Lesson1:Excume!
Excume!
Yes?
Isthisyourhandbag?
Pardon?
Isthisyourhandbag?
Yes,itis.
Thankyouverymuch.
Lesson3:Sorrysir.
Mycoatandmyumbrellaplea.
Hereismyticket.
Thankyousir.
Numberfive.
Hereisyourumbrellaandyourcoat.
Thisisnotmyumbrella.
Sorrysir.
Isthisyourumbrella?
No,itisn't.
Isthisit?
Yes,itis.
Thankyouverymuch.
Lesson5:Nicetomeetyou.
Goodmorning.
Goodmorning,.
ThisisMissSophieDupont.
Sophieisanewstudent.
SheisaFrench.
Sophie,thisisHans.
HeisGerman.
Nicetomeetyou.
AndthisisNaoko.
She’sJapane.
Nicetomeetyou.
AndthisisChang-woo.
He’sKorean.
Nicetomeetyou.
AndthisisLuming.
He’sChine.
Nicetomeetyou.
AndthisisXiaohui.
She’sChine,too.
Nicetomeetyou.
Lesson7:Areyouateacher?
I’manewstudent.
Myname’sRobert.
Nicetomeetyou.
Myname’sSophie.
AreyouFrench?
Yes,I’m.
AreyouFrench,too?
No,I’mnot.
Whatnationalityareyou?
I’mItalian.
Areyouateacher?
No,I’mnot.
What’syourjob?
I’makeyboardoperator.
What’syourjob?
I’manengineer.
Lesson9:Howareyoutoday?
Hello,Helen.
Hi,Steven.
Howareyoutoday?
I’mverywell,Thankyou.
Andyou?
I’mfine,thanks.
HowisTony?
He’sfine,Thanks.
How’sEmma?
She’sverywell,too,Helen.
Goodbye,Helen.
Nicetoeyou.
Nicetoeyou,too,Steven.
Goodbye.
Lesson11:Isthisyourshirt?
Whoshirtisthat?
Isthisyourshirt,Dave?
No,sir.
It’snotmyshirt.
Thisismyshirt.
Myshirtsblue.
IsthisshirtTim’s?
Perhapsitis,sir.
Tim’sshirtswhite.
Tim!
Yes,sir.
Isthisyourshirt?
Yes,Sir.
Hereyouare.
Catch.
Thankyou,sir.
Lesson13:Anewdress
Whatcolorisyournewdress?
Itisgreen.
Comeupstairsandeit.
Thanksyou.
Look!
Hereitis!
That’sanicedress.
It’sverysmart.
Myhat’snew,too.
Whatcolorisit?
It’sthesamecolor.
It’sgreen,too.
That’salovelyhat.
Lesson15:Yourpassport,plea.
AreyouSwedish?
No,wearenot.
WeareDanish.
AreyourfriendsDanish,too?
No,theyaren’t.
TheyareNorwegian.
Yourpassport,plea.
Heretheyare.
Arethereyourcas?
No,theyaren’t.
Ourcasarebrown.
Heretheyare.
Areyoutourists?
Yes,weare.
Areyourfriendstouriststoo?
Yes,theyare.
That’sfine.
Thankyouverymuch.
Lesson17:Howdoyoudo
Comeandmeetouremployees,ds.
Thankyou,n.
ThisisNicolaGrey,andthisisClaireTaylor.
Howdoyoudo?
Thowomenareveryhard-working.
Whataretheirjobs?
They’rekeyboardoperators.
ThisisMichaelBaker,andthisisJeremyShort.
Howdoyoudo?
Theyaren’tverybusy!
Whataretheirjobs?
They’resalesreps.
Theyareverylazy.
Whoisthisyoungman?
ThisisJim.
Heisourofficeassistant.
Lesson19:Tiredandthirsty
What’sthemater,children?
Wearetiredandthirsty,Mum.
Sitdownhere.
Areyouallrightnow?
No,wearen’t.
Look!
There’sanicecreamman.
Twoicecreamsplea.
Hereyouare,children.
Thanks,Mum.
Thereicecreamsarenice.
Areyouallrightnow?
Yes,weare,thankyou.
Lesson21:Whichbook?
Givemeabookplea,Jane.
Whichbook?
Thisone?
