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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. 3