Complete classic literature • Five-line readings • Clear US narration
VELMORA ACADEMY
Academy of Archival Languages & Memory Studies
Menu Close
Past and Present
Past and Present

Chapter XXVIII · Chapter 28

Chapter 28 of Past and Present is here in full — 160 sentences across 32 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Cover illustration for Past and Present
Context Illustration Reading 1/32 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
Working Aristocracy A poor Working Mammonism getting itself 'strangled in the partridge-nets of an Unworking Dilettantism,' and bellowing dreadfully, and already black in the face, is surely a disastrous spectacle!
But of a Midas-eared Mammonism, which indeed at bottom all pure Mammonisms are, what better can you expect?
No better;--if not this, then something other equally disastrous, if not still more disastrous.
Mammonisms, grown asinine, have to become human again, and rational; they have, on the whole, to cease to be Mammonisms, were it even on compulsion, and pressure of the hemp round their neck!--My friends of the Working Aristocracy, there are now a great many things which you also, in your extreme need, will have to consider.
The Continental people, it would seem, are 'exporting our machinery, beginning to spin cotton and manufacture for themselves, to cut us out of this market and then out of that!'
0:00 / 0:00
Speed 0.75x
AI-generated narration by OpenAI · Slow US English
LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
Editorial verification pending

A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

Past and Present

Chapter XXVIII · Chapter 28

Chapter 28 of Past and Present is here in full — 160 sentences across 32 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/32 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
Working Aristocracy A poor Working Mammonism getting itself 'strangled in the partridge-nets of an Unworking Dilettantism,' and bellowing dreadfully, and already black in the face, is surely a disastrous spectacle!
Line 2
But of a Midas-eared Mammonism, which indeed at bottom all pure Mammonisms are, what better can you expect?
Line 3
No better;--if not this, then something other equally disastrous, if not still more disastrous.
Line 4
Mammonisms, grown asinine, have to become human again, and rational; they have, on the whole, to cease to be Mammonisms, were it even on compulsion, and pressure of the hemp round their neck!--My friends of the Working Aristocracy, there are now a great many things which you also, in your extreme need, will have to consider.
Line 5
The Continental people, it would seem, are 'exporting our machinery, beginning to spin cotton and manufacture for themselves, to cut us out of this market and then out of that!'
/ðə ˌkɑːntəˈnentəl ˈpiːpəl ɪt wʊd siːm ɑːr ɪkˈspɔːrtɪŋ ˈaʊər məˈʃiːnəri bɪˈɡɪnɪŋ tuː spɪn ˈkɑːtən ənd ˌmænjəˈfæktʃər fɔːr ðemˈselvz tuː kʌt ʌs aʊt ʌv ðɪs ˈmɑːrkət ənd ðen aʊt ʌv ðæt/

Learner Dictionary

These definitions explain words found in the current reading and keep every example grounded in its original sentence.

Oxford-style entry order: headword, part of speech, US IPA, concise definition, contextual example, and audio.

asinine adjective US /ˈæsənaɪn/

extremely silly or stupid

From this reading “Mammonisms, grown asinine, have to become human again, and rational; they have, on the whole, to cease to be Mammonisms, were it even on compulsion, and pressure of the hemp round their neck!--My friends of the Working Aristocracy, there are now a great many things which you also, in your extreme need, will have to consider.”

bellowing noun US /ˈbeloʊɪŋ/

a very loud utterance (like the sound of an animal)

From this reading “Working Aristocracy A poor Working Mammonism getting itself 'strangled in the partridge-nets of an Unworking Dilettantism,' and bellowing dreadfully, and already black in the face, is surely a disastrous spectacle!”

compulsion noun US /kəmˈpʌlʃən/

an urge to do or say something that might be better left undone or unsaid

From this reading “Mammonisms, grown asinine, have to become human again, and rational; they have, on the whole, to cease to be Mammonisms, were it even on compulsion, and pressure of the hemp round their neck!--My friends of the Working Aristocracy, there are now a great many things which you also, in your extreme need, will have to consider.”

