The Arkansas banner., 1844-01-23
PROSPECTUS
 THE S0afhern Literary Messenger,

ET1HIS is monthly Magazine, devoted chiefly to
 4 LITERATURE, but occasionally finding room also for articles that fall within the scope of scr NcE and protesting no disdain of tasteful selections though it's matter has been it will continue to be, in the main, original.
 Party Politics and controversial Theology, as far possible, are ealously excluded. They are some- times blended with discussions in literature or in moral scence otherwise unobiectionable, as to gain adnitance for the sake of the more valuable matter to which they adhere: but whenever that happens, they are incidental, only not primary. They are dross; tolerated only because they cannot well be severed from the sterling wherewith 1t is ncor- porated.
 Reviews, and Critical Notices occupy their due space in the work and it is the Editors aim that they should have three-fold tendency-to convey in condensed form, such valuable truths or incl dents are embodied in the works reviewed,-t direct the readers attention to books that deserve to be read-and to warn him against wasting time and money upon that farge number, which merits eny to be burned. In this age of publications that by their variety and multitude distract and over- Whelm every undiscrmnating student, IMPARTIAL CRITICISM, governed by the views just mentioned, is one of the most nestmable and indispensable of auxiiiaries to him who DOES WISH to discriminate.
 Essays, and Tales, having in view utility or amusement, or both-Historcal Sketches and Re- Ininiscences of events too minute for History yet calculating it, and heightening its interests,-may be regarded as forming the staple the work And 0l AHdlscAlOus OCAl tLoU-5 10 puDISIeu-SOIHS- times of no strain--to manifest and to culti- yate the growing taste and talents of the country
 The times appear for several reasons, to demand such Wort-and not one alone but many. The public mind Is feVershed and rtated still from re- cent political strfes: the soft assuasiye influence of Literature is needed to aay that feyer and soothe that irritation Vice and folly rioting abroad- they should be driven by indignant rebule, or lash ed by ridicule, into their fitting haunts. Ignorance lords its over an immense proportion of our people every spring should be set in motion to arouse the enlightened. and to increase their number; so that the great enemy of popular government may no longer brood, like portentous cloud the dest nies of our country. And to accomplish all these ends, what more powerful agent can be employed, than periodical on the plan of the Messenger: if that plan be but carried out in practice.
 The SOUTH peculiarly requires such an agent- In ali the Union, south of N ashington there are but two Literary periodicals Northward of that city, there are probably at least twenty-five or thr-
 yl Is this contrast justified by the wealth. the les- ure the native talent, the actual literary taste of the Southern people, compared with those of the Northern! No; for inwealth, talents and taste we
 may justly claim at least an EQUALITY with our brethren; and domestic institution exclusively our own, beyond all doubt afford us, If we choose, twice the leisure orreadng and writing which they enjoy.
 It was rom deep sense of this LOCAL want that the word SOUTHERN was engrafted on the name of this periodical; and not with any design to nourish
 local prejndces, or 10 advocate supposedlocai inter- csts. Far from any such thought 1t is the Editors fervent wish, to see the North and South bound en- dearingly together forever, in the sISen bands of mutual kindness and affection. Far from meditating HOSTILITY to the north, he has already drawn, and he hopes hereafter to draw, much of his choicest matter thence; and happy indeed will he deem him self, should his pages by making each region know the other better contribute in any essential degree to dspe forever the lowering clouds that so lately threatened the peace of both, and to brighten and strengthen the sacred ties of fraternal love. The Southern Literary MeSssngar has now com menced its ninth roame, and aiith year. How far it has acted out the ideas here uttered is not for the Editor to say. He believes, however, that it falls not further short of them, than human weakness usually makes PRACTICE fall short of THEORY. Richmond, Fa. October, 1913.
 l Administrators Notice. i THNHE. undersigned having obtained from the Pro-