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The Ways of Men
The Ways of Men

Chapter XV · Chapter 15

Chapter 15 of The Ways of Men is here in full — 114 sentences across 23 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Cover illustration for The Ways of Men
Context Illustration Reading 1/22 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
Without being more curious than my neighbors, there are several social mysteries that I should like to fathom, among others, the real reasons that induce the different classes of people one sees at the opera to attend that form of entertainment.
A taste for the theatre is natural enough.
It is also easy to understand why people who are fond of sport and animals enjoy races and dog shows.
But the continued vogue of grand opera, and more especially of Wagner’s long-drawn-out compositions, among our restless, unmusical compatriots, remains unexplained.
The sheeplike docility of our public is apparent in numberless ways; in none, however, more strikingly than in their choice of amusements.
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.

The Ways of Men

Chapter XV · Chapter 15

Chapter 15 of The Ways of Men is here in full — 114 sentences across 23 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/22 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
Without being more curious than my neighbors, there are several social mysteries that I should like to fathom, among others, the real reasons that induce the different classes of people one sees at the opera to attend that form of entertainment.
Line 2
A taste for the theatre is natural enough.
Line 3
It is also easy to understand why people who are fond of sport and animals enjoy races and dog shows.
Line 4
But the continued vogue of grand opera, and more especially of Wagner’s long-drawn-out compositions, among our restless, unmusical compatriots, remains unexplained.
Line 5
The sheeplike docility of our public is apparent in numberless ways; in none, however, more strikingly than in their choice of amusements.

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.

Taste verb US /teɪst/

To perceive flavor through the mouth.

From this reading “A taste for the theatre is natural enough.”

All words in this reading · 83

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.

A

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

From this reading A taste for the theatre is natural enough.

also

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

From this reading It is also easy to understand why people who are fond of sport and animals enjoy races and dog shows.

among

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

From this reading Without being more curious than my neighbors, there are several social mysteries that I should like to fathom, among others, the real reasons that induce the different classes of people one sees at the opera to attend that form of entertainment.

amusements

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

From this reading The sheeplike docility of our public is apparent in numberless ways; in none, however, more strikingly than in their choice of amusements.

and

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

From this reading It is also easy to understand why people who are fond of sport and animals enjoy races and dog shows.

animals

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

From this reading It is also easy to understand why people who are fond of sport and animals enjoy races and dog shows.

apparent

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

From this reading The sheeplike docility of our public is apparent in numberless ways; in none, however, more strikingly than in their choice of amusements.

are

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

From this reading Without being more curious than my neighbors, there are several social mysteries that I should like to fathom, among others, the real reasons that induce the different classes of people one sees at the opera to attend that form of entertainment.

at

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

From this reading Without being more curious than my neighbors, there are several social mysteries that I should like to fathom, among others, the real reasons that induce the different classes of people one sees at the opera to attend that form of entertainment.

attend

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

From this reading Without being more curious than my neighbors, there are several social mysteries that I should like to fathom, among others, the real reasons that induce the different classes of people one sees at the opera to attend that form of entertainment.

being

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

From this reading Without being more curious than my neighbors, there are several social mysteries that I should like to fathom, among others, the real reasons that induce the different classes of people one sees at the opera to attend that form of entertainment.

But

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

From this reading But the continued vogue of grand opera, and more especially of Wagner’s long-drawn-out compositions, among our restless, unmusical compatriots, remains unexplained.

choice

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

From this reading The sheeplike docility of our public is apparent in numberless ways; in none, however, more strikingly than in their choice of amusements.

classes

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

From this reading Without being more curious than my neighbors, there are several social mysteries that I should like to fathom, among others, the real reasons that induce the different classes of people one sees at the opera to attend that form of entertainment.

compatriots

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

From this reading But the continued vogue of grand opera, and more especially of Wagner’s long-drawn-out compositions, among our restless, unmusical compatriots, remains unexplained.

compositions

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

From this reading But the continued vogue of grand opera, and more especially of Wagner’s long-drawn-out compositions, among our restless, unmusical compatriots, remains unexplained.

continued

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

From this reading But the continued vogue of grand opera, and more especially of Wagner’s long-drawn-out compositions, among our restless, unmusical compatriots, remains unexplained.

curious

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

From this reading Without being more curious than my neighbors, there are several social mysteries that I should like to fathom, among others, the real reasons that induce the different classes of people one sees at the opera to attend that form of entertainment.

different

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

From this reading Without being more curious than my neighbors, there are several social mysteries that I should like to fathom, among others, the real reasons that induce the different classes of people one sees at the opera to attend that form of entertainment.

docility

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

From this reading The sheeplike docility of our public is apparent in numberless ways; in none, however, more strikingly than in their choice of amusements.

dog

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

From this reading It is also easy to understand why people who are fond of sport and animals enjoy races and dog shows.

easy

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

From this reading It is also easy to understand why people who are fond of sport and animals enjoy races and dog shows.

enjoy

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

From this reading It is also easy to understand why people who are fond of sport and animals enjoy races and dog shows.

enough

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

From this reading A taste for the theatre is natural enough.

