The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1876-06-02

tits not little remarkable that until
tho present century the word "mahogr
any, though now In common use, was
not to DO found Ia any dictionary. But
the reason Of its absence is casily NC
counted for by the fact that up 70 the
end Of the last century the word was not
known in England. The story Of Its in-
PRODUCTION is but another instance Of art
and chance meeting together.
Dr. Gibbons, an eminent physician In
the neighhorhood, then fashionable, Of
Convent Garden, had brother, 4 West
Indian sea captain, who had brought
over some planks of mahogany as ballast
In his ship. As a house vas IN the course
Of being built by the doctorin King
street, Convout Garden, his brother hap
pened one day to take II IL his head TINT
The plunks, which had done their work
for himself might be Of service 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 threw the planks aside.
Not long after this, Mrs, Gibbons
wanted candle-box, and was anxious,
us she told her husband, to get one that
the mice could not nibblo. A bright
thought struck tho doctor. He would
have one made Of those bits Of hard
wood timber that were lying about the
back yard.
He called on his cabinet maker, one
Wolaston, and explained what he
wanted. Mr. Wollaston tried, found bis
tools not equal to the wood, and was IN
clined to give the Job up, declaring Il
was too hard by far, Tho doctor was =
man not easily 10 be beaten, and accord
ingly said no must get betterand stronger
tools. The tools we're ordered and got,
Mr.. WoliAston SGT himself 10 his task
with hearty goodwill, and the work
was done. Mrs. Gibbons had tho new
candle. box brought 10 hor and declared
| il was excellent. II resisted the efforts
of the mice who had played terrible
havoc with the cande-ends when de-
Tended by deal only. The doctor caught
the infection, and vowed that he would
himself have bureau made out OF the
same planks. Tho tools OF Mr.. Wollas-
ton were again called into play, aud the
bureau was made. The next step was TO
polish it; aud here, too, fortune favored
him. The polish was all that could bc
desired.
The doctor was so rejoiced at his trl-
umph that he invited his friends from
Bedford and Tavistock streets, and from
the Piazzi to see and admire ii, Among
the Others who came was the Marchioness
Of Buckingham. Her ladyship "came,
saw, and was conquered She begged
the doctor to give her some Of the spare
planks, and commissioned Wollaston 10
make her bureau for her boudoir at
Stowe, and another for her drawing
room ia Pail Mall. This done, the king
and queen we're called in to sec the Won
derfnl wood; other commissions for the
equeen's house" followed; Mr.. Wolaston
had more work for his new tools than he
could get through, and at most remuner-
atiye prices. His fortune was made,
The wood soon came into general use I;
and in twenty years there was not gen
tleman in town, or in the country either,
who did not exchange his oak or beech
wood diuner-table for one Of mahogany.
The word Is now--it is almost needless
TO add--0mbodled in our dictionaries.
--sr -