334 WORKMEN AND HEROES land were original, and have been to this day but scantily supplemented ; in physical sciences, the magnetic, tidal, and climatic observations remained for twenty years the most important series pertaining to the Arctic regions. Kane's voyage not only extended geographically Inglefield's discoveries a hundred miles to the northward, but it also opened up a practical and safe route for Arctic ex- ploration, which has been more fruitful of successful results than any other. Kane was a man of generous impulses, enthusiastic ideals, and kindly heart. His chivalric nature, indomitable will, and great courage often impelled him to hazardous enterprises ; but he stands out in this modern age as an unselfish char- acter, willing to brave hardships and risk his own life on a vague possibility of rescuing Franklin and his companions. 9L^]^* FERDINAND DE LESSEPS* By Clarence Cook (1805- i 894) r If, as Dante sings: "There is no greater grief than in a time of misery to remember happier days," there are few persons in our time who can testify more feelingly to the truth of the poet's words than Fer- dinand de Lesseps. For many years he was a bright-shining, sympathetic figure among those who lead in the van of our material progress ; and the accomplishment, by his initiative and energy, of the long dream of the Suez Canal, made him the hero, not of his own nation alone, but of all the civilized world ; honors were heaped upon him, and acclamations greeted him on every side. His name be- came a household word. A few years later, and all is changed. At the advanced age of eighty-eight, Ferdinand de Lesseps is in deep disgrace. Charged with the chief responsibility for the ruin brought about by the failure of another of his great enterprises the Panama Canal he has been condemned by the tribunal to pay a huge fine, and
- CoDvright, 1894, by Selmar Hess.