Continental adjective US /ˌkɑːntəˈnentəl/

of or pertaining to or typical of Europe

From this reading “The Continental people, it would seem, are 'exporting our machinery, beginning to spin cotton and manufacture for themselves, to cut us out of this market and then out of that!'”

exporting noun US /ɪkˈspɔːrtɪŋ/

the commercial activity of selling and shipping goods to a foreign country

From this reading “The Continental people, it would seem, are 'exporting our machinery, beginning to spin cotton and manufacture for themselves, to cut us out of this market and then out of that!'”

hemp noun US /hemp/

a plant fiber

From this reading “Mammonisms, grown asinine, have to become human again, and rational; they have, on the whole, to cease to be Mammonisms, were it even on compulsion, and pressure of the hemp round their neck!--My friends of the Working Aristocracy, there are now a great many things which you also, in your extreme need, will have to consider.”

manufacture verb US /ˌmænjəˈfæktʃər/

put together out of artificial or natural components or parts

From this reading “The Continental people, it would seem, are 'exporting our machinery, beginning to spin cotton and manufacture for themselves, to cut us out of this market and then out of that!'”

strangled adjective US /ˈstræŋɡəld/

held in check with difficulty

From this reading “Working Aristocracy A poor Working Mammonism getting itself 'strangled in the partridge-nets of an Unworking Dilettantism,' and bellowing dreadfully, and already black in the face, is surely a disastrous spectacle!”

All words in this reading · 103

Every word in these five lines is listed here, and every one of them can be played on its own.

Dictionary details are shown only when verified; these are not licensed Oxford entries.

AdeterminerUS /ə/

used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one

From this reading Working Aristocracy A poor Working Mammonism getting itself 'strangled in the partridge-nets of an Unworking Dilettantism,' and bellowing dreadfully, and already black in the face, is surely a disastrous spectacle!

againadverbUS /əˈɡen/

anew

From this reading Mammonisms, grown asinine, have to become human again, and rational; they have, on the whole, to cease to be Mammonisms, were it even on compulsion, and pressure of the hemp round their neck!--My friends of the Working Aristocracy, there are now a great many things which you also, in your extreme need, will have to consider.

alladjectiveUS /ɔːl/

(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class

From this reading But of a Midas-eared Mammonism, which indeed at bottom all pure Mammonisms are, what better can you expect?

alreadyadverbUS /ɔːlˈredi/

prior to a specified or implied time

From this reading Working Aristocracy A poor Working Mammonism getting itself 'strangled in the partridge-nets of an Unworking Dilettantism,' and bellowing dreadfully, and already black in the face, is surely a disastrous spectacle!

alsoadverbUS /ˈɔːlsoʊ/

in addition

From this reading Mammonisms, grown asinine, have to become human again, and rational; they have, on the whole, to cease to be Mammonisms, were it even on compulsion, and pressure of the hemp round their neck!--My friends of the Working Aristocracy, there are now a great many things which you also, in your extreme need, will have to consider.

andeterminerUS /æn/

the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound

From this reading Working Aristocracy A poor Working Mammonism getting itself 'strangled in the partridge-nets of an Unworking Dilettantism,' and bellowing dreadfully, and already black in the face, is surely a disastrous spectacle!

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together

From this reading Working Aristocracy A poor Working Mammonism getting itself 'strangled in the partridge-nets of an Unworking Dilettantism,' and bellowing dreadfully, and already black in the face, is surely a disastrous spectacle!

areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/

the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun

From this reading But of a Midas-eared Mammonism, which indeed at bottom all pure Mammonisms are, what better can you expect?

AristocracynounUS /ˌerəˈstɑːkrəsi/

a privileged class holding hereditary titles

From this reading Working Aristocracy A poor Working Mammonism getting itself 'strangled in the partridge-nets of an Unworking Dilettantism,' and bellowing dreadfully, and already black in the face, is surely a disastrous spectacle!

asinineadjectiveUS /ˈæsənaɪn/

extremely silly or stupid

From this reading Mammonisms, grown asinine, have to become human again, and rational; they have, on the whole, to cease to be Mammonisms, were it even on compulsion, and pressure of the hemp round their neck!--My friends of the Working Aristocracy, there are now a great many things which you also, in your extreme need, will have to consider.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading But of a Midas-eared Mammonism, which indeed at bottom all pure Mammonisms are, what better can you expect?

beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses

From this reading Mammonisms, grown asinine, have to become human again, and rational; they have, on the whole, to cease to be Mammonisms, were it even on compulsion, and pressure of the hemp round their neck!--My friends of the Working Aristocracy, there are now a great many things which you also, in your extreme need, will have to consider.