No,one.
Thisone?
Yes,plea.
Hereyouare.
Thankyou.
Lesson23:Whichglass?
Givemesomeglassplea,Jane.
Whichglass?
Theglass.
No,sontheshelf.
The?
Yes,plea.
Hereyouare.
Thanks.
Lesson25:’skitchen
’skitchenissmall.
Thereisarefrigeratorinthekitchen.
Therefrigeratoriswhite.
Itisontheright.
Thereisanelectriccookerinthekitchen.
Thecookerisblue.
Itisontheleft.
Thereisatableinthemiddleoftheroom.
Thereisabottleonthetable.
Thebottleimpty.
Thereisacuponthetable,too.
Thecupisclean.
Lesson27:’slivingroom
’slivingroomislarge.
Thereisatelevisionintheroom.
Thetelevisionisnearthewindow.
Therearesomemagazinesonthetelevision.
Thereisatableintheroom.
Therearesomenewspapersonthetable.
Therearesomearmchairsintheroom.
Thearmchairsarenearthetable.
Thereisastereointheroom.
Thestereoisnearthedoor.
Therearesomebooksonthestereo.
Therearesomepicturesintheroom.
Thepicturesareonthewall.
Lesson29:Comein,Amy.
Comein,Amy.
Shutthedoor,plea.
Thisbedroomisveryuntidy.
WhatmustIdo,?
Openthewindowandairtheroom.
Thenputtheclothesinthewardrobe.（衣橱）
Thenmakethebed.
Dustthedressingtable.
Thensweepthefloor.
Lesson31:Where’sSally?
Where’sSally,Jack?
She’sinthegarden,Jane.
What’sshedoing?
She’ssittingunderthetree.
IsTiminthegarden,too?
Yes,heis.
He’sclimbingthetree.
Ibegyourpardon?
Who’sclimbingthetree.
Timis.
Whataboutthedog?
Thedog’sinthegarden,too.
It’srunningacrossthegrass.
It’srunningafteracat.
Lesson33:Afineday
It’safinedaytoday.
Therearesomecloudsinthesky,butthesunisshining.
’swithhisfamily.
Theyarewalkingoverthebridge.
Therearesomeboatsontheriver.
ndhiswifearelookingatthem.
Sallyislookingatabigship.
Theshipisgoingunderthebridge.
Timislookingatanaeroplane.
Theaeroplaneisflyingovertheriver.
Lesson35:Ourvillage
Thisisaphotographofourvillage.
Ourvillageisinavalley.
Itisbetweentwohills.
Thevillageisonariver.
Hereisanotherphotographofthevillage.
MywifeandIarewalkingalonethebanksoftheriver.
Weareontheleft.
Thereisaboyinthewater.
Heisswimmingacrosstheriver.
Hereisanotherphotograph.
Thisistheschoolbuilding.
Itisbesideapark.
Theparkisontheright.
Somechildrenarecomingoutofthebuilding.
Someofthemaregoingintothepark.
Lesson37:Makingabookca
You’reworkinghard,George.
Whatareyoudoing?
I’mmakingabookca.
Givemethathammerplea,Dan.
Whichhammer.
Thisone?
No,notthatone.
Thebigone.
Hereyouare.
Thanks,Dan.
Whatareyougoingtodonow,George?
I’mgoingtopaintit.
Whatcolourareyougoingtopaintit?
I’mgoingtopaintitpink.
Pink!
Thisbookcaisn’tforme.
It’sformydaughter,Susan.
Pink’sherfavoritecolour.
Lesson39:Don’tdropit!
Whatareyougoingtodowiththatva,Penny?
I’mgoingtoputitonthistable,Sam.
Don’tdothat.
Giveittome.
Whatareyougoingtodowithit?
I’mgoingtoputithere,infrontofthewindow.
Becareful.
Don’tdropit!
Don’tputitthere,Sam.
Putithere,onthisshelf.
Thereweare!
It’salovelyva.
Thoflowersarelovely,too.
Lesson41:Penny’sbag
Isthatbagheavy,Penny?
Notvery.
Here!
Putitonthischair.
What’sinit?
Apieceofchee.
Aloafofbread.
Abarofsoap.
Abarofchocolate.
Abottleofmilk.
