Boon's Lick times. [volume] (Fayette, Mo.) 1840-1848, 1841-12-04
'Ehe Prairie Flower,

AN INDEPENDENT MAGAZINE OF LITERATURE AND
CRITICISM.
Western Literature CUntOund the phrase we
nope 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 vi lIterature
Scarcely newspaper or periodical which we open
is without some encouraging and condescendlng
love- pat on the poor shoulder Of "western htera-
ture,'' or "western poetry" or some such Outra-
geous nonsense. Now we have the presumption
to believe that literature and poetry, wherever they
exist, are founded upon the same immutable prln-
ciple, which principle is communication or nu-
man genius with the immortal beauty pervadlng
all nQ,ure-whlch shapes alike the cloud, the ram
bow, the starry skies, the whispering landscape,
and clothes tEem in all its celestial essences-and
which deyelepes with its beauty-creatlng power
as well the delicate rOse-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 per ection
The germ bursts from the rotting seed, in the dark
| furrOw, and springs upward towards the light 10
| bring forth its perfect and beautiful forms-eVen
as the soul Of man, struggling with the msts OF
animal passion and cropping IN the darkness OF lis
imperfect organization, tends upward and onward
till it again mirgles with the divine source Ut
beauty whence it sprung.
| This is literature; and what miserable nonsense,
then, to talk of western literature, as II 1t were
a thing apart from the general order of nature
some interesting phenomenon-an intellectual
monstrosity-to be patted encouragingly on the
back, and to receive the stinted and reluctant
praises of self.apponted eastern" critics, be-
slowed very much III tie same manner that they
would drop shilling into the hat OF an itinerant
mendicant who murders Cinderella's Waltz and
the overture to Fra Diavoo on villianous hand
organ We want no such patronzing encourage
ment. Does "western" patriotism, or ''wesleTn'
e!oquence, or "western" craftsmanship, shrink
from comparison with the patriotic and the elo-
quent of the world! When men speek Of Clay, or
Prentice or Marshall, do they qualify their admi-
ration by the remark that "hey are pretty well for
a new counlry!" and why should distinctions ST
odous and 50 ridiculous be made respecting litera-
ture? We are sick Of this afectatlOn and, So
far as our humble abilities go, we are determined
that it shall be done away with. We are about II
commence the publication Of an independent maya
zine OF literature and MISUNDERSTANDING WITHIN
its range every subject Of interest ia beles.letreS
? the fine arts and general literature. " Z mean IL
: show the incredulous world that the unnotced
} PRAlRlE-FLowER, which wastes 1t sweetness Oh
tue desert air." glows with as divine beauty,
land brealhes as pure fragrance, the gayest
exotic that tlauns III the parterrcs Of metropolitan
, fashion. We ask no allowances To be muQe-nC
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-wan or the rude hut OF the ruder pioneer
We wish our work 10 be judged strictly, severely
without prejudice or iuIOr; and If lne PRAIRIE
, FLOWER, dripping with fresh and oderous dews
finds welcome, wel!--if it be thrown aside, 10 min
gle unnoliced with the rubbish which strews the
earth, it rs also well. The only favor we ask tU
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-after that
it will appear monthly. The form chosen for tn,
work is similar to the other monthly magazines
large octave, each number containing from As tt
GA pages.
The price of the Prairie Flower is S. year
Single numbers can always be procured, al 5O cent
each.
Letters relating TO the work may be addressed
postpaid, TO publishers Of the Prairie Flower
st. Louis, Mo"
st Louis, Sept "a, l5ll.