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DERZHAVEN’S “ODE TO GOD.”
[The author of this ode was a Russian, born in
1763. After serving some time in the army he
was made successively a chancellor ot state, am
bassador of Senate, president of the college, of
commerce, and in 1802, minister of justice. The
poem has been translated into Japanese by order ot
the Emperor, and is hung up, embroidered with
gold, in the Temple of Jeddo. It has also been
translated into the Chinese and Tartar languages,
written on a piece of rich silk, and suspended in
the imperial palace of Pekin.]
O, Thou Eternal One ! whose presence bright
All space doth occupy—all motion guide;
Unchanged through time’s devastating flight,
Thou onlv God! There is no God beside.
Being above all beings! Mighty One !
Whom none can comprehend and none explore.
Who fiH’st existence with Thyself alone;
Embracing all—supporting, ruling o’er—
Being whom we call God and know no more .
In its sublime research, philosophy
May measure out the ocean deep—may count
The sands or the sun’s rajs; but God! for Thee
There is no weight nor measure; none can
mount , , . . x ,
Up to Thy mysteries. Reason’s brightest spark,
Though kindled by Thy light, in vain would try
To trace I'hy counsels, infinite and dark;
And thought is iost ere thought can soar so
high,
E’en like past moments in eternity.
Thou from primeval nothingness didst call
First chaos, then existence. Lord, on Thee
Eternity had its foundation ; all
Sprung forth from Thee, of light, joy, harmony,
Sole origin—all light, all beauty, Thine.
Thy word created all, and doth create ;
Thy splendor fills all space with rays divine;
Thou art, and wert, and shall be glorious,
great!
Light-giving, life-sustaining Potentate.
Thy chains the unmeasured universe surround,
Upheld by Thee, by '1 hee inspired by breath !
Thou the beginning with the end hath bound,
And beautifully minded lite and death !
As sparks mount upward from the fiery blaze,
So suns are born, so worlds spring forth from
Thee !
And as the spangles in the sunny rays
Shine round the silver snow, the pageantry
Os heaven’s bright army glitte s in Thy praise !
A million torches lighted, by Thy hand,
Wander unwearied through the blue abyss;
They own Thy power, accomplish Thy com
mand,
All gay with light, all eloquent with bliss.
What shall we call them ? Piles of crystal light ?
A glorious company of golden streams?
Lamps of celestial ether burning bright?
Suns lighting systems with their beams?
But Tnou to these art as the moon to night,
Yet, as a drop of water m the sea,
All this magnificence in Thee is lost;
What are ten thousand worlds compared to
Thee ?
And what am I, then? Heaven’s unnumbered
host,
Though multiplied by myriads, and arrayed
In all the glory of sublimest thought,
Is but an atom in the balance weighed
Against Thy greatness—isa cypher brought
Against infinity ? What am I then ? Naught.
Naught! But the effluence of Thy fight divine
Pervading worlds, hath reached my bosom, too!
Yes, in my spirit doth Thy spirit shine.
As shines the sumbeams in a drop of dew.
Naught! But I live, and on Hope’s pinions fly
Eager toward Thy presence : aspiring high
1 live and breathe, and dwell; for in Thee
E’en to the thione of Thy divinity !
I am, O God, and surely Thou must be!
Thou art; directing, guiding all, Thou art!
Direct my understanding, then, to Thee;
Control my spirit, guide my wandering heart;
Though but anatom ’midst immensity,
Still, I am something fashioned by Thy hand;
I hold a middle rank ’twixt Heaven and Earth,
On the last veige of mortal being stand
Close to the realms where angels have their
birth.
Just on the boundaries of the spirit land !
The chain of being is complete in me ;
In me is matter’s last gradation lost,
And the next step is Spirit Deity ?
I can command the lightning, and am dust ;
A monarch and a slave; a worm, a god.
Whence came 1 here, and how? So marvel
ously
Constructed and conceived—unknown. This
clod
Lives through some higher energy;
Forfrom itself alone it could not be.
Creator? Yes! Thy wisdom and Thy word
Created me ! Thou source of life and good—
Thou Spirit of my spirit, and my Lord—
Thy light, thy love, in their bright plentitude
Filled me with an immortal soul to spring
Over the abyss of Death, and bade it wear
The garments of eternal day, and wing
Its heavenly flight beyond this little sphere
E’en to its source —to Thee, its Author—there.
O thought ineffable ! 0 visions blest!
(Though worthless our conceptions all of Thee)
Yet shall Thy shadowed image fill my breast,
And waft its homage to Thy Deity.
God! thus alone my lowly thoughts can soar—
Thus seek Thy presence. Being wise and good!
’Midst Thy vast’works, admire, obey, adore
And when the tongue is eloquent no more.
The soul shall speak in tears of gratitude.
Their Wages Increased.
The Western A Atlantic Railroad
has increased the wages of its employes.
