Genre:

News-Commentary, Drollery

Subjects:

Astronomy, Light, Instruments, Observation, Amateurism

    Describes one of the 'Optical Phenomena attending the Eclipse'—the discovery of several hundred black eyes caused by the 'injudicious' use of smoked-glass plates to observe the celestial event. Recounts the experience of Mr Swipey, who sought to carry out George B Airy's suggestion that 'elevated' persons should 'remark the changes of appearance of surrounding objects': he became 'elevated' (drunk) and noted that the eclipse made all objects 'look double'. Following Airy's suggestion to gauge the sun's luminosity using a candle, 'a gentleman at Peckham' singed off part of his right eyebrow, which can be seen 'without the aid of any instrument'.