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IS THE AMERICAN HUSBAND MADE ENTIRELY OF STAINED GLASS.

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 I am glad I am not an American husband.  At first sight this may appear a remark uncomplimentary to the American wife.  It is nothing of the sort.  It is the other way about.  We, in Europe, have plenty of opportunity of judging the American wife.  In America you hear of the American wife, you are told stories about the American wife, you see her portrait in the illustrated1 journals.  By searching under the heading “Foreign Intelligence,” you can find out what she is doing.  But here in Europe we know her, meet her face to face, talk to her, flirt2 with her.  She is charming, delightful3.  That is why I say I am glad I am not an American husband.  If the American husband only knew how nice was the American wife, he would sell his business and come over here, where now and then he could see her.
 
Years ago, when I first began to travel about Europe, I argued to myself that America must be a deadly place to live in.  How sad it is, I thought to myself, to meet thus, wherever one goes, American widows by the thousand.  In one narrow by-street of Dresden I calculated fourteen American mothers, possessing nine-and-twenty American children, and not a father among them—not a single husband among the whole fourteen.  I pictured fourteen lonely graves, scattered4 over the United States.  I saw as in a vision those fourteen head-stones of best material, hand-carved, recording5 the virtues6 of those fourteen dead and buried husbands.
 
Odd, thought I to myself, decidedly odd.  These American husbands, they must be a delicate type of humanity.  The wonder is their mothers ever reared them.  They marry fine girls, the majority of them; two or three sweet children are born to them, and after that there appears to be no further use for them, as far as this world is concerned.  Can nothing be done to strengthen their constitutions?  Would a tonic