This is done as an act of justice, after
having reduced them two years ago
when the management was forced to it
•by. a combination of. untoward events
that greatly militated against its finan
cial success. There is no railway on
which the employes receive more con
sideration than do those of the West
ern & Atlantic. — North Georgia Citi
zen.
What They Think of the
W. & A. Valentine.
Courier Journal, Louisville, Ky.
“PLANTING THE GUNS ON KENNESAW.”
The Western & Atlantic road has
published, in exquisite form, what it
terras its “ Valentine,’’entitled, “Plant
ing the Guns on Kennesaw.” It, by
letter-press and ill list rafton, describes
scenes connected with the battles
about Kennesaw Mountain in the late
war, and starts the blood in an old
soldier’s veins by its stirring words
and spirited pictures. It is pleasant
to think that where the feet of the
war horse trod in those sad days the
iron-horse now goes, bent on the peace
ful mission of rebuilding the waste
places of a splendid land and lifting
from poverty to peace and plenty a
noble people. May he never know
aught than the paths of peace, and
may all his ways be those of prosperity
and happiness.
North Georgia Citizen.
THE W. & A. VALENTINE.
The handsomest Valentine received
at this office on the 14th was one sent
by the old reliable W. A A. R. R. It is
most exquisitely designed —a marvel of
artistic skill and beauty. On the cover,
of cream-colored antique paper, ap
pears a beautiful monogram of the W.
& A., across which, in maroon letters
are the words, “St. Valentine, February
14th.” On the second page, inside, an
exquisite steel engraving of the famous
Kennesaw Mountain appears, while the
remaining six pages are devoted to a
stirring war poem, which bears the
title, “Planting the Guns on Kenne
saw,” and which is attractively illus
trated. The verses of the poem are in
script type —a facsimile of Mr. Brown’s
chirography.
Atlanta Journal.
Mr. Joseph M. Brown, general pas
senger agent of the Western A Atlan
tic Railroad, has made an enviable
reputation throughout the country, by
reason of the splendid methods adopt
ed by him in the work of his depart
ment. The elegant advertising mat
ter, descriptive of battles and other
historic scenes along this famous
route, issued under his direction, has
been widely sought after, not only be
cause of its artistic beauty, but for its
historic accuracy. But the chef
d’oeuvre is a charming little brochure,
issued as a St. Valentine’s day souvenir,
containing a poem,“Planting the Guns
on Kennesaw,” beautifully illustrated.
It is gotten up in the highest style of the
printer’s art, the four leaves being con
tained in a white torchon paper cover,
the whole forming a valentine which
anyone would be glad to receive. The
Journal ackn pledges with thanks the
receipt of one.
Chattanooga Commercial.
It contains a description of thu
battle of Kennesaw Mountain in
poetry, and has illustrations showing
how Johnston’s men drew the cannon
up the mountain with a “Long pull
and a strong pull.” It is very finely
executed and will produce a lasting
impression on the minds of all who
read it.
Griffin (Ga.) Daily Sim.
The valentine consists of an elegant
ly illustrated poem entitled, “Plant
ing the Guns on Kennesaw,” and is
I the handsomest and most unique ad
j vertisement we ever saw. The Wes
tern A Atlantic newer does things by
halves.
Cuthbert (Ga.) Enterprise and Appeal.
We are in receipt of one of the
THE KENNESAW GAZETTE.
most unique valentinos ever received
at this office. It is beautifully en
graved and contains a pretty poem, en
titled “Planting the Guns on Kenne
saw,” It is from Joseph Al. Brown,
general passenger agent of the Wes
tern A Atlantic Railroad, which forms
the Kennesaw Route to all points
North. It is a splendid advertise
ment for a splendid road.
Atlanta (Constitution.
A PRETTY VALENTINE.
The neatest valentine received by
the Constitution yesterday was a pretty
poem, “Planting the guns on Kenne
saw,” handsomely illustrated and beau
tifully printed on the finest of paper.
The valentine was sent with the com
pliments of Mr. Joseph Al. Brown, of
the Western A Atlantic Railroad. A
more unique piece of advertising mat
ter was never sent out by the general
passenger agent of a railroad.
Griff n (Ga.) Daily News.
We are receipt of a most beautiful
valentine from the AV. A A. R. R., with
the compliments of Mr. Joseph Al.
Brown, the talented and energetic pas
senger agent, whose artistic contribu
tions to circular and pamphlet litera
ture are doing so m uch to make the fame
of this road world wide. The valentine
consists of eight pages and a cover, bound
with red silk, and containing a poem
entitled, “Planting the Guns on Ken
nesaw,” with appropriate illustrations.
Hartwell (Ga.) Sun.
It is a poem in sac simile hand
writing of the author, Air. Joseph M.
