The mere collector has to wind them assiduously into a coil in his {127} herbarium; and in their native element the only purpose they seem to serve is to stop the passage of boats, or to drown unfortunate swimmers by entanglement about their legs; for, although often thirty or forty feet in length even on British shores, and not thicker at their base than a whipcord, they are extremely tough and tenacious.
— from Art-Studies from Nature, as Applied to Design For the use of architects, designers, and manufacturers by James Glaisher

Now, the collective resources of our three companions were certainly not equal to one pound ten shillings; but, as may be easily imagined, a little sleight-of-hand would make any one of them appear to be possessed of the stock of the whole.
— from A Tramp's Wallet stored by an English goldsmith during his wanderings in Germany and France by William Duthie

Master Paul, the fag who had been deputed to the no easy task of preserving the structure from injury, had a hard time of it, there was such a hustling and crowding in front of it whenever classes were not going on.
— from The Fifth Form at Saint Dominic's: A School Story by Talbot Baines Reed

It is not easy to obtain permission to see more than the surface workings of the venerable Dolcoath, and even for them, in spite of the present-day harem skirt, the dress provided creates some disturbance in the mind of the average woman.
— from Nooks and Corners of Cornwall by C. A. (Catharine Amy) Dawson Scott