becomeverbUS /bɪˈkʌm/

enter or assume a certain state or condition

From this reading Mammonisms, grown asinine, have to become human again, and rational; they have, on the whole, to cease to be Mammonisms, were it even on compulsion, and pressure of the hemp round their neck!--My friends of the Working Aristocracy, there are now a great many things which you also, in your extreme need, will have to consider.

beginningnounUS /bɪˈɡɪnɪŋ/

the event consisting of the start of something

From this reading The Continental people, it would seem, are 'exporting our machinery, beginning to spin cotton and manufacture for themselves, to cut us out of this market and then out of that!'

bellowingnounUS /ˈbeloʊɪŋ/

a very loud utterance (like the sound of an animal)

From this reading Working Aristocracy A poor Working Mammonism getting itself 'strangled in the partridge-nets of an Unworking Dilettantism,' and bellowing dreadfully, and already black in the face, is surely a disastrous spectacle!

betteradjectiveUS /ˈbetər/

(comparative of “good”) superior to another (of the same class or set or kind) in excellence or quality or desirability or suitability; more highly skilled than another

From this reading But of a Midas-eared Mammonism, which indeed at bottom all pure Mammonisms are, what better can you expect?

blackadjectiveUS /blæk/

being of the achromatic color of maximum darkness; having little or no hue owing to absorption of almost all incident light

From this reading Working Aristocracy A poor Working Mammonism getting itself 'strangled in the partridge-nets of an Unworking Dilettantism,' and bellowing dreadfully, and already black in the face, is surely a disastrous spectacle!

bottomnounUS /ˈbɑːtəm/

the lower side of anything

From this reading But of a Midas-eared Mammonism, which indeed at bottom all pure Mammonisms are, what better can you expect?

ButconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading But of a Midas-eared Mammonism, which indeed at bottom all pure Mammonisms are, what better can you expect?

canmodal verbUS /kæn/

to be able to, or to be allowed to

From this reading But of a Midas-eared Mammonism, which indeed at bottom all pure Mammonisms are, what better can you expect?

ceaseverbUS /siːs/

put an end to a state or an activity

From this reading Mammonisms, grown asinine, have to become human again, and rational; they have, on the whole, to cease to be Mammonisms, were it even on compulsion, and pressure of the hemp round their neck!--My friends of the Working Aristocracy, there are now a great many things which you also, in your extreme need, will have to consider.

compulsionnounUS /kəmˈpʌlʃən/

an urge to do or say something that might be better left undone or unsaid

From this reading Mammonisms, grown asinine, have to become human again, and rational; they have, on the whole, to cease to be Mammonisms, were it even on compulsion, and pressure of the hemp round their neck!--My friends of the Working Aristocracy, there are now a great many things which you also, in your extreme need, will have to consider.

considerverbUS /kənˈsɪdər/

deem to be

From this reading Mammonisms, grown asinine, have to become human again, and rational; they have, on the whole, to cease to be Mammonisms, were it even on compulsion, and pressure of the hemp round their neck!--My friends of the Working Aristocracy, there are now a great many things which you also, in your extreme need, will have to consider.

ContinentaladjectiveUS /ˌkɑːntəˈnentəl/

of or pertaining to or typical of Europe

From this reading The Continental people, it would seem, are 'exporting our machinery, beginning to spin cotton and manufacture for themselves, to cut us out of this market and then out of that!'

cottonnounUS /ˈkɑːtən/

soft silky fibers from cotton plants in their raw state

From this reading The Continental people, it would seem, are 'exporting our machinery, beginning to spin cotton and manufacture for themselves, to cut us out of this market and then out of that!'

cutverbUS /kʌt/

separate with or as if with an instrument

From this reading The Continental people, it would seem, are 'exporting our machinery, beginning to spin cotton and manufacture for themselves, to cut us out of this market and then out of that!'

