Hey, I recognize that octopus illustration!
It’s an illustration of the “eight armed cuttle” from the Crystal Palace exhibition of 1871. It’s used on a new article on “The Octopus That Ruled London”, about the “cephalomania” that swept across the city when people were first able to get a close-up look at the majestic mollusc. It’s not a mania, though, if everyone is doing it. Then it just becomes a sign of a normal, balanced, healthy mental state.
Now, that’s just ridiculous.
Serve with wild rice and saké.
Huh. I wasn’t aware that there was an exhibition in 1871. The only one I knew about was the one in 1851, the famous one, and Wikipedia only lists a cat show there in 1871. You learn something new every day.
While your title is amusing, remember ‘-mania, comb. form …enthusiastic (and often fashionable) participation in certain activities, or enthusiastic admiration for certain things or persons.’ So “cephalomania” is in no way a slight on the octopodal or their erstwhile admirers.