Boon's Lick times. [volume] (Fayette, Mo.) 1840-1848, 1842-01-15
The Prairie Flower,

AN INDEPENDENT MAGAZINE OF LITERATURE AMI
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 southern any other sort ot literature!
Scarcely a newspaper or periodical which we open
is without some encouraging ami cUhdescenuing
ove-pat on the poor shoulder Of "wes.ern Atera-
ture, or "western poetry" or some sucn outr"-
geUus nonsense. Now we have the presumption
10 believe that literature and poetry, wherever tney
exist, founded upon the same ImmulaDle prIh-
ciple, which principle is communication Ui hu-
man genius with the immortal beauty perVddins
all naure-whlch shapes alike The cloud, the ram
bow, the starry skies, the whispering landscape,
aud clothes Eem in all its celestial essences--anu
which deveiepes with its beauty creating power
as well the delicate rOse-leaf the SOULS highest
aspirations after the infinite ana the eeruui. in
the material well the intellectual world.
every thing tends constantly towarus perIecIIon
The germ bursts from the roting seed, III the uaIk
turrOw, and springs upward towards the hsht "
bring forth its perfect aud beautiful torms-esen
as the soul Of man, struggling with the mlsts OF
animal passion and cropping III the darkness Ut lis
Imperfect organization, tends upward and onward
till it again mingles with the divine source Ut
beauty whence itsprung.
This is literature; and what miserable nonsense,
then, to talk of western" literature if 1t
thing apart from the general order OF nature
some interesting phenomenon-an intellectual
monstrosity--to be patted encouragingy On The
back, and to receive the stnted and reluctaul
praises Of selt-appointed eastern critics,
slowed very much in the same manner tnut the,
would drop shilling into the nat of al ituerant
mendicant, who murders Cinderellu's Waltz uru
the overture To Fra Diavolo ON WliIanuus huno
organ We want no such patronlzlng cncuLr"se
ment. Does "Western' patriotism, or wes.eIn
e!uquence, or ''western" statesnanship, suriuh
from u comparison with the patriotic and t.e Wv.
quent of the world! When meu speek VI Uiuy , III
Prentice, or Marshall, do they qualIiy tmeIr adn.
ration by the remark that .'they are pretty we Iur
a new county, and why should dlsIInclio!., ST
udiuus and So ridiculous be mace respecting lI,era-
turet We sick Of this aifecIalluu; and, 50
far as our humble abilities 20, we are de,ernIheG
that 1t sinai: be done away WIN. We are aDUut TO
cummence the publication VI an independent nidga-
zIae OF literature and MISUNDERSTANDING wICIIh
lis range every subject OF interest bellies leLre,
The hne arts ana general literature. We mean 10
show the IncredulOus world that The unnUiiceu
PRAlRIE-FLowER, which wastes 1t sweetness Oh
the desert arr" glUws with as divine beauty,
and breathes a. pure fragrance, AS the gay e>t
exotic that taunts in the parerrts Of metropolitan
fashion. We ask no allowances tu be nade-nu
indulgences TO be granled--our modest uuquer,
BECAUSE 1t chances to be gathered from the path.
less prairie, "lthlh Tie sladOWS Vi Tile Indian :
wig-wum or the rude hut Of the ruder pluueer
We wish our work to be judged strictly, severely,
without prejudice Or favor; and If the PRAIRIE
FLOWER, dripping with fresh and oderous dews,
finds welcome, weli-if it be thrown aside, To min
gle unnouced with the rubbish winch srewS the
earth, it Is also well. The only favor we ask for
1t is that no favor beyond its strict deserts, shall
be extended TO it,
The first number Of the PRAIRIE FLOWER will
he issued on the first OF November neXt-atter that
1t will appear monthly. The torn chosen for the
work Is similar to the other monthly magazines
a large octave, each number containing from As to
IA pages.
The price of the Prairie Flower is So year
Single numbers can always be procured, at % cents
each.
Letters relating to the work may be addressed,
postpaid 10 publishers of the Prairie Flower,
ST. Louis. Mo"
st Louis, Sept. "a, 1911.