Dilettantism

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Working Aristocracy A poor Working Mammonism getting itself 'strangled in the partridge-nets of an Unworking Dilettantism,' and bellowing dreadfully, and already black in the face, is surely a disastrous spectacle!

disastrousadjectiveUS /dɪˈzæstrəs/

(of events) having extremely unfortunate or dire consequences; bringing ruin

From this reading Working Aristocracy A poor Working Mammonism getting itself 'strangled in the partridge-nets of an Unworking Dilettantism,' and bellowing dreadfully, and already black in the face, is surely a disastrous spectacle!

dreadfullyadverbUS /ˈdredfəli/

of a dreadful kind

From this reading Working Aristocracy A poor Working Mammonism getting itself 'strangled in the partridge-nets of an Unworking Dilettantism,' and bellowing dreadfully, and already black in the face, is surely a disastrous spectacle!

equallyadverbUS /ˈiːkwəli/

to the same degree (often followed by “as”)

From this reading No better;--if not this, then something other equally disastrous, if not still more disastrous.

evenadjectiveUS /ˈiːvɪn/

divisible by two

From this reading Mammonisms, grown asinine, have to become human again, and rational; they have, on the whole, to cease to be Mammonisms, were it even on compulsion, and pressure of the hemp round their neck!--My friends of the Working Aristocracy, there are now a great many things which you also, in your extreme need, will have to consider.

expectverbUS /ɪkˈspekt/

regard something as probable or likely

From this reading But of a Midas-eared Mammonism, which indeed at bottom all pure Mammonisms are, what better can you expect?

exportingnounUS /ɪkˈspɔːrtɪŋ/

the commercial activity of selling and shipping goods to a foreign country

From this reading The Continental people, it would seem, are 'exporting our machinery, beginning to spin cotton and manufacture for themselves, to cut us out of this market and then out of that!'

extremeadjectiveUS /ekˈstriːm/

of the greatest possible degree or extent or intensity

From this reading Mammonisms, grown asinine, have to become human again, and rational; they have, on the whole, to cease to be Mammonisms, were it even on compulsion, and pressure of the hemp round their neck!--My friends of the Working Aristocracy, there are now a great many things which you also, in your extreme need, will have to consider.

facenounUS /feɪs/

the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear

From this reading Working Aristocracy A poor Working Mammonism getting itself 'strangled in the partridge-nets of an Unworking Dilettantism,' and bellowing dreadfully, and already black in the face, is surely a disastrous spectacle!

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading The Continental people, it would seem, are 'exporting our machinery, beginning to spin cotton and manufacture for themselves, to cut us out of this market and then out of that!'

friendsnounUS /frendz/

plural of “friend” — a person you know well and regard with affection and trust

From this reading Mammonisms, grown asinine, have to become human again, and rational; they have, on the whole, to cease to be Mammonisms, were it even on compulsion, and pressure of the hemp round their neck!--My friends of the Working Aristocracy, there are now a great many things which you also, in your extreme need, will have to consider.

gettingnounUS /ˈɡetɪŋ/

the act of acquiring something

From this reading Working Aristocracy A poor Working Mammonism getting itself 'strangled in the partridge-nets of an Unworking Dilettantism,' and bellowing dreadfully, and already black in the face, is surely a disastrous spectacle!

greatadjectiveUS /ɡreɪt/

relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind

From this reading Mammonisms, grown asinine, have to become human again, and rational; they have, on the whole, to cease to be Mammonisms, were it even on compulsion, and pressure of the hemp round their neck!--My friends of the Working Aristocracy, there are now a great many things which you also, in your extreme need, will have to consider.

grownadjectiveUS /ɡroʊn/

(of animals) fully developed

From this reading Mammonisms, grown asinine, have to become human again, and rational; they have, on the whole, to cease to be Mammonisms, were it even on compulsion, and pressure of the hemp round their neck!--My friends of the Working Aristocracy, there are now a great many things which you also, in your extreme need, will have to consider.

haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading Mammonisms, grown asinine, have to become human again, and rational; they have, on the whole, to cease to be Mammonisms, were it even on compulsion, and pressure of the hemp round their neck!--My friends of the Working Aristocracy, there are now a great many things which you also, in your extreme need, will have to consider.

hempnounUS /hemp/

a plant fiber

From this reading Mammonisms, grown asinine, have to become human again, and rational; they have, on the whole, to cease to be Mammonisms, were it even on compulsion, and pressure of the hemp round their neck!--My friends of the Working Aristocracy, there are now a great many things which you also, in your extreme need, will have to consider.

humanadjectiveUS /ˈhjuːmən/

characteristic of humanity

From this reading Mammonisms, grown asinine, have to become human again, and rational; they have, on the whole, to cease to be Mammonisms, were it even on compulsion, and pressure of the hemp round their neck!--My friends of the Working Aristocracy, there are now a great many things which you also, in your extreme need, will have to consider.

ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading No better;--if not this, then something other equally disastrous, if not still more disastrous.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

inside something, or within a place, period, or state

From this reading Working Aristocracy A poor Working Mammonism getting itself 'strangled in the partridge-nets of an Unworking Dilettantism,' and bellowing dreadfully, and already black in the face, is surely a disastrous spectacle!

indeedadverbUS /ˌɪnˈdiːd/

in truth (often tends to intensify)

From this reading But of a Midas-eared Mammonism, which indeed at bottom all pure Mammonisms are, what better can you expect?

isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/

the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun

From this reading Working Aristocracy A poor Working Mammonism getting itself 'strangled in the partridge-nets of an Unworking Dilettantism,' and bellowing dreadfully, and already black in the face, is surely a disastrous spectacle!

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading Mammonisms, grown asinine, have to become human again, and rational; they have, on the whole, to cease to be Mammonisms, were it even on compulsion, and pressure of the hemp round their neck!--My friends of the Working Aristocracy, there are now a great many things which you also, in your extreme need, will have to consider.

itselfpronounUS /ˌɪtˈself/

used when the thing doing the action is also its object

From this reading Working Aristocracy A poor Working Mammonism getting itself 'strangled in the partridge-nets of an Unworking Dilettantism,' and bellowing dreadfully, and already black in the face, is surely a disastrous spectacle!

machinerynounUS /məˈʃiːnəri/

machines or machine systems collectively

From this reading The Continental people, it would seem, are 'exporting our machinery, beginning to spin cotton and manufacture for themselves, to cut us out of this market and then out of that!'

Mammonism

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Working Aristocracy A poor Working Mammonism getting itself 'strangled in the partridge-nets of an Unworking Dilettantism,' and bellowing dreadfully, and already black in the face, is surely a disastrous spectacle!

Mammonisms

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading But of a Midas-eared Mammonism, which indeed at bottom all pure Mammonisms are, what better can you expect?

manufactureverbUS /ˌmænjəˈfæktʃər/

put together out of artificial or natural components or parts

From this reading The Continental people, it would seem, are 'exporting our machinery, beginning to spin cotton and manufacture for themselves, to cut us out of this market and then out of that!'

manyadjectiveUS /ˈmeni/

a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “as” or “too” or “so” or “that”; amounting to a large but indefinite number

From this reading Mammonisms, grown asinine, have to become human again, and rational; they have, on the whole, to cease to be Mammonisms, were it even on compulsion, and pressure of the hemp round their neck!--My friends of the Working Aristocracy, there are now a great many things which you also, in your extreme need, will have to consider.

marketnounUS /ˈmɑːrkət/

the world of commercial activity where goods and services are bought and sold

From this reading The Continental people, it would seem, are 'exporting our machinery, beginning to spin cotton and manufacture for themselves, to cut us out of this market and then out of that!'

Midas-eared

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading But of a Midas-eared Mammonism, which indeed at bottom all pure Mammonisms are, what better can you expect?

moreadjectiveUS /mɔːr/

(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree

From this reading No better;--if not this, then something other equally disastrous, if not still more disastrous.

MydeterminerUS /maɪ/

belonging to the person speaking

From this reading Mammonisms, grown asinine, have to become human again, and rational; they have, on the whole, to cease to be Mammonisms, were it even on compulsion, and pressure of the hemp round their neck!--My friends of the Working Aristocracy, there are now a great many things which you also, in your extreme need, will have to consider.

necknounUS /nek/

the part of an organism (human or animal) that connects the head to the rest of the body

From this reading Mammonisms, grown asinine, have to become human again, and rational; they have, on the whole, to cease to be Mammonisms, were it even on compulsion, and pressure of the hemp round their neck!--My friends of the Working Aristocracy, there are now a great many things which you also, in your extreme need, will have to consider.

neednounUS /niːd/

a condition requiring relief

From this reading Mammonisms, grown asinine, have to become human again, and rational; they have, on the whole, to cease to be Mammonisms, were it even on compulsion, and pressure of the hemp round their neck!--My friends of the Working Aristocracy, there are now a great many things which you also, in your extreme need, will have to consider.

