I enjoyed reading the pages from your book, Julie. The advice for young ladies never to begin with POETRY, but instead to read aloud only "unadorned Narrative, short Stories, Familiar Epistles ; but principally those that approach nearest to the language of conversation, such as Dialogues, and the best Dramatic Writings..." it's hand picked for our group read! We should read the play out loud and improve ourselves at the same time, according to Fordyce's notions. Excellent!
It's strange that he thinks girls have to build up to reading "Holy Writ" aloud, but perhaps the poetry of the language is risky as far as his system is concerned; I wonder which passages he had in mind as suitable.
I can hear Lydia Bennet yawning as I read good old Fordyce!
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