Like the Contest Puzzle of this past December (Bypassing Security), we have a closed square in the center.  Hopefully since it isn’t a contest, it won’t be a killer.  Here we go…

Trying to remember what a Magic Square… 36-across fits the theme but doesn’t tell us much…119-across is the key.  It directs our attention to 98-across, 34-down, and 48-down.  These clues just refer back to 119-across, so we’ve gotta get many crossing answers to get anywhere.  23-across, 17.- down (and there must be one more of this trio,  Ah, there is, 67-down) also must be part of the theme answer.  Once you land 119-across and any one of 98-across, 34-down or 48-down, the other two should be relatively easy to figure out.   Similarly, If you can work the arithmetic out, then 23-across, 17-down. and 67-down fall into place fairly straightforwardly.   For one more theme hint, go to the bottom of this post.

Individual answer hints:

Mollify:  As in Neville Chamberlain vis a vis WW II.   Note the connection to 58-across.

11-down: Pitcher’s datum:  Note that clue isn’t an abbreviation and is singular not plural.  So the answer must be also.

12-down Friendly introduction?:  This what you’re doing this puzzle on.  Or not, if you’re looking at a physical newspaper.

Company closing?:  No, not .com.  The word pre-dates even our friendly introduction.

Division politique:  Note that it’s a French word.   The U.S. ones are United.

H.S. Senior’s exam, once:  A close cousin of a H.S. exam that is still very much the bane of seniors everywhere.

Newspapers:  Well, I’d think you could say “,once”  here.  Do they really still call newspapers what this answer says?

Parisian schools:  And you thought all they had was ECOLES.   You’ve probably heard this word even if you know little French.

File extensions:  no, not like the one’s in 110-down.  Remember, this puzzle plays some little tricks with internet-age vs. pre-electronic.

Rotating surveying tool:  The answer to the question:  Why do you landscapers have to keep so even-tempered?

“Big” theme hint:  It isn’t really magic, you just have to remember that your keyboard doesn’t just have letters and symbols on it.

Hopefully, once you’re done, you will, like me, finally remember what a magic square is!