Great value in disaster

Thomas Edison's laboratory was virtually destroyed by fire in December， 1914. although the damage exceeded $2 million， the buildings were insured for $238，000 because they were made of concrete and thought to be fire-proof. Much of Edison's life' work went up in spectacular flames that December night.

At the height of the fire， Edison's 24-year-old son， Charles， frantically searched for his father among the smoke and debris. He finally found him， calmly watching the scene， his face glowing in the reflection， his white hair blowing in the wind.

\"My heart ached for him，\" said Charles. \"He was 67-no longer a young man-and everything was gone up in flames. When he saw me， he shouted， ' Charles， where's your mother?' when I told him I didn't know， he said， 'find her. Bring her here. She will never see anything like this as long as she lives.'\"

The next morning， Edison looked at the ruins and said， \"there is great value in disaster. All our mistakes burned up. Thank God we can start anew.\"

Three weeks after the fire， Edison managed to deliver his phonograph.

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趣味成語

Have all goods in the window 金玉其外，徒有其表

這里的window是指商店的櫥窗，商店往往把最好的商品陳列在櫥窗里，吸引顧客進(jìn)內(nèi)購物，但若好的商品已經(jīng)全放在櫥窗里（Have all goods in the window），商店里面還會有什么好貨物呢？因此這個(gè)成語比喻“金玉其外”或“徒有其表”

Admittedly Virginia is very beautiful but when she speaks， you will discover that she has all goods in the window for she is extremely shallow and stupid.

Get on like a house on fire 一見如故

\"Get on\" 指相處，“get on like a house on fire“直譯為“相處得好的像一間燃燒著的房子”。房子一燃燒起來，便一發(fā)不可收拾，轉(zhuǎn)眼間便火光熊熊了。現(xiàn)比喻“倆人相處得異常親熱”或“一見如故”

We had never met before but the first time we saw each other， we get on like a house on fire.

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小幽默

Plagiarism

A friend of mine who teaches European history at Washington University in St. Louis tells about the time he spotted a plagiarized term paper. He summoned the student to his office. \"This isn't your work，\" he said. \"someone typed it for you straight out of the encyclopedia.\"

\"You can't prove that!\" the student sputtered. My friend smiled and showed him the paper. Circled in red was: \"also see article on communism\".

Thirsty

\"I had an operation，\" said a man to his friend. \"and the doctor left a sponge in me.\"

\"That's terrible!\" said the friend. \"Got any pain?\" \"No， but I am alwaysthirsty!\"