NodeterminerUS /noʊ/

not any; not one

From this reading No better;--if not this, then something other equally disastrous, if not still more disastrous.

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading No better;--if not this, then something other equally disastrous, if not still more disastrous.

nowadverbUS /naʊ/

in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events

From this reading Mammonisms, grown asinine, have to become human again, and rational; they have, on the whole, to cease to be Mammonisms, were it even on compulsion, and pressure of the hemp round their neck!--My friends of the Working Aristocracy, there are now a great many things which you also, in your extreme need, will have to consider.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading Working Aristocracy A poor Working Mammonism getting itself 'strangled in the partridge-nets of an Unworking Dilettantism,' and bellowing dreadfully, and already black in the face, is surely a disastrous spectacle!

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading Mammonisms, grown asinine, have to become human again, and rational; they have, on the whole, to cease to be Mammonisms, were it even on compulsion, and pressure of the hemp round their neck!--My friends of the Working Aristocracy, there are now a great many things which you also, in your extreme need, will have to consider.

otheradjectiveUS /ˈʌðər/

not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied

From this reading No better;--if not this, then something other equally disastrous, if not still more disastrous.

ourdeterminerUS /ˈaʊər/

belonging to the speaker and others

From this reading The Continental people, it would seem, are 'exporting our machinery, beginning to spin cotton and manufacture for themselves, to cut us out of this market and then out of that!'

outadjectiveUS /aʊt/

not allowed to continue to bat or run

From this reading The Continental people, it would seem, are 'exporting our machinery, beginning to spin cotton and manufacture for themselves, to cut us out of this market and then out of that!'

partridge-nets

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Working Aristocracy A poor Working Mammonism getting itself 'strangled in the partridge-nets of an Unworking Dilettantism,' and bellowing dreadfully, and already black in the face, is surely a disastrous spectacle!

peoplenounUS /ˈpiːpəl/

(plural) any group of human beings (men or women or children) collectively

From this reading The Continental people, it would seem, are 'exporting our machinery, beginning to spin cotton and manufacture for themselves, to cut us out of this market and then out of that!'

pooradjectiveUS /puːr/

deserving or inciting pity

From this reading Working Aristocracy A poor Working Mammonism getting itself 'strangled in the partridge-nets of an Unworking Dilettantism,' and bellowing dreadfully, and already black in the face, is surely a disastrous spectacle!

pressurenounUS /ˈpreʃər/

the force applied to a unit area of surface; measured in pascals (SI unit) or in dynes (cgs unit)

From this reading Mammonisms, grown asinine, have to become human again, and rational; they have, on the whole, to cease to be Mammonisms, were it even on compulsion, and pressure of the hemp round their neck!--My friends of the Working Aristocracy, there are now a great many things which you also, in your extreme need, will have to consider.

pureadjectiveUS /pjʊr/

free of extraneous elements of any kind

From this reading But of a Midas-eared Mammonism, which indeed at bottom all pure Mammonisms are, what better can you expect?

rationaladjectiveUS /ˈræʃ.ən.əl/

Based on or in accordance with reason or logic rather than turbulent emotions.

From this reading Mammonisms, grown asinine, have to become human again, and rational; they have, on the whole, to cease to be Mammonisms, were it even on compulsion, and pressure of the hemp round their neck!--My friends of the Working Aristocracy, there are now a great many things which you also, in your extreme need, will have to consider.

roundnounUS /raʊnd/

a charge of ammunition for a single shot

From this reading Mammonisms, grown asinine, have to become human again, and rational; they have, on the whole, to cease to be Mammonisms, were it even on compulsion, and pressure of the hemp round their neck!--My friends of the Working Aristocracy, there are now a great many things which you also, in your extreme need, will have to consider.

seemverbUS /siːm/

give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect

From this reading The Continental people, it would seem, are 'exporting our machinery, beginning to spin cotton and manufacture for themselves, to cut us out of this market and then out of that!'

somethingpronounUS /ˈsʌmθɪŋ/

a thing, without saying which

From this reading No better;--if not this, then something other equally disastrous, if not still more disastrous.

spectaclenounUS /ˈspektəkəl/

something or someone seen (especially a notable or unusual sight)

