Chapter Wonder to Woodstock of W by Brewer's Readers Handbook

Wonder to Woodstock

Wonder (The), a comedy by Mrs. Centlivre; the second title being A Woman Keeps a Secret (1714). The woman referred to is Violantêe, and the secret she keeps is that donna Isabella, the sister of don Felix, has taken refuge under her roof. The danger she undergoes in keeping the secret is this: Her lover, Felix, who knows that colonel Briton calls at the house, is jealous, and fancies that he calls to see Violantêe. The reason why donna Isabella has sought refuge with Violantêe is to escape a marriage with a Dutch gentleman whom she dislikes. After a great deal of trouble and distress, the secret is unravelled, and the comedy ends with a double marriage, that of Violantê with a don Felix, and that of Isabella with colonel Briton.

Wonder of the World (The). Gerbert, a man of prodigious learning. When he was made pope, he took the name of Sylvester II. (930, 999–1003).

Otto III. of Germany, a pupil of Gerbert. What he did deserving to be called Mirabilia Mundi nobody knows (980, 983–1002).

Frederick II. of Germany (1194, 1215–1250).

Wonders of Wales (The Seven): (1) The mountains of Snowdon (2) Overton churchyard, (3) the bells of Gresford Church, (4) Llangollen bridge, (5) Wrexham steeple (? tower), (6) Pystyl Rhaiadr waterfall, (7) St. Winifrid’s well.

Wonders of the World (The Seven).

The Pyramids first, which in Egypt were laid;
Next Babylon’s garden, for Amytis made
Then Mausolos’s tomb of affection and guilt;
Fourth, the temple of Dian, in Ephesus built;
The colossos of Rhodes, cast in brass, to the sun;
Sixth, Jupiter’s statue, by Phidias done;
The Pharos of Egypt, last wonder of old,
Or the palace of Cyrus, cemented with gold.
   —E.C.B.

Wonderful Doctor, Roger Bacon (1214–1292).

Wood (Babes in the). (See Children in The Wood, p. 203.)

Wood (The Maria), a civic pleasure-barge, once the property of the lord mayors. It was built in 1816 by sir Matthew Wood, and was called after his eldest daughter. In 1859 it was sold to alderman Humphrey for £410.

Wood Street (London) is so called from Thomas Wood, sheriff, in 1491, who dwelt there.

Woodcock (Adam), falconer of the lady Mary at Avenel Castle. In the revels he takes the character of the “abbot of Unreason.”—Sir W. Scott: The Abbot (time, Elizabeth).

Woodcock (Justice), a gouty, rheumatic, crusty, old country gentleman, who invariably differed with his sister De borah in everything. He was a bit of a Lothario in his young days, and still retained a somewhat licorous tooth. Justice Woodcock had one child, named Lucinda, a merry girl, full of fun.

Deborah Woodcock, sister of the justice; a starch, prudish old maid, who kept the house of her brother, and disagreed with him in everything.—Bickerstaff: Love in a Village (1762).

Woodcocks live on Suction. These birds feed chiefly by night, and, like ducks, seem to live on suction; but in reality they feed on the worms, snails, slugs, and the little animals which swarm in muddy water.

One cannot live, like woodcocks, upon suction.
   —Byron: Don Juan, ii. 67 (1819).

Woodcourt (Allan), a medical man, who married Esther Summerson. His mother was a Welsh woman, apt to prose on the subject of Morgan-ap-Kerrig.— Dickens: Bleak House (1852).