Apoundofsugar.
Halfapoundofcoffee.
Aquarterofapoundoftea.
Andatinoftobacco.
Isthattinoftobaccoforme?
Well,it’scertainlynotforme!
Lesson43:Hurryup!
Canyoumakethetea,Sam?
Yes,ofcourIcan,Penny.
Isthereanywaterinthiskettle(水壶)?
Yes,thereis.
Where’sthetea?
It’soverthere,behindtheteapot.
Canyoueit?
Icanetheteapot,butIcan’tethetea.
Thereitis!
It’sinfrontofyou.
Ahyes,Icaneitnow.
Wherearethecups?
Therearesomeinthecupboard（碗橱）.
Canyoufindthem?
eyare.
Hurryup,Sam.
Thekettle’sboiling.
lesson45
THEBOSS:Canyoucomehereaminuteplea,Bob?
Bob:Yes,sir?
THEBOSS:Where'sMissJones?
Bob:She''sinheroffice,sir.
THEBOSS:Canshetypethisletterforme?Askherplea.
Bob:Yes,sir.
Bob:Canyoutypethisletterforthebossplea,MissJones?
MISSJONES:Yes,ofcourIcan.
Bob:Hereyouare.
MISSJONES:Thankyou,Bob.
MISSJONES:Bob!
Bob:Yes?What'sthematter?
MISSJONES:Ican'ttypethisletter.
MissJones:Ican'treadit!Theboss'shandwritingisterrible!
lesson47Acupofcoffee
MRSYOUNG:Doyoulikecoffee,MrsPrice?
MRSPRICE:Yes,Ido.
MRSYOUNG:Doyouwantacup?
MRSPRICE:Yes,ng.
MRSYOUNG:Doyouwantanysugar?
MRSPRICE:Yes,plea.
MRSYOUNG:Doyouwantanymilk?
MRSPRICE:No,'tlikemilkinmycoffee.
Ilikeblackcoffee.
MRSYOUNG:Doyoulikebiscuits?
MRSPRICE:Yes,Ido.
MRSYOUNG:Doyouwantone?
MRSPRICE:Yes,plea.
lesson49Atthebutcher’s
BUTCHER:Doyouwantanymeattoday,MrsBird?
MRSBIRD:Yes,plea.
BUTCHER:Thislamb'sverygood.
MRSBIRD:Ilikelamb,butmyhusbanddoesn't.
BUTCHER:Whataboutsomesteak?Thisisanicepiece.
MRSBIRD:Givemethatpieceplea.
BUTCHER:Doyouwantachicken,MrsBird?They'reverynice.
MRSBIRD:No,thankyou.
MRSBIRD:Myhusbandlikessteak,buthedoesn'tlikechicken.
BUTCHER:Totellyouthetruth(说实在的),,Idon'tlikechicken,either!
lesson51Apleasantclimate
HANS:Wheredoyoucomefrom?
DIMITRI:IcomefromGreece.
HANS:What'stheclimatelikeinyourcountry?
DIMITRI:It'sverypleasant.
Hans:What'stheweatherlikeinspring?
DIMITRI:It''salwayswarminAprilandMay,butitrainssometimes.
HANS:What'sitlikeinsummer?
DIMITRI:It'salwayshotinJune,shineveryday.
HANS:Isitcoldorwarminautumn?
DIMITRI:It''softencoldinNovemberanditrainssometimes.
HANS:Isitverycoldinwinter?
DIMITRI:It'softencoldinDecember,ssometimes.
lesson53Aninterestingclimate
HANS:Wheredoyoucomefrom?
JIM:IcomefromEngland.
HANS:What'stheclimatelikeinyourcountry?
Jim:It'smild（温和的）,butit'snotalwayspleasant.
Jim:Theweather''softenwetintheWestandsometimes
warmintheSouth.
Hans:Whichasonsdoyoulikebest?
Jim:riarlyandts
'ris
mateisnotverygood,butit''sourfavorite
subjectofconversation.
lesson55TheSawyerfamily
TheSawyersliveat87KingStreet.
Inthemorning,athertakesthemtoschooleveryday.
ayatsherlunchatnoon.
Intheafternoon,tendrinkteatogether.
Intheevening,rivehomeearly.
veshomelate.
