第21部分(第4/5 页)
rs。 In autumn; on the other hand; we have deluges of mud。 Only winter brings really pleasant weather。
Perhaps the easiest way of making a town’s acquaintance is to ascertain how the people in it work; how they love; and how they die。 In our little town (is this; one wonders; an effect of the climate?) all three are done on much the same lines; with the same feverish yet casual air。 The truth is that everyone is bored; and devotes himself to cultivating habits。 Our citizens work hard; but solely with the object of getting rich。 Their chief interest is in merce; and their chief aim in life is; as they call it; “doing business”。 Naturally they don’t eschew such simpler pleasures as sea…bathing; going to the pictures。 But; very sensibly; they reserve these pastimes for Saturday afternoons and Sundays and employ the rest of the week in making money; as much as possible。 In the evening; on leaving the office; they forgather; at an hour that never varies; in the cafes; stroll the same boulevard; or take the air on their balconies。 The passions of the young are violent and short…lived; the vices of older men seldom range beyond an addiction to bowling; to banquets and “socials”; or clubs where large sums change hands on the fall of a card。
这里是纽约(1)
'美国'埃·布·怀特
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埃·布·怀特(1899—1985),美国著名散文家、评论家。生于纽约,毕业于康奈尔大学。他曾任《纽约人》杂志的编辑和《哈帕斯》的专栏作家,为《纽约人》供职长达12年之久,《纽约人》的成功他有着不可替代的贡献。同时,怀特在儿童读物的创作上也颇有建树,其代表作有《这里是纽约》。怀特思想敏感独特,对生活的观察细致入微,文风朴素无华,尤其是一些游记性的文章,被广泛转载于大量的课本与选本之中。其主要作品有散文集《拐角处的第二棵树》、诗集《冷漠的女士》等。
假使有谁求取孤独和退隐这样奇怪的奖品,纽约同样会大方地让他达成心愿。正是因为这种大方的气质,各方人士才汇集到纽约城。曼哈顿的居民大多都是外乡人,他们从很远的地方搬到这里,为的就是找寻梦想的家园、自身价值的体现或某些或大或小的抱负。纽约的神秘之处恰恰在于创造了各种看似不可能的可能。它可以毁灭一个人,也可以让这个人飞黄腾达。完全由运气主导。假如一个人不乐意祈求好运,那他最好就不要来纽约生活。
纽约浓缩了艺术、商业、体育、宗教、娱乐和金融的精髓。在这袖珍般的土地上,角斗士、布道者、推销商、演员、证券投机者
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