, 1876-01-06
How MAHOGANY Was INTRODUCED


It is not little remarkable that until
the present century the word "mahog-
any," though now in common use, was
not to be found in any dictionary
But the reason of its absence is plainly
accounted for by the fact that up to the
end of the last century the word was
not known in England. The story of
its first introduction is but another in
stance of art and chance meeting to-
gether.
DR.. Gibbons, an eminent physician
in the neighborhood, then fashionable,
of Covent Garden, had brother, q
West Indian sea captain, who had
brought over some planks of mahogany
as ballast to his ship. As a house was
in the course of being built by the doc
tor in King street, Covent Garden, his
brother happened one day to take it into
his head that tho planks which had
done work for himself, might be of SER
vice to the doctor; so he sent them to
King street. The carpenters. however.
found the grain of the wood too hard
for their tools, and SO they throw the
planks aside. Soon after this Mrs. Glib
bons wanted q candle-box; and was
anxious as she told her husband, to get
one that the mice could not nlbble. A
bright thought struck the doctor. He
would have one made out of those bits
of hard timber that were lying about
the back yard.
He called on his cabinet maker. one
Wallaston, and explained to him what
he wanted. Mr.. Wallaston tried, found
his tools not equal to the wood, and was
inclined to give the job up. declaring it
was too hard by far. The doctor was a
man not easily to be beaten, and accord
ingly said that he must get better and
stronger tools. The tools were ordered
and got. Mr.. Wallaston set himself to
the task with hearty good will, and
the work was done. Mrs. Gibbons had
the new candle box brought to her, and
declared that it was excellent. It re
sisted the efforts of the mice, which had
played terrible havoc with the candles
ends wien defended ty deal only. The
doctor caught the infection, and vowed
that he himself would have a bureau
made out of the same planks. The
tools of Mr.. Wallaston were again called
into play, and the bureau was made.
The next step was to polish it; and here,
too, fortune favored him. The polish
was all that could be desired; paint was
unnecessary.
The doctor was so rejoiced at his
triumph that he invited his friends from
Bedford and Tavistock streets. and
from the Piazza. to see and admire it.
Among others who came was the Mar
chioness of Buckingham. Her lady
ship came, saw. and was conquered" p"
She begged the doctor to give her some
of the spare planks. and commissioned
Wallaston to make a bureau for her
boudoir at Stowe, and another for her
drawing-room in Pail Mall. This done
the King and Queen were called in to
see the wonderful wood; other commits
sions for "the Queens house" followed
Mr.. Wallaston had more work for his
new tools than he coald get through,
and at the most remunerative prices.
His fortune was made. The wood soon
came into general use, and in 20 years
there was not a gentleman in town or
in the country either, who did not ex-
change his oak or beech-wood dining
table for one of mahogany. The word
Is now,.it is almost needless to add,
embodied in our dictionaries.