Atnight,erusuallyreadshisnewspaper,but
sometimesheandhiswifewatchtelevision.
lesson57Anunusualday
Itiighto'ldrengotoschoolbycareveryday,buttoday,theyaregoingtoschoolonfoot.
Itisteno'yerusuallystaysathomeinthemorning,butthismorning,sheisgoingtotheshops.
Itisfouro’fternoon,MrsSawyerusuallydrinksteaintheliving-room,butthisafternoon,sheisdrinking
teainthegarden.
Itissixo’vening,thechildrenusuallydotheirhomework,butthivening,theyarenotdoingtheir
oment,theyareplayinginthegarden.
Itisnineo’clock,usuallyreadshisnewspaperatnight,
moment,heisreadinganinterestingbook.
lesson59Isthatall?
LADY:Iwantsomeenvelopesplea.
STATIONER:Doyouwantthelargesize,orthesmallsize?
LADY:Thelargesizeplea.
LADY:Haveyouanywriting-paper（信纸）?
Stationer:Yes,wedo.
Stationer:Ihaven'antapad（便签簿）?
LADY:Yes,plea.
LADY:AndIwantsomeblackinkandsomeglue.
Stationer:Abottlerofinkandabottleofglue.
LADY:AndIwantalargeboxofchalk,too.
Stationer:antone?
LADY:No,thankyou.
Stationer:Isthatall?
LADY:That'sall,thankyou.
Stationer:Whateldoyouwant?
LADY:Iwantmychange.
lesson61
MRWILLIANMS:Where'sJimmy?
MRSWILLIAMS:He'sinbed.
MRWILLIAMS:What'sthematterwithhim?
MRSWILLIAMS:Hefeelsill.
MRWILLIAMS:Helooksill.
MRSWILLIAMS:Wemustcallthedoctor.
MRWILLIAMS:Yes,wemust.
MRWILLIAMS:Canyourememberthedoctor'stelephonenumber?
MRSWILLIAMS:'s09754.
DOCTOR:Openyourmouth,,'Ah'.
MRWILLIMAMS:What'sthematterwithhim,doctor?
DOCTOR:Hehasabadcold,MrWilliams,sohemuststayinbedforaweek.
MRSWILLIAMS:That'sgoodnewsforJimmy.
DOCTOR:Goodnews?Why?
MRWILLIAMS:Becauhedoesn'tlikeschool!
lesson63Thankyou,doctor.
DOCTOR:How'sJimmytoday?
MRSWILLIAMS:He'sbetter,thankyou,doctor.
DOCTOR:CanIehimplea,MrsWilliams?
MRSWILLIAMS:Certainly,stairs.
DOCTOR:Youlookverywell,betternow,butyoumustn'tgetupyet.
Youmuststayinbedforanothertwodays.
DOCTOR:Theboymustn'tgotoschoolyet,ustn'teatrichfood.
MrsWilliams:Doeshehaveatemperature,doctor?
Doctor:No,hedoesn’t.
MRSWILLIAMS:Musthestayinbed?
DOCTOR:etupforabouttwohourachday,but
youmustkeeptheroomwarm.
DOCTOR:Where'sMrWilliamsthivening?
MRSWILLIAMS:He'sinbed,doctor.
Canyouehim,plea?Hehasabadcold,too!
lesson65Notababy
FATHER:Whatareyougoingtodothivening,Betty?
Betty:I'mgoingtomeetsomefriends,Dad.
FATHER:Youmustn'tbehomeathalfpastten.
BETTY:Ican’tgethomesoearly,Dad.
CanIhavethekeytothefrontdoor,plea?
FATHER:NO,youcan't.
MOTHER:Betty'ighteenyearsold,'ayscomeshomeearly.
FATHER:Oh,allright!
FATHER:mustn'ear?
BETTY:Yes,Dad.
BETTY:Thanks,Mum.
MOTHER:That'ourlf!
BETTY:Wealwaynjoyourlves,,bye.
lesson67Theweekend
MRSJOHNSON:Hullo,uatthebutcher's?
MRSWILLIAMS:uatthebutcher’s,too?
MRSJOHNSON:No,Iwasn’thegreengrocer’’sJimmytoday?
MRSWILLIAMS:He’sverywell,thankyou.