entertainment

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

From this reading Without being more curious than my neighbors, there are several social mysteries that I should like to fathom, among others, the real reasons that induce the different classes of people one sees at the opera to attend that form of entertainment.

especially

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

From this reading But the continued vogue of grand opera, and more especially of Wagner’s long-drawn-out compositions, among our restless, unmusical compatriots, remains unexplained.

fathom

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

From this reading Without being more curious than my neighbors, there are several social mysteries that I should like to fathom, among others, the real reasons that induce the different classes of people one sees at the opera to attend that form of entertainment.

fond

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

From this reading It is also easy to understand why people who are fond of sport and animals enjoy races and dog shows.

for

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

From this reading A taste for the theatre is natural enough.

form

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

From this reading Without being more curious than my neighbors, there are several social mysteries that I should like to fathom, among others, the real reasons that induce the different classes of people one sees at the opera to attend that form of entertainment.

grand

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

From this reading But the continued vogue of grand opera, and more especially of Wagner’s long-drawn-out compositions, among our restless, unmusical compatriots, remains unexplained.

however

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

From this reading The sheeplike docility of our public is apparent in numberless ways; in none, however, more strikingly than in their choice of amusements.

I

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

From this reading Without being more curious than my neighbors, there are several social mysteries that I should like to fathom, among others, the real reasons that induce the different classes of people one sees at the opera to attend that form of entertainment.

in

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

From this reading The sheeplike docility of our public is apparent in numberless ways; in none, however, more strikingly than in their choice of amusements.

induce

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

From this reading Without being more curious than my neighbors, there are several social mysteries that I should like to fathom, among others, the real reasons that induce the different classes of people one sees at the opera to attend that form of entertainment.

is

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

From this reading A taste for the theatre is natural enough.

It

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

From this reading It is also easy to understand why people who are fond of sport and animals enjoy races and dog shows.

like

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

From this reading Without being more curious than my neighbors, there are several social mysteries that I should like to fathom, among others, the real reasons that induce the different classes of people one sees at the opera to attend that form of entertainment.

long-drawn-out

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

From this reading But the continued vogue of grand opera, and more especially of Wagner’s long-drawn-out compositions, among our restless, unmusical compatriots, remains unexplained.

more

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

From this reading Without being more curious than my neighbors, there are several social mysteries that I should like to fathom, among others, the real reasons that induce the different classes of people one sees at the opera to attend that form of entertainment.

my

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

From this reading Without being more curious than my neighbors, there are several social mysteries that I should like to fathom, among others, the real reasons that induce the different classes of people one sees at the opera to attend that form of entertainment.

mysteries

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

From this reading Without being more curious than my neighbors, there are several social mysteries that I should like to fathom, among others, the real reasons that induce the different classes of people one sees at the opera to attend that form of entertainment.

natural

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

From this reading A taste for the theatre is natural enough.

neighbors

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

From this reading Without being more curious than my neighbors, there are several social mysteries that I should like to fathom, among others, the real reasons that induce the different classes of people one sees at the opera to attend that form of entertainment.

none

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

From this reading The sheeplike docility of our public is apparent in numberless ways; in none, however, more strikingly than in their choice of amusements.

numberless

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

From this reading The sheeplike docility of our public is apparent in numberless ways; in none, however, more strikingly than in their choice of amusements.

of

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

From this reading Without being more curious than my neighbors, there are several social mysteries that I should like to fathom, among others, the real reasons that induce the different classes of people one sees at the opera to attend that form of entertainment.

one

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

From this reading Without being more curious than my neighbors, there are several social mysteries that I should like to fathom, among others, the real reasons that induce the different classes of people one sees at the opera to attend that form of entertainment.

opera

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

From this reading Without being more curious than my neighbors, there are several social mysteries that I should like to fathom, among others, the real reasons that induce the different classes of people one sees at the opera to attend that form of entertainment.

others

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

From this reading Without being more curious than my neighbors, there are several social mysteries that I should like to fathom, among others, the real reasons that induce the different classes of people one sees at the opera to attend that form of entertainment.

our

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

From this reading But the continued vogue of grand opera, and more especially of Wagner’s long-drawn-out compositions, among our restless, unmusical compatriots, remains unexplained.

people

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

From this reading Without being more curious than my neighbors, there are several social mysteries that I should like to fathom, among others, the real reasons that induce the different classes of people one sees at the opera to attend that form of entertainment.

public

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

From this reading The sheeplike docility of our public is apparent in numberless ways; in none, however, more strikingly than in their choice of amusements.

races

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

From this reading It is also easy to understand why people who are fond of sport and animals enjoy races and dog shows.

real

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

From this reading Without being more curious than my neighbors, there are several social mysteries that I should like to fathom, among others, the real reasons that induce the different classes of people one sees at the opera to attend that form of entertainment.

reasons

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

From this reading Without being more curious than my neighbors, there are several social mysteries that I should like to fathom, among others, the real reasons that induce the different classes of people one sees at the opera to attend that form of entertainment.

remains

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

From this reading But the continued vogue of grand opera, and more especially of Wagner’s long-drawn-out compositions, among our restless, unmusical compatriots, remains unexplained.

