"The wine circulated languidly," an illustration from Handley Cross; or, Mr. Jorrocks's Hunt by Robert Smith Surtees, 1892.

How things have changed.  Today we're encouraged to drink lots of water, but back in 1911, when drinking water was considered irresponsible, "if you just must drink water," then at least let it be bottled.  From Polk-Husted Directory Co.'s Oakland, Berkeley and Alameda Directory.

Prof. Oddfellow received a mysterious bottle in the mail, with a note explaining that the cord is tied to whatever is inside and that the bottle must never, ever be shaken or opened.  It's been said that the spirits that move the world are not the kind that come out of a bottle.  We'll see about that.

An illustration from Ask Mamma by Robert Smith Surtees (1892).  The caption reads: "A bottle of smoke."

An illustration from a 1903 issue of Punch magazine.

If you ever open a bottle and hear a hissing sound, stand back.  This snaky letter S is from Sunday magazine, 1875.

"After all [comma] champagne should be a celebration and a properly popping cork is its first hurrah [exclamation point]" —Bryce Courtenay, Brother Fish (2004)