Boon's Lick times. [volume] (Fayette, Mo.) 1840-1848, 1841-10-02
The Prairie Flower.
AN INDEPENDENT MAGAZINE OF LITERATURE AND
CptTicteM

CRITICISM.
Western Literature Confound the phrase we
hope we shall never hear another word about
"Western Literature" as long as we live! What
IS 'western" literature that it j. different from
eastern Ur southern or any other sort of literature!
Scarcely newspaper or periodical which we open
is without some encoura ging and condo .ccndinr
lOve-pnt on the poor shoulder Of ''wes,ern liera-
mre," or "wesern poetry" or some such outra-
genus nonsense. Now we have the presumption
to believe that literature ard poetry, wherever they
exist, are founded upon the same imnutabe prn-
cipe, which principle j. communication If hu.
man genius with the immortal beauty pervading
al nn'ure-whch shapes alike the cloud the rain
bow, the stnrty skies the whispering Ia ndscape.
and clothes them in Ill its celestial esSences-and
which deveopeS with its beau'ycrearng power
as well he delicate rose-raf the souls highest
aspirations after the infinite aud the eternal. In
The material well as the intellectual world.
every thing tends constantly towards perfection
The germ bursts from the ruting seed, in the da RI
iurrUw, and springs upward towards the light to
bring forth its perfect and beautiful forms even
as the soul of man, struggling with the mists of
animal passion and cropping in the darkness IF its
imperfect organization, tends upward and onward
Till it again minges with the divine source Of
beauty whence it sprung.
This is literature; and what miserable nonsense.
then, to talk Of "western" literature if 1t
thing apart from the general order Of nature
some interesting phenomeEon-an intellectual
monstrosiy--to be patted ehcouragingly on the
back, and to receive The stinted and reluctant
praises Of self.appointed eastern critics, be-.
slowed very much in the same manner that they
would dropa shilling into the hat of an tinerant
mendcant, who murders CindereaS Wal'z and
the overture to Fra Diavolu on villiaHOus hand
organ! We want no such patronizng encourage
ment. Does western patriotism, or western"
e!uqueRce, or 'western" craftsmanship, shrink
from comparison with the patriotic and the elo-
quent of the world! When men speak Of Clay, or
Prentice or Marshall, do they qua lily their admi-
ration by the remark that "they are pretty we'll for
new conntry!" and why should distinctions so
udiuus and ridiculous be made respecting litera-
.ure! We are sick Of this atfectailOn; and. 50
far our humble abilities go, we are determined
that it shall be done away with We are about to
commence the publication of an independent maya
zae % literature and misunderstanding within
its range every subject of interest III bees-ettres,
the fine arts and general literature. We mean to
show the incredulDus world that the unnoticed
PRAlRIE-FLowER, which wastes it sweetness on
the desert air." glows with as divine beauty
and breathes as pure fragrance, as the gayest
exotic that faunts in the parterrcs of metropolitan
fashion. We ask no allowances to be made-no
indulgences TO be granted--our modest boquet,
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 ruder pioneer
We wish our work to be judged strictly, severely,
without prejudice favor; and if the PRAIRIE
FLOWER, dripping with fresh and oderous dews
finds welcome, well--if it be thrown aside to min
gle unnoticed with the rubbish which strews tht
earth, it IS also well. The only favor we ask for
it is that no favor, beyond its strict deserts, shall
be extended to it.
The first number Of the PRAIRIE FLOWER vii
he issued on the first of November next--ater that
it will appear monthly. The form chosen for tn
work is similar to the other monthly magazines
a large octave. each number containing from AZ t.
GA pages.
The price of the Prairie Flower is So year
Single numbers can always be procured, at 90 cent
each
Letters relating to the work may be addressed
postpaid, to "Pubshars of the Prairie Flower
St. Louis, Mo "
St Louis Sept. "a. lS4l