Boon's Lick times. [volume] (Fayette, Mo.) 1840-1848, 1842-01-01
,E'hc Prairie Flower,


AN INDEPENDENT MAGAZINE OF LITERATURE AMI
CRITICISM.
Western Literature COntOund the phrase we
nope we shall never hear another word about
Western Literature" as long we liye " hat
Is "western" literature that 1t is different from
eastern or southern or any other sort uf literature!
Scarcely Il newspaper or periodical which we open
Is without some encouraging and condesccnding
iove-pat ON the poor shoulder Of 'weS-ern iltera-
ture,' or western poetry" or some such Uutra-
geUus nonsense Now we have the presumption
TO believe that literature and poetry, wherever they
exist, founded upon the same immutuble prin-
ciple, which principle is communication OF hu-
man genius with the immortal beauty pervadn4
ali nu.ure-whch shapes alike the cloud, the rain
DOW, the starry skies, the whispering landscape,
and clothes them in all its celestial essencGs-aud
which deveiOpeS with its beauty-creating power
as well the delicate rOse-leal the souls highest
aspirations after the infinite and tie eternal. In
the material well the intellectual world.
every thing tends constantly towards perfection.
The germ bursts from the rottiDg seed, IN tie dark
iurrow, and springs upward towards the light to
bring forth its perfect aud beautiful torms-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 minges with the divine source VI
beauty whence it sprung.
This is literature; and what miserable nonsense,
a thing apart from the general order Of nature
some interesting phenomenon-an intellectual
mOnstrosity---to be Patted ehcOuraglngly ON the
back, and to receive tue stinted and reluctant
praises of selt-appOInted eastern critics, Ue.
slowed very much IN the same manner that they
would drOpa shilling into tue hat OF an iLinerun
mendicant, who MURDERS Cinderella's Walk att
the overture to Fra DIuVulO on vilaAuus han,
organ! We want 40 such palronizng encourage
ment Does western patriotism, or western
e!oqueACe, or 'western" craftsmanship, shrlni
from a comparison with the patriotic and the elU
quent Of the world! When meu speek Of Clay, OF
Prentice, or Marshall do they qualify their aum
ration by the remark that "they are pretty well ol
Il new cUuntry!' and why should distinctions st
udiouS and 50 ridiculous be made respecting litera
tuIe! We are sick Of this allpctaIon and, st
far as our humble abilities go, we are determineC
that it shall be done away with. We are about t.
commence the publication Of an independent maya.
2Iae o. literature and crltlclsm-IAcludng within
its range every subject Of interest i'll bellesletlres
The fine arts and general literature. N mean Il
show the iucredulOus world that the unnOtceC
PKARIE.FLoWER, which wastes it sweetness VI
tue desert air." glows with as divine a beauty
and breathes as pure fragrance, as the gayes
exotic that flaunts in the parterrcs Of metropolitan
fashion. We ask no allowances to be made-nl
indulgences 10 be granted--Our modest bOgue,
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 our work to be judged strictly, severely
without prejudice Or favor; and if The pRAIhil
FLOWER, dripping with fresh and oderous dew,
finds welcome, well--if it be thrown aside TO min.
gle unnOtced with the rubbish which strews the
earth, it is also we'll. The only favor we ask fui
It is that no favor, beyond its strict deserts, sha
be extended TO it,
The first number Of the PRAIRIE Flower wi!
lie issued on the first OF November neXt-aiter that
it will appear monthly. The form chosen for tie
work is similar to the other monthly magazines
a large octave, each number containing from Is t.
"a ppges.
The price Of the Prairie Flower is 50 year
Single numbers can always be procured al 81 cent,
each.
Letters relating to the work may be addressed
postpaid, to publishers Of the Prairie Flower
ST. Louis, Mo
st Louis, Sept. -, 1911,