Washington sentinel., 1854-01-27
$500 REwARD--PENNY-
AND PARNAssUs.

Every man has his price, said an unchari
table Englishman, and the early history Of Eng.
land goes far to sustain the truth of the asser
ton. Some of her most boasted patriots pros
tituted themselves for gold, and some of her
| greatest chiefs and statesmen sold themselves
for filthy lucre. The history of those days is
| by no means creditable to the human family,
and we turn from them with pleasure to the
present better times. Man is bad enough in
all countries, and in oil ages, but better in some
countries and in some ages than in others.
Many men, however noble the sentiments they
express, however high their pretensions to
virtue, are weak in the hour of trial, and fall
when the temptation is strong.
But gold, that fatal enemy to the virtue of
men and women-gold, that has purchased the
charms OF beauty, the eloquence of the orator,
the skill of the general, the essays of the phi
losopher-seems to be powerless with the muses..
1t can buy anything but good poetry. The
matter has been put to practical test in these
latter days, here in Washington.
Advertise $500 for runaway negro, how
hotly would the humane aboitionist pursue
him TO get the reward. Five dollars for a
stray pointer or ten for fugitive horse would
almost insure their recovery; but poetry is
neither negro, dog, nor horse.
Five hundred dollars were recently offered by
| highly respected citizen Of Washington, for
the best national ode. All Bedlam and Par
nassus were instantly put in commotion. The
| penny-a-liners swarmed like bees around hive
or flies around saucer of molasses Verify
were they as thick as blackberries. Verses fell
from their $5OO-inspired lips like acorns from
an oak tree, or sprinkles from watering-pot.
The poems poured in at the day appointed in
lavish profnsion. If they lacked quality, there
was no lack Of quantity. The number sent in
we have forgotten, but their name was le-
gion."
Their merits were left to committee to de-
eide on, and, alas for patriotic namby-pamby in
America, the committee decided against all.
The committee may have been right or they
may have been wrong, but from their decision
there is no appeal. We respect men in au-
thorty, and will therefore take the opinion Of
the committee as fixed and final
But whilst we must say that doubtless most
of the odes sent inwere bad, and that many OF
them were Indifferent yet we do not doubt that
some-a few, very few-were good. We have
not read any of them, but for the credit OF
American literature, and having "respect un-
| to the recompense of the reward we must be
allowed to insist that a few Of them (perhaps
one) were good.
| We have said that we regard the decision Of
the committee as fixed and final, but only fixed
and final as to the poems brought out by the
FIVE hundred dollars reward. AS American
citizens, as patriots, we cannot confess that
there is not poet in America who is compe-
tent to write such all ode as the nation would be
proud of-such an ode even as would satisfy
Mr.. Latham and the committee. We believe if
the reward had been higher that the poems Of
the very men who wrote would have been bet
ter, and that many others would have competed
for the prize. Yet is not Mr.. Latham the less
entitled to high praise for his hberality and
HIS hmerlcan spirit. N.
| We have proposition to make. 1t is this
If there is any wealthy citizen who is ambitious
Of the fame of Macenas-who honestly desires
to be patron Of letters, or who loves his
country and desires to encourage American
literature-let him offer five thousand dollars
for the best national ode, not to exceed and
not to fall below certain number of lines, and
we warrant that poem worthy of the theme
will be written. No committee will decide to
the contrary. If one will not make the offer,
let several unite and do it.
Well, we are forced to contradict ourselves,
for we have come to the conclusion that good
poetry, like any other good thing, may be
bought.
The muse is female. Alas, that females
should be mercenary!
i