Boon's Lick times. [volume] (Fayette, Mo.) 1840-1848, 1841-12-11
Ehc Prairie Flower,

AN INDEPENDENT MAGAZINE OF LITERATURE AND
CRITICISM
Western Literature Contound The phrase we
none we shall never hear another "oiu uoou'
.Nyes,ern Literature" as long as we live! what
IS ..western" literature that it is different from
EASTERN or southern or any other sort of literature!
Scarcely u newspaper or periodical which we open
is without some encouraging and condescehulhg
loye-pat on the poor shoulder ol ''Wes.ern lAera-
ture,'' or "western poetry" or some such outia-
geous nonsense Now we have the presumption
to believe that literature and poetry wherever tney
exist, are founded upon the same immutaDle pflh-
ciple, which principle is communication VI hu-
man genius with the immortal beauty pef'aaihS
all nature-whlch shapes alike the cloud the ram
bow, the starry skies, the whispering landscape,
and clothes them in ali its celestial essences-and
which developes with its beauty-creatlng power
as well the delicate rose-leat 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 perlec'ioh'
The germ bursts from the rotting Seed IN the dark
turrow, and springs upward towards the llshI u
bring forth its perfect and beautiful iofIhs-eVeh
as the soul of man, struggling with the mlsts OF
animal passion and cropping In the darkness VI us
imperfect organization, tends upward ana onward
till il again mingles with the divine source Vi
beauty whence it sprung.
This is literature; and what miserable nonsense,
then, to talk Of "Western literature as II IL were
II thing apart from the general order OF nature
some interesting phenomeEon-an intellectual
munstrosity-to be patted ehcouraging'y On the
| back, and to receive the stinted and reluctant
praises Of selEapponted eastern" critics, be-
| slowed very much in the same manner that they
would drop shilling into the hat of an itineran
meudcant, who murders Cinderela's Waltz ant
the overture ~ Fra Diavolo on vIllanous hant
organ We want no such patronlzlng encourage
ment. Does "weStern' patriotism, or western
elucuence or "Western' craftsmanship, shrinl
from Il comparison with the patriotic aud the elu
uuent of the world1 When men speak OF Clay, o
PRENTICE or Marshall, do they qualify their ADM
ration by the remark that they are pretty well 10
a new counlry?" and why should distinctions ST
udious and 50 ridiculous be made respecting litera
ture! We are sick Of this aifectatlon; and, 81
far as our humble abilities 90, we are determined
! that it shall! be done away with. We are about L
commence the publication Of an independent maya
zae Ut literature and crticism-lnCludlng WITHIN
It's range every subject Of interest in bees-lettres
the inc arts and general literature. y mean Il
show the nCredu!0us world that the unnotlceI
Il PRAIRIE FLOWER, which wastes it sweetness VI
the desert air." glows with as divine beauty
and breuthes as pure fragrance, as the gayes
exotic that launs in the parLerrcs Of metropolitan
fashion, We ask no allowances To be made-nI
indulgeEces to be granted--our modest boquet
because it chances to be gathered from the path
less prairie, within the shadows Of the Indian
wig-Wam or the rude hut Of the ruder pioneer
! We wish orr work to be judged strictly, severely
without prejudice or favor; and if the pRAIRI
FLOWER, dripping with fresh and oGerous dews
finds welcome, weIl-if it be thrown aside, 10 min
gle unnoiced with the rubbish which strews til
earth, it IS also well. The only favor we ask tU
it is that favor, beyond its strict deserts, sha
he extended TO it.
The first number Of the PRAIRIE FLOWER wi
lie issued on the first Of November neXt-atter that
it will appear monthly. The form chosen for til
work is similar to the other monthly magazines
large octave, eGch number containing from As t
ia pageS.
The price Of the Prairie Flower is S. yea
Single numbers can always be procured, at 81 cent
each.
Letters relating to the work may be addressed
postpaid, to "Puolishers Of the Prairie F.owe
st. Louis, Mo"
st Louis, Sept. "a, 1871.