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

armchair. was nevertheless in their minds
| the soul of final success"
| When Charles De Lesseps left the
stand the general feeling may have been
| that the achievement OF the CANAL de
! Panama WAS a matter Of possibility. but
! tie prevailing sentiment was certainly
! that both Of the De Lesseps were abso-
! lutely honest, in ealncst, and in good
| faith, believing in their own words, and
| showing their belief and confidence by
their actions. Two hours later they left
| our house and town. / never saw them
afterwards a word Of rympathy on a
card when once | lost a near relative
being the only news OF them have had
since, simply showing that l was not for
| gotten.
At the beginning Of 1889 a short time
after, the supreme effort proved 10 BE-
cn un9Iccesful one. No new subscribers
were to be found anywhere. Every one
| had done his utmost. There was
no other alternative but to wait.
The work had to be stopped at first partly,
the completely on account Of the i'm
possibility Of getting in cash money 10
pay the workmen. News that everything
went wrong and giving the actual state
of affairs reached France with those who
having made ali that they possibly could
out Of the company, were coming back
from Colon 10 give IT a last blow. \
panic seized the market. speculations as
10 the Panama Canal Company causing
the stock to fan more than two hundred
francs IN two days. The company went
into liquidation. leaving behind the lot
terry which, curious coincidence OF fate,
has outlived II all, and has now still its
periodical drawings. The higher class lost
but little, or at least comparatively little,
having only invested what they could
spare. But those who were ruined were
those who had nothing to spare who in
losing anything lost their all. even
their daily bread. They were those who
having worked all their lives. had now
10 go back 10 working harder than ever,
or who. having enjoyed for a time n
peaceful. we'll earned rest, had now to
begin once more TO make their living by
their labor. In n word. they were those
who filled the theatre on the day of the
conference. II WAS among these classes,
the real creators OF her wealth and her
real sufferers in her misfortunes that
France lost hundreds Of millions without
uttering a word OF complaint, without
n groan against the Grand Francois" ana
without allowing any nation TO notice its
loss
I was, myself, particularly interested IN
the enterprise and | can remember well
COINS through the excitement 81 II all.
Each day at { o'clock a telegram sent
from the Paris Stock Exchange was
posted on the wall. Hundreds Wee wait
ing for the last quotation, when, one after
noon. unexpectedly. The stock fell more
than hundred points. The spectacle In
the streets adjoining and I'm front Of the
board was certainly one Of the most pitl-
ful J ever witnessed. wretched men and
women SEEING in one stroke OF the pencil
all their Happiness gone. and many their
dwellings. their living. and even their
bread. But not q single complaint was
to be heard against NJ. De Lesseps, and
even in the simplicity of their hearts, l
heard some say, Poor Ferdinand; poor
Ferdinand"
l am inclined 10 Think OF the Panama
scanda, question as OF a pretext 10 take
advantage OF the desire FOR change. which
enters the French mind every twenty or
twenty-five years, and 10 think with Ma
pOleon H., that after twenty years Of the
same government anyone might seize the
present circumstances as his chance So
that in one word, | think, many people
hoped that from the Panama scandal a
change Of form in the Government. or at
any rate change in the "NIance" Of the
Government would ensue. believe that
lie Grand francais," giving the different
phases Of his remarkable career. will be
the best way Of answering the question
His star rises I'm France, at the first
period OF reign which had been glorious
so far, particular epoch when France
having gone through years Of revolutions
and wars. finally enjoyed peace. and the
prosperity which peace brings. Business
was at the height of success; the Industrial
a. n lf h 49,
growing stronger and stronger. weather.
and wealthie- every day, helped as It was
by modern inventions. The aristocracies,
old and new. were both meeting at the
most brilliant court Of the time, or in
creasinS their capital by safe investments
everything was going up. Money was
free and easy, and the Government spent
It's funds lavishly in the Improvement and
embelllshment of the great cities rend ar
lhS work easy and remunerative. while
tie upper classes spent theirs in the
greatest Injuries. Much helped by the
emperor. who still had only wished TO
have his desires fulfilled, and seconded
~ the Empress. his distant relation. VI.
T. de Lesseps, simple and enteiprising
ehslneer, starts the project Of opening the
Isthmus OF Suez. lie has had the concep-
ton OK the idea, the possibility OF the
opening mas been studied and recognized.
and the work has begun.
AL the first start one looks upon him
as visionary, and nothing is OF greater
interest than 10 follow him along step
by step. among the difficulties Of every |
Kind. which seem TO arise at every turn |
10 prevent his success. But always full |
or hope. even In the most serious crisis, |
III De Lesseps goes ahead with the work, |
progressing slowly. sometimes on the |
verge of stopping altogether on account |
or the lack OF money But when every |
one might have despaired. confident OF hts |
star and In his success. he seems al |
ways rescued In time. His energy and |
push. with his evident genius, did not |
allow him to b overcome by adverse |
circumstances. He did not stop at any |
obstacle. even applying for assistance 10
thu Emperor himself. who. considering