MRSJOHNSON:Washeabntfromschoollastweek?
MRSWILLIAMS:Yes,bntonMonday,Tuesday,youall
keeping?（你们身体怎么样？）
MRSJOHNSON:Verywell,’’regoingtostayat
mymother’sfortheweek-end.
MRSWILLIAMS:Friday,SaturdayandSundayinthecountry!Aren’tyoulucky!
Lesson69Thecarrace
1968,therewasaverybigrace.
ends,JulieandJackwerethere,
tandingontheleft.
ereEnglishcars,Frenchcars,Germancars,Italiancars,Americancarsand
Japanecars.
hercarswerejustbehind
him.
Onthewayhome,mywifesaidtome,“Don’tdrivesoquickly!You’renotBillyStewart!”
Lesson71He’sawful
Jane:What’sRonMarstonlike,Pauline?
Pauline:He’sawful!Hetelephonedmefourtimesyesterday,andthreetimesthedaybeforeyesterday.
Pauline:answeredthetelephone.
Jane:Whatdidyourbosssaytohim?
Pauline:Hesaid,”’tspeaktoyounow!”
Pauline:ThenIarrivedhomeatsixo’dn’tanswerthephone!
Jane:Didhetelephoneagainlastnight?
Pauline:Yes,phonedatnineo’clock.
Jane:Whatdidyousaytohim?
Pauline:Isaid,”ThisisPauline‘don’ttelephonemydaughteragain!”
Jane:Didhetelephoneagain?
Pauline:No,hedidn’t!
Lesson73ThewaytoKingStreet
snotknowLondonverywell,andshelostherway.
Suddenly,shesawamannearabus-shop.“Icanaskhimtheway.”Shesaidtoherlf.
“Excume,”shesaid.
“CanyoutellmethewaytoKingStreetplea?”
otunderstandEnglish!tourist.
Thenheputhishandintohispocket,andtookoutaphra-book.
thephraslowly.
“Iamsorry,”hesaid.“IdonotspeakEnglish.”
Lesson75Uncomfortableshoes
LADY:Haveyouanyshoeslikethe?
SALESMAN:Whatsize?
Lady:Sizefive.
Salesman:Whatcolour?
Lady:Black.
Salesman:I’n’tany.
Lady:Butmysisterboughtthispairlastmonth.
Salesman:Didshebuythemhere?
Lady:No,sheboughtthemintheU.S.
Salesman:Wehadsomeshoeslikethoamonthago,butwehaven’tanynow.
Lady:Canyougetapairformeplea?
Salesman:I’mafraidthatIcan’reinfashionlastyearandtheyearbeforelast.
Butthey’renotinfashionthisyear.
Salesman:Theshoesareinfashionnow.
Lady:Theylookveryuncomfortable.
Salesman:enalwayswearuncomfortableshoes!
Lesson77Terribletoothache
Nur:Goodmorning,MrCroft.
MrCroft:Goodmorning,oethedentist,plea.
Nur:Haveyouanappointment?（有预约吗？）
MrCroft:No,Ihaven’t.
Nur:Isiturgent?
MrCroft:Yes,’terribletoothache.
Nur:Canyoucomeat10amonMonday,April24th?
MrCroft:Imustethedentistnow,nur.
Nur:comeat2:00PM?
MrCroft:That’’tthedentistemenow?
Nur:I’mafraidthathecan’t,’tyouwaittillthisafternoon?
MrCroft:Icanwait,butmytoothachecan’t!
Lesson79Peggy’sshopping-list
Tom:Whatareyoudoing,Peggy?
Peggy:I’mmakingashopping-list,Tom.
Tom:Whatdoweneed?
Peggy:Weneedalotofthingsthisweek.
Peggy:Imustgotothegrocer’n’tgotmuchteaorcoffee,andwehaven’tgotanysugarorjam.
Tom:Whataboutvegetables?
Peggy:Imustgotothegreengrocer’n’tgotmanytomatoes,butwe’vegotalotofpotatoes.
Peggy:Imustgotothebutcher’s,n’tgotanymeatatall.
Tom:Havewegotanybeerandwine?
Peggy:No,wehaven’’mnotgoingtogetany!
Tom:Ihopethatyou’vegotsomemoney.
