Visited the small town of Richfield Springs last week, a former tourist destination in the days when a good vacation meant a long soak in the sulphur springs. It was also the onetime home of illustrator Ellen Hattie Clapsaddle, an iconic illustrator of nineteenth-century postcards.

I met some modern-day pirate illustrators at Richmond Springs Central School, where they were celebrating pirate day. We talked about hairy pirates, and I admired their hand-made pirate hats. I have to say, for pirates, they were an exceptionally well-behaved, well-read bunch. They draw really well, too.