Genre:

Poetry, Drollery

Subjects:

Astronomy, Superstition, Gender, Education, Chemistry, Observatories

    Celebrates the pyrotechnic achievements of Madame Hengler. While in 'olden time' such apparently astronomical displays may have evoked superstitous fear, they do so no longer (156–57). Speculates on how her education might have fitted her for her occupation (157–58). Her displays cause 'hoax'd Astronomers' to 'look up and stare / From tall observatories, dumb and dizzy, / to see a Squib in Cassiopeia's Chair!' (158–59).