From this reading Working Aristocracy A poor Working Mammonism getting itself 'strangled in the partridge-nets of an Unworking Dilettantism,' and bellowing dreadfully, and already black in the face, is surely a disastrous spectacle!

spinverbUS /spɪn/

revolve quickly and repeatedly around one's own axis

From this reading The Continental people, it would seem, are 'exporting our machinery, beginning to spin cotton and manufacture for themselves, to cut us out of this market and then out of that!'

stilladjectiveUS /stɪl/

not in physical motion

From this reading No better;--if not this, then something other equally disastrous, if not still more disastrous.

strangledadjectiveUS /ˈstræŋɡəld/

held in check with difficulty

From this reading Working Aristocracy A poor Working Mammonism getting itself 'strangled in the partridge-nets of an Unworking Dilettantism,' and bellowing dreadfully, and already black in the face, is surely a disastrous spectacle!

surelyadverbUS /ˈʃʊrli/

definitely or positively (“sure” is sometimes used informally for “surely”)

From this reading Working Aristocracy A poor Working Mammonism getting itself 'strangled in the partridge-nets of an Unworking Dilettantism,' and bellowing dreadfully, and already black in the face, is surely a disastrous spectacle!

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading The Continental people, it would seem, are 'exporting our machinery, beginning to spin cotton and manufacture for themselves, to cut us out of this market and then out of that!'

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind

From this reading Working Aristocracy A poor Working Mammonism getting itself 'strangled in the partridge-nets of an Unworking Dilettantism,' and bellowing dreadfully, and already black in the face, is surely a disastrous spectacle!

theirdeterminerUS /ðer/

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading Mammonisms, grown asinine, have to become human again, and rational; they have, on the whole, to cease to be Mammonisms, were it even on compulsion, and pressure of the hemp round their neck!--My friends of the Working Aristocracy, there are now a great many things which you also, in your extreme need, will have to consider.

themselvespronounUS /ðemˈselvz/

used when the people doing the action are also its object

From this reading The Continental people, it would seem, are 'exporting our machinery, beginning to spin cotton and manufacture for themselves, to cut us out of this market and then out of that!'

thenadverbUS /ðen/

subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)

From this reading No better;--if not this, then something other equally disastrous, if not still more disastrous.

thereadverbUS /ðer/

in or at that place or location

From this reading Mammonisms, grown asinine, have to become human again, and rational; they have, on the whole, to cease to be Mammonisms, were it even on compulsion, and pressure of the hemp round their neck!--My friends of the Working Aristocracy, there are now a great many things which you also, in your extreme need, will have to consider.

theypronounUS /ðeɪ/

the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading Mammonisms, grown asinine, have to become human again, and rational; they have, on the whole, to cease to be Mammonisms, were it even on compulsion, and pressure of the hemp round their neck!--My friends of the Working Aristocracy, there are now a great many things which you also, in your extreme need, will have to consider.

thingsnounUS /θɪŋz/

any movable possession (especially articles of clothing)

From this reading Mammonisms, grown asinine, have to become human again, and rational; they have, on the whole, to cease to be Mammonisms, were it even on compulsion, and pressure of the hemp round their neck!--My friends of the Working Aristocracy, there are now a great many things which you also, in your extreme need, will have to consider.

thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/

used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned

From this reading No better;--if not this, then something other equally disastrous, if not still more disastrous.

toparticleUS /tuː/

used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive

From this reading Mammonisms, grown asinine, have to become human again, and rational; they have, on the whole, to cease to be Mammonisms, were it even on compulsion, and pressure of the hemp round their neck!--My friends of the Working Aristocracy, there are now a great many things which you also, in your extreme need, will have to consider.

Unworking

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Working Aristocracy A poor Working Mammonism getting itself 'strangled in the partridge-nets of an Unworking Dilettantism,' and bellowing dreadfully, and already black in the face, is surely a disastrous spectacle!

uspronounUS /ʌs/

the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading The Continental people, it would seem, are 'exporting our machinery, beginning to spin cotton and manufacture for themselves, to cut us out of this market and then out of that!'

wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/

the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun

From this reading Mammonisms, grown asinine, have to become human again, and rational; they have, on the whole, to cease to be Mammonisms, were it even on compulsion, and pressure of the hemp round their neck!--My friends of the Working Aristocracy, there are now a great many things which you also, in your extreme need, will have to consider.

whatpronounUS /wʌt/

used to ask for information about something

From this reading But of a Midas-eared Mammonism, which indeed at bottom all pure Mammonisms are, what better can you expect?

