Boon's Lick times. [volume] (Fayette, Mo.) 1840-1848, 1841-10-16
IA'tle H'rnlric EIlOWer,

AN INDEPENDENT MAGAZINE OF LITERATURE AND
CRITICISM.
Western Literature Confound the phrase we
none we shall never hear another word about
"Western Literature" as long as we live! What
is "western" literature that it is different from
eastern or southern any other sort Of ltlerhture
Scarcely a newspaper or periodical which we open
is without some encouraging ana cundescchaIia
love-pat on the poor shoulder Of Ewes ern liera-
ture," or "wesern poetry" or some such outra-
Ce0us nonsense. Now we have the presumption
TO believe that literature and poetry, wherever they
exist. are founded upon the same immutubIe prin-
ciple. which principle is communication OF hui
man genius with the immortal beauty perVading
all na'ure-wmch shapes alike the cloud, the ram
bow, the starry skies, the whispering landscape,
and clothes them in ali its celestial eeSences-and
which drveiepes with its beauty creating power
well the delicate r0se-eaf as the souls highest
aspirations after the infinite and the eternal. in
the material as well as the intellectual world
every thing tends constantly towards perfection
The germ bursts from the rotting seed, in the dark
fnrrOw and springs upward towards the light to
bring forth its perfect and beautiful torms-even
as the soul of lntn, struggling with the mists OF
animal passion and CROPPING in the darkness OF lis
imperfect organization, tends upward and onward
till il again Inrges with the divine source OF
beauty whence itsprung.
This is literature; and what miserable nonsense,
q thing apart from the general order Of natnre-
some interesting phenomeTOn-nn intellectual
fnonstrosyto be patted ehcourngingly on tie
back, and TO receive the stinted and reluctant
praises Of self-appointed "eustern" critics, be-
slowed very much in the same manner that they
would Gropa shilling into the hat of an itinerant
mendicQnt, who murders Cindereas Waltz and
the overture to Fra D0volO on n villaHous hand
organ! We want no such patronizng encourage
meut. Does western PATRIOTISM or western
elOquence, or western" craftsmanship, shrink
from a comparison with the patriotic and the elu-
quent of the world! When men speek of Clay, or
Prentice, or Marshall, do they quality their admi'
ration by the remark that "they pretty we'll for
Z new cornry!" and why should distinctions SO
odious and so ridiculous be made respecting litera
ture! We are sick of this afectation and, 81
far our humble abilities go, we are determined
that it shall be done away with We are about It
commence the publication of an independent maya
zine of literature and Notwithstanding within
its range every sube of interest in bees-lettre>
the fine arts and general literature. We mean t.
show the incredulous world that the unnoicet
PRAIRIE FLOWER, which wastes it sweetness ul
the desert air." CLOVIS with as divine beauty
and breathes pure fragrance, as the gaye>
exotic that fiaunts in the parterrcs of metropolitan
fashion. We ask no allowances TO be mRde--nG
indulgenceS To be granted--Our modest bOque',
because it chances To be gathered from the path.
less prairie, within the shadows of The Indians
wig-wam or the rude hut Of the rudcr pioneer
We wish our work to he judged strictly, severely,
without prejudice or lavUr and if the PRAIRIE
FLOWER, dripping with fresh End oderouS dews,
finds welcome, we--if it be thrown aside, to min
gle unDoticed with the rubbish which ,trewS the
earth, it IS also we'll The olly favor we ask fur
it is that favor, beyond its strict deserts, shat
tie extend, d 10 il.
Tie first number Of the PRAIRIE Flower vii
te issued on The first of November neXt-altrr that
it Will appear monthly. Tie form chosen for ia
work is similar to tie other monthly magazines-
large octave, elch number containing from IS L
Ga pages.
The price Of the Prairie Flower is So year
Single numbers can always be procured, at 30 cent
each
Letters relating to the work may he addressed
post-paid, TO "Publi.hors Of the Prairie Flower
ST Louis, Mo"
St Lnuis Sent "a, ISL