"Let there be light": a big bang in The Missionary Visitor, 1907.

From The History of England by David Hume, 1825.

From Blossoms by the Way, edited by Carrie Adelaide Cooke, 1882.

"My last exploit," from The History of Arthur Penreath by Verney Lovett Cameron, 1888.

"There she stood in the heart of the fire," from The World's Desire by Henry Rider Haggard, 1894.

From Babylon Electrified by Albert Bleunard, and illustrated by Montader, 1890.

From The Story of Ab by Stanley Waterloo, 1897.

"The troll gives a light," from The Pink Fairy Book by Andrew Lang, 1897.

Dancing to celebrate the destruction of the world.  From Earthquakes by Arnold Boscoqitz and translated by Coulson Bell Pitman, 1890.

"Their torches flashed luridly in the blackness of the night."  From The Madeira Islands by Anthony Joseph Drexel Biddle, 1896.

Here's the proper way to exit a fancy dress party, from Bohemian Paris of To-day by William Chambers Morrow and illustrated by Édouard Cucuel, 1899.