Daily evening star. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1852-1854, 1853-06-25
Encouragement to American Poetic Talent :.
$500 Premium.

II =
/ fuenee which is exercised by the fine arts
arts upon the direction and destiny of human
affairs, 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. -
But, while this acknowledgment is due To,
the discerning and worthy patrons Of these
noble, it is an equal source of humiliation and
SORROW to behold the apparent apathy and in
difference with which they seem to regard the
incomparably moro valuable creations Of
poetry aT
10 see them adorn the walls of the Can;to,
with the glowing revelations of the pencil. and
decorate the public grounds with the costly
chef d'ouvres of the chisel. is an omen of
good which will be hailed and applauded by
all as cheering pledge of the progress Of re-
hnement. But. whilst they lavish their thou
sands upon those immobile products of canvass
and marble and bronze, they offer no reward
tor the gore exalted. more enduring and re-
newned ovations of the pen No fostering
hand from these high places has ever vet in
vlted the Promethean fire of poetry to animal
the history CT our country, which, with all its
harmony of form and wonder of p-oportiop
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.
1t surely were a work Of supereroration to
introduce the proofs that crowd the records of
the past to show how far above all other stands
the g divine art of poesy. What are all the
paintings statues, and regalia of Versailles.
of Fontainbleau and the Tuilleres, compared
with the 4" Marscilles Hymn =: What the
kingly panoplv of gold and gems heaped up
in the Tower of London /; what the collections
fhn daa1 LII
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 g Hail
Columbia" and the :. Star-Spangled Banner?''
Well might the British statesman exclaim
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 as the radiant skies of
summer are above the pershable 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
lamcntahle paucity of patriotic songs In NY
distinguished and beloved country. and with
the hope of being the humble means Of pro-
per public feeling upon this interesting sub
lest, [ have been induced to offer. and 40
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:
lst. / have selected without consulting
them the following persons TO 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 L. S. Senate.
Hon. f.. NJ. 7. Hunter, do
Hon. Jas. C. Jones. Go
Hon. J. R: Chandler, of L. S. II. Reps,
Hon. Addison White, DO do
bon Thos H. Bayly, do do
Hon. b. r. Disney. do 90
Hon. j. P. Kennedy. Secretary of the Navy
D. J. W. c. Evans, of New Jersey.
D. Thos. Saunders.
e Gsn. R. Arms Armstrong. g -. D.
Dr. G. Bailey, u '''' ''Se
w. W. Seaton.
Prof Henry, of the Smithsonian Institution
VIM. Seldom, late Treasurer of the t. s.
Rev. c. N. Butler Episcopal Church
Rev. r. r. Gurlev. Presbyterian Church
Rev. s. S. Roszcll NJ f. Church
Rev. Mr.. Donelan. Catholic Church.
Cd. These gentlemen, or any three of them.
are hereby authorized to meet al tie Smith
sonian Institute. on the second Monday of
December next. at such hour as they may APP
point. and there proceed to read and examine
the various poems which may have been re-
ceived, and to determine which of them is
most 1ncritorious and deserving of the prize.
And [ 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 Patrio tic Poem, and upon the repre-
sentation that he or she is an American citizen.
Sd. All communications must be sent TO me
at Washington (rost raid) before the first
Monday in December next, with n full and
complete conveyance q the copyright TO me
and my heirs and assigns forever.
Ash. | hereby bind and obligate myself To-
sell the poems thus sent to me as soon as prac
ticable. for the highest price, and to give tho
proceeds to the poor of the city of Wash
ington.
9Th. No poem will be considered "a 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. TO- 1859. feb. IL
DIR. J. S. ROSES NERVOUS AND INVIG-
GRATING CORDIAL.