Connecticut western news., 1894-12-13
vIscoUNT FERDINAND DE LEssEps.

ed at his bedside from Thursday evening from which time his death was expected at every moment.
 The life of Ferdinand de Lesseps, which has just closed in manner so pathetic as to partakc almost of tragedy, had its rise, its high noon, its mellowed after noon, its heavg cloud, its sunset and its midnight. The Paris correspondent of large Amefican newspaper syndicate, un- der date of Jan. 29, 1885, wrote: "The most popular man in France today is un- occasionally Ferdinand de Lesseps. This is due to several causes. In the first place. his life work-the stupendous Suez con- ception-has been a brilliant success. The world, which has not even one word of sympathy for him who fails, is ever ready to prostrate itself before him who tri- umphs. But this worship of the great FrenchmaS as M. de Lesseps is now generally cs.lcd Is to be attributed moro to the admirable traits of character of the man himself than to the merit of what he has done.
 And yet but eight years later, or Feb. g, 1S93 this same Ferdinand de Lesseps, who had been for years the idol of the French people, was sentenced to imprison- ment for five years for the part he played in connection with the Panama canal loans. The unfortunate old man, stricken by the disgrace which had come upon him like a thunderbolt from a clear sky and borne down by the weight of :. fourscore years and eight, gave way beneath the blow.
 Rose From obscurity.
 Viscount Ferdinand de Lesseps, G. c. s. l., was born at Versailles, France, Nov. 19, 1905. He was not known out side of a narrow circle until he began to urge the expediency of constructing a canal across the isthmus of Suez, connect ing the Mediterranean with the Red sea. After unremitting effort for many years he obtained firman from Said Pasha in 1854, and enlisting French and English capitalists undertook the work, which was vigorously prosecuted to completion de- spite many obstacles that would have dis couraged less resolute man.
 The vieeroy of Egypt granted conoes- sion in 1856. The practicability of the project was questioned by many of the most eminent engineers of the world, and he was ridiculed all over Europe, and es- pecially by English engineers. The work was begun in 1859. It soon commanded the attention of various governments, which subscribed liberally to the under taking as the work. progressed and its practicability became assured The Turk ish government rendered substantial help, but this was construed as an attempt to strengthen the political power of the porte in Egypt and was resisted by the other powers interested, principally Great Brit ain and France. Work was suspended for a time on account of these complications, but finally the matter was submitted to arbitration and satisfactorily adjusted
 A canal of sufficient depth to admit of the passage of small steam vessels was opened Aug. 15, 1865, and by degrees the channel was deepened and enlarged so that small ships and schooners were enabled to pass through in March, 1867.
 When His Fame Was Worldwide.
 Aug. 15, 1869, the waters of the Medi- terranean mingled with those of the Red sea, and the formal opening of the canal was celebrated with great pomp and re- joicing at Suez, and on Nov. Is the canal was formally opened to Port Said Rep resentatives of all the principal govern ments of Europe were present on this oc- casion and the fetes were among the most imposing ever witnessed in modern times. A grand processional fleet, consisting of 40 vessels, successfully made the passag ge from Port Said to Ismailia-
 Turning his attention to the new world, M de Lesseps undertook the construction of canal across the isthmus of Panama. The original capital of the company, 600, : 000 900 francs, was exhausted, when the subscribers refused to advance more money, and the enterprise was abandoned. De Lesseps' private fortune was also ab- sorbed in the undertaking, and he was left comparatively poor. He continued his efforts to procure means with which to prosecute the work, but capital was timid, and he was unable to procure the neces- sary assistance. His Rapid Fall.