Fessenden's Father Was Superintendent at Old Sandwich Glass Works

VOICES IN THE LOBBY.

The arrest of Sam Fessenden in New York this week is suggestive of the sadder side of political life. There is something in it of tragic pathos to those of us who knew the man and are familiar with his meteor's flight across the legislative armament. And the story of his over-strong ambition to keep in touch with a class of public adventurers for whose company he was neither socially nor financially equipped, shows a little of the going around of wheels, a little of the grinding mechanism which underlies the making of laws and the friction of which is noiseless in its fatality.

Although he first became prominent in public affairs through his connection with the Cape Cod ship canal project, Fessenden has had practically nothing to do with its management for at least a year or more. His connection with that famous enterprise dates back to the original charter granted late in the seventies, and under which no work of practical importance was accomplished toward the construction of the canal. When the charter of the present company was sought in the winter of 1883, Mr. Fessenden was named as one of the incorporators, and upon the organization of the company, after the granting of the charter, he was elected its treasurer.

He was at that time esteemed to be a man of moderate fortune, and he lived in a style suitable to his standing as a comfortably circumstanced country gentleman at Sandwich. He had, until then, taken comparatively little part in the politics of the cape, but after the granting of the company's charter his name was more frequently associated in the political anna's of the southeastern Massachusetts and it will be remembered that he was a contestant against the late Jonathan Bourne for election as delegate to the Chicago convention of '88. He was defeated by a very few votes after an exciting contest in which the determination of the "Iron Duke," backed by his great wealth and political power, alone secured Fessenden's defeat. Fessenden was, however, at the convention as Bourne's alternate, and contested for his seat before the committee on credentials.

His political career was confined to the first congressional district, in which he lives, and he has never been elected to any political office. He owes his prominence in politics to the energetic campaigns for others in which he has been a factor, and it will be remembered that he was a stanch supporter of the statesmen from New Bedford whose name was mentioned in the last Republican convention as a candidate for governor.

Sam Fessenden had many warm friends among the politicians of the first district, and, as a result of the contests in which he has been a factor, many enemies as well. His social prominence at Sandwich was founded on the fact that his family were among the earliest settlers of the town, his father having been for a generation the superintendent of the large glass works established in the town by the Boston and Sandwich Glass Company. The son has long been prominent in local church affairs, and was the treasurer of the oldest society established in the town, whose 250th anniversary celebration is not yet forgotten.

The friends of Fessenden at Sandwich are of the opinion that his recent misfortunes are due, largely to habits of living acquired during the term of his political activity. They do not believe, and it may be he stated as a fact, that the present financial embarrassment results from his connection with the Cape Cod Canal Company. He has for some years past lived at an expense which seemed hardly warranted to those who were familiar with his standing.

Since his retirement from the Cape Cod Canal Company, so far as any connection with its active management is concerned, it is understood that he has sought to retrieve his fortune, by embarking in several enterprises, none of which have realized his hopes, and all of which have proved additional drains upon his already depleted estate. His friends have recently been entertained by stories of the fortunes to be realized from California investments, and there are few who have not hoped that his visions might become tangible, and his impending ruin thus averted.

Fessenden has been frequently referred to as a lobbyist. This is doubtless due to the fact that his was a familiar figure in the corridor at Young's and the Adams House; but his presence there may be fairly attributed to his interest in the political controversies of the hour rather than to any immediate interest in pending measures. In the days when his wallet was full his friends were legion, and he entertained them with a liberality which constantly added new aspirants for his favor. In shall never forget the peculiar sadness of his remark to me one night not long after he had begun to feel the financial pressure which first alienated his little coterie of false admirers and finally brought him into his present embarrassment. We were leaning against the clerk's desk at the Adams, recalling some of the early canal campaigns.

"When I laugh," said he, reminiscently, "I laugh in company; but when I weep, I weep alone."

That was all.

It was a homely paraphrase of the old story; and he is now reading its last chapter.