Peggy:Ihaven’tgotmuch.
Tom:Well,Ihaven’tgotmucheither!
Lesson81Roastbeefandpotato.
John:Hullo,Peggy!Where’sTom?
Peggy:He’’shavingabath.
Peggy:Tom!
Tom:Yes?
Peggy:John’shere.
Tom:I’mnearlyready.
Tom:Hullo,igarette.
John:Nothanks,Tom.
Tom:Haveaglassofwhiskythen.
John:.
Tom:Isdinnerready,Peggy?
Peggy:It’avedinneratveno’clock.
Tom:toarestaurant.
Peggy:Whatdidyouhave?
Tom:Wehadroastbeefandpotatoes.
Peggy:Oh!
Tom:What’sthematter,Peggy?
Peggy:Well,you’regoingtohaveroastbeefandpotatoesagaintonight!
Lesson83Goingonaholiday
Peggy:Hullo,.
Tom:Hullo,’anttohavelunchwithus?
John:Nothankyou,Tom.I’nchathalfpasttwelve.
Peggy:Haveacupofcoffeethen.
John:I’vejusthadacup,eaftermylunch.
Tom:Let’sgointotheliving-room,aveourcoffeethere.
Peggy:Excuthemess,om’’’regoingtoleave
Iaregoingtohaveaholiday.
John:Aren’tyoulucky!
Tom:Whenareyougoingtohaveaholiday,John?
John:Idon’tknow.I’vealreadyhadmyholidaythisyear.
Peggy:Wheredidyougo?
John:Istayedathome!
Lesson85ParisintheSpring
George:Hullo,Ken.
Ken:Hullo,George.
George:Haveyoujustbeentothecinema?
Ken:Yes,Ihave.
George:What’son?
Ken:“ParisintheSpring”.
George:Oh,I’’sanoldfilm,butit’svery
good.
Ken:Parisisabeautifulcity.
George:ueverbeenthere,Ken?
Ken:Yes,ereinApril.
George:Parisinthespring,eh?
Ken:Itwasspring,edallthetime.
George:JustlikedearoldLondon!
Lesson87Acarcrash
MrWood:Ismycarreadyyet?
Attendant:Idon’tknow,’sthelicencenumberofyourcar?
MrWood:It’sLFZ312G.
Attendant:Whendidyoubringittous?
MrWood:Iboughtithearthreedaysago.
Attendant:Ahyes,Iremembernow.
MrWood:Haveyourmechanicsfinishedyet?
Attendant:No,they’’sgointothegarageandhavealookatit.
Attendant:Isn’tthatyourcar?
MrWood:Well,itwasmycar.
Attendant:Didn’tyourwifehaveacrash?
MrWood:That’veitintoalamppost（电线杆）.Canyourmechanicsrepairit?
Attendant:Well,they’retryingtorepairit,ellyouthetruth,youneedanewcar.
Lesson89Forsale
MrHill:vethatthishouisforsale（待售）.
MrWest:That’sright.
MrHill:MayIhavealookatitplea?
MrWest:Yes,.
MrHill:Howlonghaveyoulivedhere?
MrWest:Ihavelivedherefortwentyyears.
MrHill:Twentyyears!That’salongtime.
MrWest:Yes,Ihavebeenheresince1947.
MrHill:Thenwhydoyouwanttollit?
MrWest:obuyasmallhouinthecountry.
MrHill:Howmuchdoesthishoucost?
MrWest:£6850.
MrHill:That’salotofmoney!
MrWest:It’swortheverypennyofit.
MrHill:Well,Ilikethehou,butIcan’musteitfirst.
MrWest:Womenalwayshavethelastword.
Lesson91PoorWest
MrsSmith:HasMrWestsoldhishouyet?
MrsBrown:Yes,itlastweek.
MrsSmith:Hashemovedtohisnewhouyet?
MrsBrown:No,’’sgoingtomovetomorrow.
MrsSmith:When?Tomorrowmorning?
MrsBrown:owafternoon.I’lwaysbeenagoodneighbour.
MrsGreen:He’lallmisshim.
MrsSmith;Whenwillthenewpeoplemoveintothishou?
MrsBrown:Ithinkthattheywillmoveinthedayaftertomorrow.