Brown, celebrating the heroism, forti
tude and triumph of the Confederate
soldiers in dragging the cannons by
ropes at night up to the crest of the
Kennesaw Mountain, which was the
key of the Confederate lines in 1864.
It was an achievement like unto
Bonaparte scaling the Alps, and the
poem as a literary achievement is in
keeping with the grand and glorious
subject. As an advertising scheme it
takes the cake.
Cass News, Harrisonville, Mo.
Thanks to Mr. Joseph Al. Brown,
passenger agent of the AV estern A At
lantic R. R. (running from Chatta
nooga to Atlanta) for an elegant valen
tine. It is a beautiful poem entitled,
“Planting the Guns on Kennesaw,”
and the work is tasty in design, finely
executed. Air. Brown is a son of him
who was governor of Georgia at the
time of the fight at Kennesaw, and the
men of that family seem to combine
the dash of the South with the shrewd
ness and perseverance of the North.
Detroit (Mich.) Tribune.
THE GREAT KENNESAW ROUTE
The enterprising management cf the
Western A Atlantic R. R., or “Great
Kennesaw Route,” have issued a very
handsome illustrated souvenir of St.
Valentine’s day, consisting of a poem
entitled “Planting the Guns on Ken
nesaw.” The same road issued a short
time ago a folder containing accounts
of the various engagements which
took place along their line during the
war, including Missionary Ridge, Ken
nesaw Mountain, Atlanta, and many
other battles. The folder is profusely
illustrated with maps and wood cuts.
The W.A A. is the short line to Atlanta
and points in Georgia and Florida.
• Daily Times,- -Bethlehem, Pa.
Air. Joseph Al. Brown, general pas
senger agent of the Western A At
lantic Railroad Company (the great
Kennesaw route extending from At
• anta, Ga., to Chattanooga, Tenn.,)
has sent lovely valentines to the many
friends of his road, the Daily limes
among the number. The valentine
presents the story of the “Planting the
Guns on Kennesaw,” the story being
related in verse. A view of Kenne
saw Mountain is given, and also other
illustrations, the whole being beauti
fully printed on very fine paper and
bound in antique parchment paper.
It is a charming valentine ami we ex
tend our thanks for the same.
La Salle (Ill.) Republican.
The Republican got a valentine on
the regulation day, the 14th inst.,which
if it had been the regular regulation
valentine wouldn’t have got this no
tice. It is a little eight-page and cover
pamphlet containing several fine illus
trations and an original poem in fac
simile manuscript on the battle scenes
at Kennesaw during the civil war. It
was issued with the compliments of
Air. Joseph Al. Brown, of Atlanta,
Ga., general passenger agent of the
Western A Atlantic Railroad, and as
a work of art and a genuine gem in
the advertising line, is not superceded
by anything that has come under our
observation in years.
Valley Chronicle, St. Charles, 111.
“THE GUNS ON KENNESAW.”
Our special thanks are tendered to
Mr. Joseph AL Brown, of Atlanta,
Ga., who, on behalf of the AVestern A
Atlantic R. R. Co., sends us a beau
tiful, illustrated valentine in the form
of a Confederate poem celebrating
the planting of a battery on Kenne
saw Mountain in June, 1864, to resist
the advance of Sherman’s army. AVe
know the guns were there, for our eyes
beheld them, and we listened to the
thunder of 150 guns, winch responded
from Sherman’s lines. AA r e also stood
on the ground occupied by the Con
federate batteries a few days later.
•—•
Atlanta Manufacturer and Tradesman.
There was a slight error in the Jo/mn
al’s account of the date of the first lo
comotive brought to Atlanta. It was
in 1842 instead of 1844, and it was in
charge of Air. R. S. Rushton, whois
now connected with the Manufact u rer
and Tradesman. The engine was for
the AV. A A. R. R., and after the road
was put in operation, some two years
later, Mr. Rushton was the engineer,
and continued as such until 1850. He
and Air. John Weaver, now dead,
were the first engineers on the road.
AVe have received from the office of
the AVestern A Atlantic Railroad Com
pany, Marietta, Georgia, a pamphlet
of forty odd pages containing incidents,
stirring battle scenes of the late war of
the rebellion, and a description of the
country of Central Georgia. Alarietta
is getting the reputation of a winter
health resort. —Fremont, Ohio, Jour
nal.
“The daintiest and most unique
thing of the kind I ever saw,” was the
expression of a lady in inference to the
Western A Atlantic valentine. She
is a lady of line taste, and her opinion
is highly valued.
The Western A Atlantic Railroad is
the only railroad in Georgia which has
four daily freight schedules from one
of its termini to the other. Conse
quently, freight forwarded via the
AVestern A Atlantic, from the west to
the southeast, if it misses one schedule
has*a chance at three others the same
day. This makes it emphatically a
FAST FREIGHT LINE, and shippers
have found it out, and are acting in
accordance with their interests.
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