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1 illustrated 2a891807ad5907f0499171bb879a36aa     
adj. 有插图的，列举的 动词illustrate的过去式和过去分词
参考例句：
  • His lecture was illustrated with slides taken during the expedition. 他在讲演中使用了探险时拍摄到的幻灯片。
  • The manufacturing Methods: Will be illustrated in the next chapter. 制作方法将在下一章说明。
2 flirt zgwzA     
v.调情，挑逗，调戏；n.调情者，卖俏者
参考例句：
  • He used to flirt with every girl he met.过去他总是看到一个姑娘便跟她调情。
  • He watched the stranger flirt with his girlfriend and got fighting mad.看着那个陌生人和他女朋友调情，他都要抓狂了。
3 delightful 6xzxT     
adj.令人高兴的，使人快乐的
参考例句：
  • We had a delightful time by the seashore last Sunday.上星期天我们在海滨玩得真痛快。
  • Peter played a delightful melody on his flute.彼得用笛子吹奏了一支欢快的曲子。
4 scattered 7jgzKF     
adj.分散的，稀疏的；散步的；疏疏落落的
参考例句：
  • Gathering up his scattered papers,he pushed them into his case.他把散乱的文件收拾起来，塞进文件夹里。
5 recording UktzJj     
n.录音，记录
参考例句：
  • How long will the recording of the song take?录下这首歌得花多少时间？
  • I want to play you a recording of the rehearsal.我想给你放一下彩排的录像。
6 virtues cd5228c842b227ac02d36dd986c5cd53     
美德( virtue的名词复数 )； 德行； 优点； 长处
参考例句：
  • Doctors often extol the virtues of eating less fat. 医生常常宣扬少吃脂肪的好处。
  • She delivered a homily on the virtues of family life. 她进行了一场家庭生活美德方面的说教。
7 tonic tnYwt     
n./adj.滋补品，补药，强身的，健体的
参考例句：
  • It will be marketed as a tonic for the elderly.这将作为老年人滋补品在市场上销售。
  • Sea air is Nature's best tonic for mind and body.海上的空气是大自然赋予的对人们身心的最佳补品。
8 mere rC1xE     
adj.纯粹的；仅仅，只不过
参考例句：
  • That is a mere repetition of what you said before.那不过是重复了你以前讲的话。
  • It's a mere waste of time waiting any longer.再等下去纯粹是浪费时间。
9 hoop wcFx9     
n.（篮球）篮圈，篮
参考例句：
  • The child was rolling a hoop.那个孩子在滚铁环。
  • The wooden tub is fitted with the iron hoop.木盆都用铁箍箍紧。
10 squeak 4Gtzo     
n.吱吱声，逃脱；v.（发出）吱吱叫，侥幸通过；（俚）告密
参考例句：
  • I don't want to hear another squeak out of you!我不想再听到你出声！
  • We won the game,but it was a narrow squeak.我们打赢了这场球赛，不过是侥幸取胜。
11 blighted zxQzsD     
adj.枯萎的，摧毁的
参考例句：
  • Blighted stems often canker.有病的茎往往溃烂。
  • She threw away a blighted rose.她把枯萎的玫瑰花扔掉了。
12 bosoms 7e438b785810fff52fcb526f002dac21     
胸部( bosom的名词复数 )； 胸怀； 女衣胸部（或胸襟）； 和爱护自己的人在一起的情形
参考例句：
  • How beautifully gold brooches glitter on the bosoms of our patriotic women! 金光闪闪的别针佩在我国爱国妇女的胸前，多美呀！
  • Let us seek out some desolate shade, and there weep our sad bosoms empty. 我们寻个僻静的地方，去痛哭一场吧。
13 retirement TWoxH     
n.退休，退职
参考例句：
  • She wanted to enjoy her retirement without being beset by financial worries.她想享受退休生活而不必为金钱担忧。
  • I have to put everything away for my retirement.我必须把一切都积蓄起来以便退休后用。
14 depressed xu8zp9     
adj.沮丧的，抑郁的，不景气的，萧条的
参考例句：
  • When he was depressed,he felt utterly divorced from reality.他心情沮丧时就感到完全脱离了现实。
  • His mother was depressed by the sad news.这个坏消息使他的母亲意志消沉。
15 impromptu j4Myg     
adj.即席的，即兴的；adv.即兴的(地)，无准备的(地)
参考例句：
  • The announcement was made in an impromptu press conference at the airport.这一宣布是在机场举行的临时新闻发布会上作出的。
  • The children put on an impromptu concert for the visitors.孩子们为来访者即兴献上了一场音乐会。
16 thoroughly sgmz0J     
adv.完全地，彻底地，十足地
参考例句：
  • The soil must be thoroughly turned over before planting.一定要先把土地深翻一遍再下种。
  • The soldiers have been thoroughly instructed in the care of their weapons.士兵们都系统地接受过保护武器的训练。
17 spartan 3hfzxL     
adj.简朴的，刻苦的；n.斯巴达；斯巴达式的人
参考例句：
  • Their spartan lifestyle prohibits a fridge or a phone.他们不使用冰箱和电话，过着简朴的生活。
  • The rooms were spartan and undecorated.房间没有装饰，极为简陋。
18 gallant 66Myb     
adj.英勇的，豪侠的；(向女人)献殷勤的
参考例句：
  • Huang Jiguang's gallant deed is known by all men. 黄继光的英勇事迹尽人皆知。
  • These gallant soldiers will protect our country.这些勇敢的士兵会保卫我们的国家的。
19 enquired 4df7506569079ecc60229e390176a0f6     
打听( enquire的过去式和过去分词 )； 询问； 问问题； 查问
参考例句：
  • He enquired for the book in a bookstore. 他在书店查询那本书。
