Vandalia Whig and Illinois intelligencer. [volume] (Vandalia, Ill.) 1832-183?, 1833-05-22
From the Cincinnati Mirror.
EASTERN AND WESTERN PERIODICALS.

EASTERN AND WESTERN PERIODICALS.
We are not about entering upon a comparison OF
the general merits Of these publications-Mo COM
parsons are odiou in this case might be parti-
cularly So We merely intend, in as brief a manner as
possible to invite attention to the very great prudace
which exists throughout the entire West, against
WESTERN periodicals..
That such prejudice does exist, is beyond dispute.
ANY one may satisfy himself OF the fact so far as this
city and vicinity concerned, (and 1t is the same
every where) who will take the trouble to be pre-
sent at the opening of the eastern mails Packet az
ter packet Of eastern daijes, week.-Mrs., semi ohth-
lies and monthlies is opend, and distributed to per-
sons here. There could be no reasonable Objection
to this state of things, did it tend to the dssemina7
ton of any useful intelligence, which could not be
obtained as cheapy and easily at home. such, now
ever is not the fact; for the same intelligence may be
obtained through the medium of western papers, about
as cheap, nearly as early, and much more certainty
and easily. 1t may be SAID, that the eastern papers
are larger, and consequently contain more reading
matter than the western papers. Such, in main, is
the fact; but the loss this account, is more than
made up by the generality OF western papers; lot
they usually contain more matter that is interesting
and valuable to the citizens OF the west than the east
ern papers do. 1t may be commended, likewise,
that there i more talent enlisted for the eastern than
for the western papers, In some cases, this also Is
true; but generally it is very far from being the TACT
MANY Of those eastern works which draw so large
" upon the West for their support, instead OF DIS
found in the western papers, exhibit sickly sent-
mentality, aad melancholy dearth of intellect, to-
gether with great penchant for small things-such
a. stale jests, rebusses,' 'engimas,' 'charades puz
2les' and twenty-y ear-old anecdotes. The only ia
lent they display which may not be found IN western
publications is that putting themselves and ensting
others in the same laudable aud modest employment
And here discover the grand secret OF their success
Perceiving the good-naturedness of western COM
munty and their easy creduty in this respect, they
e, LIA of ti,nIr
works, iom some friendly or good-natured editors,
than they publish them to the world IN their own
sheets-never forgetting to introduce them as beng
'taken from among great number equally comPh-
mentary"
In conclusion, we ask pardon of readers, for
occupying so much room with this subject It. one
to which the generality of publishers in the West, are
feeliagly alive We could certainly have no oblec-
tons to our eastern contemporaries seeking patron
age in this section of the UnioD did they use modest
means and had they the charity to suppose thai such
thing a good paper, good magazine, can be
published in the West. But when see their agents
overrunning our own Paradise, and behold them fat
tenng upon the figs and grapes that of right belong
to us, we cannot help raising our voices, TO ask,
this should be 10? Particularly when they resort to
system of setfpu6ing, which backwood's bluntness
and honesty despise. What western publisher thinks
of seeking at the East patronage for his publica-
tons? What western publisher prints extras, ana
Mandatory slips, and sends them on to the LAST Tor
gratuitous insertion in the eastern papers! what
western publisher prints boasting Prospecuses head
ed the largest paper in the United States, or the
cheapest work ever published" and dispatches soh-
ctors to the East, into every village, and peep
into every nook aud corner, gull the unwary, and
impose on the liberal and good natured!
The truth is Of these things are done by west
ern publishers. They adapt their publications, as
much AS possible to the section of country in which
their lots are cast and in this section, and in 1t
alonc do they seek for patronage. And it is wrong
that their wares should be crowded out OF the market
by those hose ideas of modesy permit them to resort
to means, which they despise