The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-03-19

| the opening Of the suez enterprise of
! national pride and utility, came 10 the
rescue with his own money, and induced
the Government TO lend the necessary aid
| Ia the accomplishment Of the schemes
Of re Grand Francais," who is still moth
ing but an engineer, full OF energy and
talent, with the strength. health and
mind Of "A young man, or nearly so.
Finally. 10 the great establishment of
the entire world. the enterprise is pro-
nounced a success, and the first boat
crosses the Isthmus of Suez through a
canal not even completed. An empress,
the most envied and admired woman of
her time. leaves Paris, and amidst the
widest cheers and most hearty welcome
from her beloved subjects. reaches TOu-
lon, sails for France on the Imperial
yacht. "L'Aigie." making for PARKWAY
shores and lands. in Il strange country,
for the inauguration Of the greatest engi-
neering work, not only Of the present. but
ever attempted and accomplished by man.
She goes and opens with her own hand
a new and wonderful way 10 International
commerce and industry. browning with
her presence the successful genius OF a
Frenchman. The engineer becomes "le
Grand Francois" and is covered with
dignity and honor. lie IS. in the opinion
OF every one. the greatest man OF the
present age. and joining 10 the qualities
of genius the most important adjunct Of
achievement he concentrates IN himself
the necessary elements OF popularity in
France. Intellect, appearance and sue
cess, a union of the romantic and the
poetic with the practical. Nothing sue
ceeds like success"
The circumstances OF his private life
have been matters OF universal interest
The Partisan public has long been famil-
lar with the sight Of his six small chill
dren. riding on ponies Of different sizes
according 10 their ages. following their
father every morning through the shady
walks Of the Bois de Bologne, while
"le Grand Francois" sitting in an arm
chair with children on each knee. and
even on his back. is pointed out 10 every
one as n picture for public worship.
His star has risen 10 it's zenith. Each
day that passes substantiates the wonder
ful success Of the Suez canal: the useful
ness and greatness Of the work: I'm it's
pecuniary returns. exceeding by far any
thing ever expected. The stock becomes
gradually and steadily very valuable; the
promoters shares, even divided I'm tenth
parts Of the original amount. are 4 for
tune 10 any one who has kept even one
tenth. Now the Empire falls, and the
Franco I RUSSIAN wall tue commune anu
the unsettled state OF the new Republic.
seem 10 unite for n universal overthrow.
But I'm the midst OF It all the Suez enter
prise holds its own. making rich all those
fortunate enough 10 own the stock, except
the originator and executor OF the work
Yet his glory has Outlived the glory OF
kings and queens. For although he might
have made fortunes upon fortunes out OF
1t. yet from goodness and generosity.
and even from charity. he gave away,
one by one. his allotted shares. and on
the day that he retired from Suez he was
as poor. perhaps poorer. Ian when he
conceived the scheme, taking from its
success nothing but an everlasting glory.
Years roll on. leaving NJ. De Lesseps
untOunched by them, more active and
energetic than ever, a living proof or
what success may do, always revolving
IN his mind colossal schemes, and finally
conceiying tne idea and plan of cuttirg
through the Isthmus OF Panama.
But times change. France goes through
one Of the most terrible phases Of her
history, showing therein, IL is true, her
strength, power and wealth by the
rapidity Of her recovery. taking back her
place among the greatest nations OF the
old world
Her prosperity is a matter OF fact. but
is more concealed than it was under the
first period Of the second Empire.
Business is slow. money is more scarce,
is not spent 50 freely. but is either
boarded or carefully invested in real
estate or Government bonds, which yield
less income, but are safer than more
paying investments. The wealth Of in
dividuals too. seems to change hands and
TO go from one class 10 another and every
political opinion apart, one must ackn0Nl-
edge that Paris Is no longer the Paris
Of thirty years before. and that me Gov
eminent. unsettled by continual crises
fearful Of being overthrow, cannot al
ford the responsibility OF helping openly
any enterprise. even a national one.
Everything seems problematic. But
even under these circumstances, the dis
lance Of the work being remembered. and
all its difficulties being seen, studied
and pronounced surmOuntable. under the
overwhelming pressure OF public opin-
ion, intoxicated by the success OF Suez
i'm the past. and acting, perhaps. under
unknown influences, the Panama canal
is decreed Ito be"
The WORK IS started with universal APP
probation. and with the greatest enthu-
siasm. The first subscription IS covered
and coz cred several times. The reports
are satisfactory. bat more money is need
ed. a new subscription is more than
covered with bewildering rapidity. The
same experiences are gone through
again and again without In the least
shaking the confidence OF those interest
ed. Finally. one day. il is clearly stated
that many more millions are needed.
But no one can make any further effort.
The last subscription not being sufficient
the money is returned, and a lottery,
upon which everyone relied implicitly,
proves TO be a partial failure. Some OF
the subscribers lose confidence and drag
others after them. All further work at
Panama stops. and the enterprise comes
TO be reported every day more and more
as an impossbility. The canal will
probably be In the future a source OF i'm
mense wealth TO another nation, which
will buy II at low figures. Aud what has
been. In fact. the cause of the catas-
trophyl
Was II that NJ. De Lesssps undertook
. colossal work too great for himf