Daily evening star. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1852-1854, 1853-06-11
Encouragement to American Poetic Talent
$500 Premium,


it has given me infinite pleasure to
witness the bOuntiful manner in which, from
time to time, painting and statuary have been
encouraged and rewarded by the Councils of
the Nation. $50
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 dnuyres - the chisel, is an omen of
good which will be hailed and applauded by
all as cheering pledge of the fogress of re-
tinement. 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-
newncd 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 our country, which. with all it's
harmony OK form and wonder of proportion,
lies asleep around the humble vault OF Mount
Vernon, ready to spring into life and beauty
ut the first kindling touch of this genial III
SpiratiOn.
1t surely were a work of supcrerOgati0n 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 resalia of Versailles.
of Fontainbleau and the TuiilerieS. compared
with the = Marseilles Hymn ?" What the
kingly panopiy of gold and gems heaped 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 ia exchange for . Hail
Well might the British statesman eXclaim
let ME but write the ballads of nation,
and | care not who makes it's 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 perishabe canvass to
which the painter has transferred their feeble
resemblance, 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
llmentab1e paueity of patriotic songs in my
distingui shed and beloved country, and with
the hope of heing the humble means of pro-
rer public feeling upon this interesting sub
iect. | 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, are as follows
lst | have selected (without consulting
sheml the following persons to act as judges
or arbiters of the prize thus offered, namely :
The President of the United States.
Hon 4. O. P Nicholson. Of Tennessee.
Hon Chas. Sumner, of L. 5. Senate
Hon. r. NJ. T. Hunter, do
Hon. JAS c. Jones, do
Hon J. R. Chandler of l. S. IL. Reps
Hon Addison White, do do
Hon. Thes- H. Bayly, do do
Hon d. T. Disney. do do
Hon. J. P. Kennedy Secretary of the Navy.
DIV. c. Evans, Of New jersey.
ID. Thos. Saunders.
Joseph Gales,
Gen r. Armstrong, | IS ,h, p-os.
DR.. G. Bailey,
W W. Seaton.
Prof. Henry, of the SmithsOni an Institution.
VIM Seldom. late Treasurer of the I. 5.
Rev. C. NJ. Butler, Episcopal Church
Rev. r. r. Gurey, Presbyterian Church.
Rev. s s. Roszell, M. E. Church.
Rev. Mr. Donclan. Catholic Church.
81 These gentlemen, or any three of them.
are hereby authorized to meet at the Smith
Eonian Institutute. on the second Monday OF
December next, at such hour as they may ap-
point, and there proceed to read and examine
the various poems which may have been re-
ceived and 20 determine which of them Is
most meritorious and deserving of the prize,
And I hereby bind myself to pay the sum
aforementioned forthwith, to whoever they
shall present to me as the person who has
written within the time prescribed. the best
National Patriotic Poem, and upon therepre-
sentation that he or she is an American citizen
Sd All communications must be sent to me
1T Washington (post paid) before the first
Monday in December next, with full ana
complete conveyance of the copyright to me
and nv heirs and assigns forever.
4th. hereby bind and obligate myself TO
sell the poems thus sent 10 me "a soon as prac-
tjcable for the highest price, and to give the
proceeds to the poor of the city OF ash
lI-ton
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-
fore the first Monday in December next
R. W. LATHAM.
WASHINGTON. FER 10. 1853 feb IL
Light Kid Gloves, Black Nett Mitts, &c.
4, nm 20 doz. Bajou's light colored Kid Gloves
ltlrEllf 10 do. white do
l4III 15 doz. Black Nett Mitts