cam pbeil2 Or what has the
1-i that would take exchange for x Hail Co
i4.la and the Star-Spangied Banner?" Well
might The British statesman exclaim, .'let me but
III, the ballads of Il nation, and L care not who
lis1e> Il, laws
\, ir lh living, breathing man is above the cold
I,enSaie marble that is made to represent hin;
Tie naIt skies of summer are above the per-
,Aab.e canvass which the pabter has transferred
ltIf feeble resemblance, far is poetry above all
Ier arts that have their mission to console and ele
'at' and inspire The immortal mind or man.
In TleT oE these facts, and considering the lament
r ptt-ci-E Gt patriotic songs in my distinguished
ID, beloved country, and with the hope of being the
imbIe Means u proper public feeling upon this in
--,.u- SHiJect [ have been induced to offer, and
hereby oHrr. the of five hundred dollars as ii
re i'r the best National Poem, Ode, or Epic.
ihs rules which will govern the payment of this
follows:
- have selected without consulting them) the
s'in. persons to act as judges arsiters OF the
uLD ,lus offered. namely:
n PT.>lle.t Of the United StItes.
a-A - j. Nicholson, of TenneS!-e.
ta Ch1S. Sumner, Of L. 5. sendtc
.1 X u. L. Hunter, do
..a.las T. Joacs, d.
!.AJ Chander, Of s. House Representatives
tll Addison " liite, do do
I.n l.. T. disney do do
I'n john z. Kennedy, Secretary Of the Navy.
J' john ". e. swans, of New Jersey
d. Thos Saunders.
81 ,eph GALES,
.'sl. k Armstrong, r +bo proa.
yri. Bailey, VI ''' '
v. v. St;.tOn,
.,.e-,or Henry, the Smithsonian Institution.
"l Sel1en, late Treasurer of the United States
"-s.C VI. Butler, Episc pal Church.
-'-R H. Gurley. Prcsby terian Church.
t.T-S.s. Rnszell, Method f siopal Church.
.sT- Mr. Uonelan. Catholic Church.
=. These gentlemen, or auy three Of them, are
authorized to- meet at the Smithsonian Insti-
enl The second Monday Of December next, at such
il, a> they may appoint, and there proceed to read
Z examine the various poems which may have
received and to determine which of them is
4l-ritJrious and deserving of the prize. Aud
bind myself to pay the sum aforementioned
.'!th n whoever they shall present to NE the
aa Fho has written within the time prescribed the
.At-,,na Patriotic Poem, and upon the repreScn-
1 nat Ee or she Is American citizen.
o.. Al communications must he seat to me at
s-ia.trl .Vost-paiD before re first Monday in De
-a.c u-xt with a full and complete conveyance of
right to NE and my heirs and ASST gnS for
5-t.
.- hereby bind and obligate myself to sell the
-' ih'S sent to practicable, Tor the
-.s price and to give the proceeds TO the poor of
ny ofWashiugton.
.,i. Ao poem will be considered subject to this
-'l. "tch shall not have been written subsequent
'"l, d9e and received before the first Monday In
y Per neat r. W. LATHAM.
"t>aINar'y FEE. 10, 1858. feb17-