New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1857-09-07
"THE LIFE OF FERNANDO WOOD"
WHAT WAS WRITTEN AID WHAT OMITTED.
THE LOST CHAPTERS OF Ivy.


AhIs vi coO 20 -, NElsISh ny
the author of " Boodstone," wss published simoita
neously with toe Biography of James ,rdon Bennett
and doubt will go down TO posierty eide by side
with Rs companion volume. The life Of such a man
az Fernando Wood, however, contains too msay mo-
rails for the rising gener ton not to be dse upon long
before posteriiy begins TO study its details: aad We
shall BE- pardon Of our columns FOR ote day in not
only digesting the book before Us bat aiding such
later facts as necessary TO full understanding Of
the subject.
The volume is dedicated, "by permission" 70 the
Hon. Edward Everett, and ioub: bas place 10 his
library in very elegant binding. Upon the back Of the
copy before us, however, is gilt figure of Justice
holding scaes-one Of which is much lower han the
other-and with both eyes bandeged, while the right
hand Craps sturdy shlclab. Upon the sides is Wig
Dette Of remarkable groupings: in the center appears
the bust of the Mayor around his head is wreath Of
laurel; under his breastbone is q scroll clibed
"Constitution" the American eagle is aiming
his left shoulder, sustain. bunch of in Ii.
claws, and having his bill exterded apgrily in the d.
rection Of the "biographist' female figure at the
right ia blowing horn over his head and holding
staff to which are affixed tuo Aagsone blowing north
ward and the other southwark, and underneath these
groupings are the words, "rigM makes might" The
IOOtIO VI MS idNOINc scutI-
ment, might makes right. The scroll is sarcsstcaly
suggestive of his defeat the Police PRESTON The
screaming eagle is mathematical of the honest popua
ton Of New York. The wreath is typical of the first
merchants who requested him to be candidate. The
horn is suggestive of his various proclamatioDs The
woman represents the goddess of fortune and the flags
flying porthward and southwark emnently appropriate
to the position Of the Buchaner party. So much for
the outside Of the volume
The first chapter is devoted TO of the Mayors
peculiar essays and the hea lngs - National and
municipal govemneDt-pecul arit;es Of government
Gin the Upited StacspecJhar condition s1d ants of
New York City" Most ofthis chapter has been from
time to time retsilod through the columns Of The Hc'-
cid. Chapters . ard tell how Henry Wood a
Welsh Quaker, emigracd to The new world 10 1000 aud
founded the Fernandy family. He was, no doub:, a
good man, and stands nj the root of the same family
tree which has had theatrical manager, lottery
dealer and an dcted felon for recent branches.
The father Of the present Mayor merchant u
Philadelphia, who, enduring bankruptcy roamed to
Kentucky, Missouri New Orleans and Havana, aud,
finally, settled in New.York The old inhabitants of
Market street still remember him q very honest old
gentleman, who died in 1882. The Mayor was born at
Philadelphia in 1912. When one year old " he was
visited with tevere ilness." The father was told by
the ply scians that Fernando who had been named
from his mothers seeing the name in the then popular
romance of the "Three Spauards % must die where
upon he fell upon his knees and with tears plead to
"God for the life of his child, aud God heard his
"prayer and in His pity granted it," So says the
biographer; bat readers will enember on old super
stiion about children saved by payer to become
in after life The young boy at sight, duly
bricked by Mr. James Shea who afterward became
such terror TO the boys of Columbia College Gram.
mar School. We believe Mr.. Shea is not now alive to
be s-sbea-Ued Of his pupil. AT the age of 10 the
young Fernando entered exchange Office"
Whether this was of the stamp which, while he ha'
been Mayor have very extensively been petted, tn
bographer (who, no doubt, knows all about the mys
terous little broker shops ab ,ut town. does not tel
W. There is, Ut page 43, an unctuous meptoa made
of the young man while Temporarily at Hsrrisburgh
Virginia. knocking down Virginia State Senator "
in row with CHAIR for which no imp. isoned.
This is prob bly, thrown into the volume Zap for
the Jim living crowd of readers. On succeeding
page another queer incident is thrown in which
be given verbatim:
ale had begun to smoke at thirteen years Of age,
and the habit had attained to preoocious inveterscy
Now leaning the rail Of the Philadelphia steam
boat enjoying his cigar, about the twentieth for the
day, he was eccosted by benevolent looking old
"a Friend thee smokes good deal, quo;h Broad
brim.
eyes Fernando confessed he did.
"'Wel, don't thee smoke any more.
"'I WON'T was the reply, and the half smoked cigar
va, committed to the deep, end q resolution framed
which has never since been broken ~"
Ladies and the civilized world in general will wish
that this Quaker had travelled more extensively; for
certainly more remarkable conversion is not on rec
ord since the days of Saul of Tersus. But if Fer
n.n5o Uood navey s,nokad oiOors thera ia abundant
evidence of bis smoking the community pretty effect
uay. In curious opposition to his REFORM he is stated
to have almost Immediately gone to Richmond, Viz.
ginis, and taken charge of tobacco factory. His
next move was toward theatricas, and for nearly
yesr he was upon the stage. What parts he played
the biographer does not mention, but perhaps The
Apostste," 1.-THE Black Prince and "Don John"
(the villain in much Ado About Nothing were as
excellent and suitable parts he could have selected
But the managers shelved him, and he then came to
New-York and established hiusef excessively as
cigar dealer and as q vender of grog in the Fourth
Ward. Rum the meaus Of setting him UP in the
world and those who have had the pleasure OF
dining with him since his accession to the Meyora ty
remember how keen aud exquisite is bis se eciion Of
vine and other btters. Rum got him into politics,
too and the primary people Immediately recognized in
him an INSCRIPTIONS ally and an unprincip.sd wire
puler. So, promotion soon came, and in few years
he had bounded up to a nomination for Congress.
This was about the period of bis frat marriage
over which the biogrspher has very cons;de-e'el
thrown the mantle Of charity and silence. A dvorc
ended this domestic chapter, aud shall make
further mention of details, which probably
Uttered Mr. Woods life than have even his dihcp.s
with the crimin ourts.
Mr.. Woods eonfreres in Congress were job
NcKeon aud Judge Roosevelt, neither Of whom, ahe
their political connection ended would have ary;bin
whatsoever to do with him--a very c; comueutar