Boon's Lick times. [volume] (Fayette, Mo.) 1840-1848, 1841-11-13
The Prairie Flower,

AN INDEPENDENT MAGAZINE OF LITERATURE AND
CRITICISM
Western Literature Conound the phrase we
nope we shall never hear another word about
western Literature as long as we live! What
Is "weslern" literature that it is different from
eastern southern any other sort of literature!
Scarcely newspaper or periodical which we Upen
is without sumo encouraging and understanding
ove.put on the poor shoulder Of "wes.ern h,era-
ture," or "western poetry" or some such outra-
genus nonsense. Now we have the presumption
to believe that literature and poetry, wherever they
| exist, are founded upon the same immutable prln-
cple, which principle is communication ct hu-
man genius with the immortal beauty pervadlng
all naure-which shapes alike The cloud, the rain
bow, the starry skies, the whispering landscape,
and clothes them in all its celestial essences-and
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 well as the intellectual world,
every thing tends constantly towards perfection
The germ bursts from the rottng seed, III the dark
iurrUw, and springs upward towards Tie lsht ~
bring forth its perfect and beautiful torins-eVen
as the soul Of man, struggling with the mlsls oi
animal passion and cropping III the darkness OF lis
imperfect organizations tends upward and onward
till it again mrgles with the divine source o
benuiy whence it sprung.
then, to talk Of western literature, as 1t 1t were
a tningspa from the general order of nature
some interesting phenumeEun-an intellectual
mUnstroSiy.tu be patted ehcouragIngly On the
back, and to receive the stinled and reluctant
praises of sef-appOinred eastern critics, be-
slowed very much in the same manner that they
would dropa shilling into the hat of an itineran'
mendicant, who murders Cnderella's Waltz ano
the overture to Fra Diavulu on villianOus hand
organ! We want no such patronizing encourage
ment. Does western patriotism, or western
euquence, or "Wesern" craftsmanship, shrink
from II comparison with the patriotic and the elo-
quent of the world! When men speek Of Clay, or
Prentice, or Marshall. do they qualify their udn,i.
ration by the rpmurk that "they pretty well lUI
Il new cUnnlry!" and why should distinctions 1T
odous and 50 ridiculous be made respecting litera-
ture! We are sick of this affectatIon; and, 81
far as our humble abilities 90, we are determined
that it shall be done away with We are about tt
commence the publication of an independent maya
ziae o. literature and misunderstanding within
its range every subject of interest in bellies etres
the fine arts and general literature. Ne mean to
show the increduIous world that the unnotlced
PRARE-FLowER, which wastes it sweetness on
the desert air." gluws with as divine beauty
| and brealhes as pure fragrance, as The gay est
exotic that fiannts in the parterrcs of metropolitan
fashion. We ask no allowances to be made-nu
indulgences 10 be grnnted--our modest bOquet,
because it chances 10 be gathered from the path.
less prairie, within the shadows Of the Indians
! wig.wHm or the rude hut Of the ruder pioneer
We wish our work TO be judged strictly, severely
without prejudice or favor; and if the PRAIRIE
| FLOWER, dripping with fresh and oderOuS dews
| fnd> welcome. we--if it be thrown aside, to min.
gle unnoliced with the rubbish which >trews the
earth, it IS also we'll. The only favor we ask ful
it is that no favor, beyond its strict deserts, shall
be extended TO it.
The first number Of the PRAIRIE FLOWER will
lie issued on The first of November next-sfter that
it will appear monthly. The form chosen for tic
work is similar to the other monthly magazines
a large octave, each number containing from AZ Il
"a pages.
The price of the Pruire Flower is s. year
Single numbers can always be procured, at 50 cents
each
Letters relating to the work may be addressed
postpaid, 10 Publishers of the Prairie Flower
St. Louis, AlO"
st Louis, Sept. "a, 1871.