letters
to an unknown audience
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As the ability to remember poetry will go/  /July 02, 2011

More! Here's Stephen on the men's view of Captain Aubrey:

You are mistaken, sure, when you say they do not know him: unlearned men have a wonderful penetration in these matters—have you ever known a village reputation to be wrong? It is a penetration that seems to dissipate, with a little education, somewhat as the ability to remember poetry will go. I have known peasants who could recite two or three thousand verses. But would you indeed say our discipline is relaxd? It surprises me, but then I know so little of naval things."

Again from Master and Commander.

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