restless

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

From this reading But the continued vogue of grand opera, and more especially of Wagner’s long-drawn-out compositions, among our restless, unmusical compatriots, remains unexplained.

sees

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

From this reading Without being more curious than my neighbors, there are several social mysteries that I should like to fathom, among others, the real reasons that induce the different classes of people one sees at the opera to attend that form of entertainment.

several

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

From this reading Without being more curious than my neighbors, there are several social mysteries that I should like to fathom, among others, the real reasons that induce the different classes of people one sees at the opera to attend that form of entertainment.

sheeplike

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

From this reading The sheeplike docility of our public is apparent in numberless ways; in none, however, more strikingly than in their choice of amusements.

should

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

From this reading Without being more curious than my neighbors, there are several social mysteries that I should like to fathom, among others, the real reasons that induce the different classes of people one sees at the opera to attend that form of entertainment.

shows

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

From this reading It is also easy to understand why people who are fond of sport and animals enjoy races and dog shows.

social

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

From this reading Without being more curious than my neighbors, there are several social mysteries that I should like to fathom, among others, the real reasons that induce the different classes of people one sees at the opera to attend that form of entertainment.

sport

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

From this reading It is also easy to understand why people who are fond of sport and animals enjoy races and dog shows.

strikingly

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

From this reading The sheeplike docility of our public is apparent in numberless ways; in none, however, more strikingly than in their choice of amusements.

tasteverbUS /teɪst/

To perceive flavor through the mouth.

From this reading A taste for the theatre is natural enough.

than

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

From this reading Without being more curious than my neighbors, there are several social mysteries that I should like to fathom, among others, the real reasons that induce the different classes of people one sees at the opera to attend that form of entertainment.

that

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

From this reading Without being more curious than my neighbors, there are several social mysteries that I should like to fathom, among others, the real reasons that induce the different classes of people one sees at the opera to attend that form of entertainment.

the

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

From this reading Without being more curious than my neighbors, there are several social mysteries that I should like to fathom, among others, the real reasons that induce the different classes of people one sees at the opera to attend that form of entertainment.

theatre

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

From this reading A taste for the theatre is natural enough.

their

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

From this reading The sheeplike docility of our public is apparent in numberless ways; in none, however, more strikingly than in their choice of amusements.

there

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

From this reading Without being more curious than my neighbors, there are several social mysteries that I should like to fathom, among others, the real reasons that induce the different classes of people one sees at the opera to attend that form of entertainment.

to

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

From this reading Without being more curious than my neighbors, there are several social mysteries that I should like to fathom, among others, the real reasons that induce the different classes of people one sees at the opera to attend that form of entertainment.

understand

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

From this reading It is also easy to understand why people who are fond of sport and animals enjoy races and dog shows.

unexplained

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

From this reading But the continued vogue of grand opera, and more especially of Wagner’s long-drawn-out compositions, among our restless, unmusical compatriots, remains unexplained.

unmusical

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

From this reading But the continued vogue of grand opera, and more especially of Wagner’s long-drawn-out compositions, among our restless, unmusical compatriots, remains unexplained.

vogue

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

From this reading But the continued vogue of grand opera, and more especially of Wagner’s long-drawn-out compositions, among our restless, unmusical compatriots, remains unexplained.

Wagner's

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

From this reading But the continued vogue of grand opera, and more especially of Wagner’s long-drawn-out compositions, among our restless, unmusical compatriots, remains unexplained.

ways

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

From this reading The sheeplike docility of our public is apparent in numberless ways; in none, however, more strikingly than in their choice of amusements.

who

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

From this reading It is also easy to understand why people who are fond of sport and animals enjoy races and dog shows.

why

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

From this reading It is also easy to understand why people who are fond of sport and animals enjoy races and dog shows.

Without

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

From this reading Without being more curious than my neighbors, there are several social mysteries that I should like to fathom, among others, the real reasons that induce the different classes of people one sees at the opera to attend that form of entertainment.

Chapter 15 of The Ways of Men by Eliot Gregory holds 114 sentences, grouped into 23 reading sections of at most 5 sentences. The text is the public-domain source, 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 15 of The Ways of Men contain?

Chapter 15 holds 114 sentences of The Ways of Men, unabridged, divided into 23 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 15 of The Ways of Men by Eliot Gregory exactly as it stands in the public-domain source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 114 sentences, grouped into 23 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 15 of The Ways of Men?

Work through the 23 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 23 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 15 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 15 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 The Ways of Men

Common questions about reading The Ways of Men by Eliot Gregory on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of The Ways of Men?

Yes. All 2387 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #319 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of The Ways of Men is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #319, a public-domain edition. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does The Ways of Men take to read?

About 198 minutes of reading across 478 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read The Ways of Men section by section

How to work through The Ways of Men section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 33 chapters of The Ways of Men 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 The Ways of Men

Words and structures a reader meets early in The Ways of Men, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Gentleman
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Ways of Men; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Graced
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Ways of Men; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Gubernatorial
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Ways of Men; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Armchair
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Ways of Men; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.