Boon's Lick times. [volume] (Fayette, Mo.) 1840-1848, 1841-12-25
The Prairie Flower,

AN INDEPENDENT MAGAZlSb Of LlAE4'N- 0A'- -A-'A
CRITICISM.
Western Literature COntound the phrase we
none we shall never hear another word ABOUT
"Western Literature as long as we I'VE! " nat
IS "western" literature that it Is different IRON
eastern or southern any other sort VI literature!
Scarcely newspaper or periodical when we open
is without some encouraging and condescehdihg
love-pat Oh the poor shoulder OIL western litera
ture." or "western poetry" or some such outra-
peous nonsense. Now we have the presumption
to believe that literature and poetry wherever they
exist, are founded upon the same immutabe prln-
ciple, which principle is communication Oh hu-
man genius with the immortal beauty perVadlng
all nature-which shapes alike The cloud the ram
bow, the starry skies, the whispering landscape,
and clothes them in all its celestial essences-aud
which deveIepes with its beauty creating power
as well the delicate rose-leaf the souls highest
aspirations after the infinite and the eternal. In
the material as well the intellectual world,
every thing tends constantly towards perfection
The germ bursts from the rutting seed, Ill the dark
turrow, and springs upward towards the lght u
bring forth its perfect and beautiful forms-eVen
as the soul Of man, struggling with the mlsts OF
animal passion and cropping in the darkness OF lis
imperfect organization, tends upward and onward
| till it again lningles with the divine source OF
beauty whence it sprung.
| This is literature; and what miserable nonsense,
then, to talk of "western" literature, as II 1t We're
thing apart from the general order OF nature
some interesting phenomeHon-an intellectual
Inonstrosity-to be patted encouraglngly On tht
back and to receive the stinted ana reluctant
praises of seltappoiuted eastern" critics, De
slowed very much In the same manner that they
would dropa shilling into the hat OF al itlnerun
mendicant, VITO murders CindereilaS Naiiz Gn'
the overture to Fra Davolo ON villianUUs hun
organ We want no such patronizing encourage
ment. Does western patriotism, or western
eOquence, "western" craftsmanship, shrInl
4 from comparison with the patriotic and the clio
quent of the world! When men speak OF Clay, o
Prentice, or Marshall, do they quality their ADM
ration by the remark that "tAey are pretty well 10
u new connIry!" and why should distinctions 81
odous and 50 ridiculous he made respecting ltera
turel We are sick of this attectauon; and s.
far as our humble abilities go, we are determine
? that it shall be done away with. We are about
commence the publication of an independent maga
zine Of literature and Notwithstanding within
its range every sub ect of interest in bellesletres
the fine arts and general literature. " mean
show the increduOus world that the unnouce
PRAIRIE FLOWER, which wastes it sweetness o
tue desert dir" glOws with divine beauty
} and breathes as pure fragrance, as the gayes
exotic that aunts in the parterrCs of netrOpOila
d, fashion. We ask no allowances to be made-n
indulgences to be gEanted-our modest boque
because it chances to be gathered from the patti
less prairie, within the shud of the Indian
+; wig wan or the rude hut Of the ruder ponee
We wish our work to be judged strictly, severely
without prejudice or favor; and if the PRAIRI
e FLOWER, dripping with fresh and oderous dew!
finds welcome, well--if it be thrown aside, to mir
5 gle unnotced with the rubbish which strews I'll
earth, it is also we'll. The only favor we ask fl
it is that favor beyond its strict deserts sha
be extended to it,
The first number Of the PRAIRIE FLOWER wi
be issued on the first of November next-after tia
it will appear monthly. The form chosen for ii
work is similar to the other monthly magazines
? a large octave, each number containing from As
GA pages.
The price of the Prairie Flower is So yea
It Single numbers can always be procured al 80 cen
o each.
Letters relating to the work may be addresse
postpaid, to Publishers of the Prairie Flowe
st. Louie, Mo-
st Louis, Sept. "a, l5il.