![[Header#^header-embed]] > [!SUMMARY] > Hester Thrale's poem _"The Streatham Flasher"_ jokingly mocks a flamboyant and eccentric neighbour. Thrale uses exaggeration and metaphor to highlight Flasher's quirks. In 18th-century usage, "flasher" meant someone showy, not an exhibitionist. > [!QUOTE] [[Hester Thrale née Salusbury]] in [[Thraliana]] on 24 March 1779 > [[Fanny Burney]] and I said the other day that we write a Weekly Paper & send it to London to our Gentlemen[^1] who desert us most grievously for the sake of attending Parliament—What says I shall we call our Paper? Oh the Flasher to be sure says she—we have a Hack Phrase here at [[Streatham Park|Streatham]] of calling ev'ry thing _Flash_ which we want other folks to call _Wit_. well said I write you the introductory paper, and I will put in a Song.— > I sent 'em a Gazette in Imitation of Swift's Country Post last Week which diverted them highly. > She wrote the Paper therefore, to which I affixed the Motto from Christina’s Cannon[^2] … > Habet sua fulmina Juno[^3]— > > **1.** > How bold the Streatham Muse is grown To _flash_ when all her _Sparks_ are flown[^4] Will nothing then abash her? Our Solitary Copse can blaze  Without the Sun's concentred Rays To animate our Flasher. > > **2.** > Nor Cruelty our Wit controuls,  Like Salt they sprinkle on the Coals  That glow beneath the Rasher; It makes our Flame but burn more bright, And prompts us to persue your Flight  With Gazette or with Flasher. > > **3.** > From such faint Fires my Master cries[^5] The meek Minerva's radiant Eyes[^4] May lead a Man away sure:  No Meteor wit approaches near, Where Sophy like the Sun severe!  Soon dissipates each Flasher. > > **4.** > Forbear Sir Philip[^6] cries, my Friend, With pop Gun Wits shall we contend? We must accept their Trash,—or Displease the Streatham Coterie,  Which I've objections to—_D'ye see_, So e'en let pass the Flasher. ## See also ![[hester-lynch-thrale-1741-1821🔎#^hester-lynch-thrale-infoblock]] #history/person/SALUSBURY/hester-lynch-born-1741 #history/person/BURNEY/frances-born-1752 #history/place/england/surrey/streatham/streatham-park ![[Footer#^footer-embed]] [^1]: [[Henry Thrale]]. [^2]: [Saint Christina of Tyre](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christina_of_Bolsena) was a 3rd-century Christian martyr who is revered for her courage and faith. [^3]: A Latin proverb "Juno has her own thunderbolts." reminds us that women, like Juno, possess their own means of power, influence, and achieving their aspirations. Hester Thrale, a strong and independent woman, embodied this spirit through her writings, advocating for women's rights and showcasing their untapped potential. [^4]: A reference to Sophy Streatfield. [^5]: A reference to [[Henry Thrale]]. [^6]: Possibly [Sir Philip Jennings Clerke MP (1722-1788)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sir_Philip_Jennings-Clerke,_1st_Baronet)