An illustration from a 1919 issue of Cosmopolitan magazine.  The caption reads: "It took him less than ten minutes to reduce the trunk to a mass of splinters."

Dedicated to Teresa Burritt.

An illustration from a 1911 issue of Scribner's magazine.  The caption reads: "He turned and faced the rising sun, the light full on his face."

An illustration from a 1910 issue of Scribner's magazine.  The caption reads: "There was a whir of wheels in the air, a lurch into space."

An illustration from an 1869 issue of Harper's magazine.  The caption reads: "Specture of the Brocken."

For Martha Brockenbrough.

An illustration from a 1911 issue of Scribner's magazine.  The caption reads: "It was perhaps a little past the third hour after midnight....He stretched both hands across the table...and whispered a name."

An illustration from a 1920 issue of Harper's magazine.  The caption reads: "Dropping their H's."

An illustration from an 1861 issue of Harper's magazine.  The caption reads: "Captain Toby runs to save the vinegar."

Dedicated to Jonathan.

An illustration from a 1904 issue of Scribner's magazine.

Did you know that the phrase "Nothing or a duck's egg" is a Googlewhack?  From Punch, 1877.

The first image is from the exceptionally witty British panel show "Would I Lie To You?"  It depicts Greg Davies' "Hoot Owl Death Sign," from a schoolboy prank (or was it?)  The second image is from Appleton's magazine, 1905: "He had discovered the death-emblem."

The precursor to the crop circle was the crop pentagram.  (For evidence, see Scientific American, April 9, 1864.)

From Prof. Oddfellow's sketchbook:

An illustration from an 1899 issue of Cosmopolitan magazine.

An illustration from a 1904 issue of Scribner's magazine.

An illustration from an 1874 issue of Harper's magazine.