  • Fauchery jestingly enquired whether the Minister was coming too. 浮式瑞嘲笑着问部长是否也会来。
20 bereavement BQSyE     
n.亲人丧亡，丧失亲人，丧亲之痛
参考例句：
  • the pain of an emotional crisis such as divorce or bereavement 诸如离婚或痛失亲人等情感危机的痛苦
  • I sympathize with you in your bereavement. 我对你痛失亲人表示同情。 来自《简明英汉词典》
21 consolation WpbzC     
n.安慰，慰问
参考例句：
  • The children were a great consolation to me at that time.那时孩子们成了我的莫大安慰。
  • This news was of little consolation to us.这个消息对我们来说没有什么安慰。
22 callous Yn9yl     
adj.无情的，冷淡的，硬结的，起老茧的
参考例句：
  • He is callous about the safety of his workers.他对他工人的安全毫不关心。
  • She was selfish,arrogant and often callous.她自私傲慢，而且往往冷酷无情。
23 outlet ZJFxG     
n.出口/路；销路；批发商店；通风口；发泄
参考例句：
  • The outlet of a water pipe was blocked.水管的出水口堵住了。
  • Running is a good outlet for his energy.跑步是他发泄过剩精力的好方法。
24 imprisoned bc7d0bcdd0951055b819cfd008ef0d8d     
下狱，监禁( imprison的过去式和过去分词 )
参考例句：
  • He was imprisoned for two concurrent terms of 30 months and 18 months. 他被判处30个月和18个月的监禁，合并执行。
  • They were imprisoned for possession of drugs. 他们因拥有毒品而被监禁。
25 woe OfGyu     
n.悲哀，苦痛，不幸，困难；int.用来表达悲伤或惊慌
参考例句：
  • Our two peoples are brothers sharing weal and woe.我们两国人民是患难与共的兄弟。
  • A man is well or woe as he thinks himself so.自认祸是祸，自认福是福。
26 piquant N2fza     
adj.辛辣的，开胃的，令人兴奋的
参考例句：
  • Bland vegetables are often served with a piquant sauce.清淡的蔬菜常以辛辣的沙司调味。
  • He heard of a piquant bit of news.他听到了一则令人兴奋的消息。
27 subscription qH8zt     
n.预订，预订费，亲笔签名，调配法，下标（处方）
参考例句：
  • We paid a subscription of 5 pounds yearly.我们按年度缴纳5英镑的订阅费。
  • Subscription selling bloomed splendidly.订阅销售量激增。
28 determined duszmP     
adj.坚定的；有决心的
参考例句：
  • I have determined on going to Tibet after graduation.我已决定毕业后去西藏。
  • He determined to view the rooms behind the office.他决定查看一下办公室后面的房间。
29 pathos dLkx2     
n.哀婉，悲怆
参考例句：
  • The pathos of the situation brought tears to our eyes.情况令人怜悯，看得我们不禁流泪。
  • There is abundant pathos in her words.她的话里富有动人哀怜的力量。
30 instinctively 2qezD2     
adv.本能地
参考例句：
  • As he leaned towards her she instinctively recoiled. 他向她靠近，她本能地往后缩。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • He knew instinctively where he would find her. 他本能地知道在哪儿能找到她。 来自《简明英汉词典》
31 cosy dvnzc5     
adj.温暖而舒适的，安逸的
参考例句：
  • We spent a cosy evening chatting by the fire.我们在炉火旁聊天度过了一个舒适的晚上。
  • It was so warm and cosy in bed that Simon didn't want to get out.床上温暖而又舒适，西蒙简直不想下床了。
32 authoritative 6O3yU     
adj.有权威的，可相信的；命令式的；官方的
参考例句：
  • David speaks in an authoritative tone.大卫以命令的口吻说话。
  • Her smile was warm but authoritative.她的笑容很和蔼，同时又透着威严。
33 fixed JsKzzj     
adj.固定的，不变的，准备好的；(计算机)固定的
参考例句：
  • Have you two fixed on a date for the wedding yet?你们俩选定婚期了吗？
  • Once the aim is fixed,we should not change it arbitrarily.目标一旦确定，我们就不应该随意改变。
34 gadding a7889528acccca0f7df39cd69638af06     
n.叮搔症adj.蔓生的v.闲逛( gad的现在分词 )；游荡；找乐子；用铁棒刺
参考例句：
  • She likes gadding about while the children are at school. 孩子们在学校里的时候，她喜欢到处逛逛。 来自辞典例句
  • We spent the whole day gadding about Paris. 我们一整天都在巴黎游玩。 来自辞典例句
35 imposing 8q9zcB     
adj.使人难忘的，壮丽的，堂皇的，雄伟的
参考例句：
  • The fortress is an imposing building.这座城堡是一座宏伟的建筑。
  • He has lost his imposing appearance.他已失去堂堂仪表。
36 entirely entirely     
ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地
参考例句：
  • The fire was entirely caused by their neglect of duty. 那场火灾完全是由于他们失职而引起的。
  • His life was entirely given up to the educational work. 他的一生统统献给了教育工作。
37 distilled 4e59b94e0e02e468188de436f8158165     
adj.由蒸馏得来的v.蒸馏( distil的过去式和过去分词 )；从…提取精华
参考例句：
  • The televised interview was distilled from 16 hours of film. 那次电视采访是从16个小时的影片中选出的精华。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • Gasoline is distilled from crude oil. 汽油是从原油中提炼出来的。 来自《简明英汉词典》

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