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned

From this reading But of a Midas-eared Mammonism, which indeed at bottom all pure Mammonisms are, what better can you expect?

wholeadjectiveUS /hoʊl/

including all components without exception; being one unit or constituting the full amount or extent or duration; complete

From this reading Mammonisms, grown asinine, have to become human again, and rational; they have, on the whole, to cease to be Mammonisms, were it even on compulsion, and pressure of the hemp round their neck!--My friends of the Working Aristocracy, there are now a great many things which you also, in your extreme need, will have to consider.

willmodal verbUS /wɪl/

used to talk about the future, or about willingness

From this reading Mammonisms, grown asinine, have to become human again, and rational; they have, on the whole, to cease to be Mammonisms, were it even on compulsion, and pressure of the hemp round their neck!--My friends of the Working Aristocracy, there are now a great many things which you also, in your extreme need, will have to consider.

WorkingadjectiveUS /ˈwɜːrkɪŋ/

actively engaged in paid work

From this reading Working Aristocracy A poor Working Mammonism getting itself 'strangled in the partridge-nets of an Unworking Dilettantism,' and bellowing dreadfully, and already black in the face, is surely a disastrous spectacle!

wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/

used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past

From this reading The Continental people, it would seem, are 'exporting our machinery, beginning to spin cotton and manufacture for themselves, to cut us out of this market and then out of that!'

youpronounUS /juː/

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading But of a Midas-eared Mammonism, which indeed at bottom all pure Mammonisms are, what better can you expect?

yourdeterminerUS /jɔːr/

belonging to the person or people being spoken to

From this reading Mammonisms, grown asinine, have to become human again, and rational; they have, on the whole, to cease to be Mammonisms, were it even on compulsion, and pressure of the hemp round their neck!--My friends of the Working Aristocracy, there are now a great many things which you also, in your extreme need, will have to consider.

Chapter 28 of Past and Present by Thomas Carlyle holds 160 sentences, grouped into 32 reading sections of at most 5 sentences. The text is the source edition, unabridged, and the chapter records which sentences cover which part of the work so that nothing is dropped. Every word can be tapped for its pronunciation and dictionary entry.

What does chapter 28 of Past and Present contain?

Chapter 28 holds 160 sentences of Past and Present, unabridged, divided into 32 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 28 of Past and Present by Thomas Carlyle exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 160 sentences, grouped into 32 sections of at most 5 sentences so that a reader can take the chapter in steady, finishable pieces. The chapter also stores a coverage record mapping every one of its sentences to a part of the work, which is how the edition demonstrates that no line was dropped.

How do I study chapter 28 of Past and Present?

Work through the 32 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 32 sections in this chapter is short enough to read once, hear once, and then re-read with the vocabulary in view. Tapping a word plays it alone and opens its dictionary entry with IPA, part of speech and meaning, so the reader is never forced to guess a pronunciation from spelling. Working section by section keeps a long chapter from becoming an undifferentiated wall of text, which is the usual reason a reader abandons a work of this period.

Can chapter 28 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 28 can be played aloud in United States English.

Audio covers the whole chapter: any sentence can be played, and any single word within it can be played on its own. The voice uses United States English. For a work of this period that matters, because spelling is an unreliable guide to pronunciation for vocabulary that has fallen out of daily use, and a learner who guesses wrong tends to keep the error. Hearing the word in its own sentence, and then alone, settles it.

Questions about reading Past and Present

Common questions about reading Past and Present by Thomas Carlyle on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of Past and Present?

Yes. All 4084 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #13534 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of Past and Present is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #13534, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does Past and Present take to read?

About 340 minutes of reading across 817 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read Past and Present section by section

How to work through Past and Present section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 40 chapters of Past and Present to begin.

  2. Read one section

    Each section holds 5 sentences; read it once through.

  3. Listen and tap

    Play the section aloud, then tap any unfamiliar word for its entry.

Vocabulary met early in Past and Present

Words and structures a reader meets early in Past and Present, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Example
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Past and Present; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Other
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Past and Present; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Fable
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Past and Present; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Sphinx
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Past and Present; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.