MrsGreen:WillyoueMrWesttoday,MrsBrown?
MrsBrown:Yes,Iwill.
MrsGreen:Pleagivehimmyregards.（giveone’sregardstosb.向sb.问候）
MrSmith:PoorMrWest!Hedidn’twanttoleavethishou.
MrsBrown:No,hedidn’twanttoleave,buthiswifedid!
Lesson93Ournewneighbor
’sapilot.
HewasintheR.A.F.(皇家空军)
HewillflytoNewYorknextmonth.
ThemonthafternexthewillflytoTokyo.
Atthemoment（现在）,he’toSpainaweekago.
HewillreturntoLondontheweekafternext.
He’sonlyforty-oneyearsold,andhehasalreadybeentonearlyeverycountryintheworld.
wifeisn’allystaysathome!
Lesson95Ticket,plea.
George:mewillthenexttrainleave?
Attendant:Atnineteenminutespasteight.
George:Whichplatform?
Attendant:ebridge.
Ken:Whattimewillthenexttrainleave?
George:Ateightnineteen.
Ken:We’vegotplentyoftime.
George:It’sonlythreeminutestoeight.
Ken:Let’’sabarnextdoortothestation.
George:Wehadbettergobacktothestationnow,Ken.
Porter:Ticketsplea.
George:WewanttocatchtheeightnineteentoLondon.
Porter:You’vejustmisdit!
George:What!It’sonlyeightfifteen.
Porter:I’msorry,ock’stenminutesslow.
George:When’sthenexttrain?
Porter:Infivehours’time!
Lesson97Asmallblueca
MrHall:IleftasuitcaonthetraintoLondontheotherday.
Attendant:Canyoudescribeit,sir?
MrHall:It’sasmallbluecaandit’’salabelonthehandlewithmynameandaddressonit.
Attendant:Isthiscayours?
MrHall:No,that’snotmine.
Attendant:Whataboutthisone?Thisone’sgotalabel.
MrHall:Letmeeit.
Attendant:What’syounameandaddress?
MrHall:DavidHall,
83,BridgeStreet.
Attendant:That’sright.
.
Street.
Attendant:Threepoundandfiftypenceplea.
MrHall:Hereyouare.
Attendant:Thankyou.
MrHall:Hey!
Attendant:What’sthematter?
MrHall:Thiscadoesn’tbelongtome!You’vegivenmethewrongca!
Lesson99Ow!
Ted:Ow!
Pat:What’sthematter,Ted?
Ted:Islippedandfelldownstairs.
Pat:Haveyouhurtyourlf?
Ted:Yes,thatI’vehurtmyback.
Pat:standup?
elpyou.
Ted:I’msorry,Pat.I’mafraidthatIcan’tgetup.
Pat:Ithinkthatthedoctorhadbettereyou.I’lltelephoneDrCarter.
Pat:Thedoctorsaysthathewillcomeatonce.I’msurethatyouneedanX-ray,Ted.
Lesson101AcardfromJimmy
Grandmother:ReadJimmy’scardtomeplea,Mary.
Mary:“IhavejustarrivedinScotlandandI’mstayingataYouthHostel.”
Grandmother:Eh?
Mary:Hesayshe’he’sstayingataYouthHostel.
Youknowhe’samemberoftheY.H.A.
Grandmother:Thewhat?
Mary:TheY.H.A.,thHostel’sAssociation.
Grandmother:Whateldoeshesay?
Mary:“I’ouareallwell.”
Grandmother:What?Speakup,Mary.I’mafraidIcan’thearyou.
Mary:Hesayshe’sweareallwell.“Love,Jimmy.”
Grandmother:Isthatall?Hedoesn’tsayverymuch,doeshe?
Mary:Hecan’twriteverymuchonacard,mother.
Lesson103TheIntelligencetest
Harry:Howwastheexamination,Dick?
Dick:utyou,
Harry?
Harry:TheEnglishandMathspapersweren’haven’tfailed.
Dick:answersixteenofthequestions.
uldn'retoodifficultforme.
Harry:Intelligencetestsareawful,aren’tthey?
Dick:Ihatethem.I’msureI’vegotalowI.Q.
Harry:Oh,cheerup（振作点）!Perhapswedidn’tdotoobadly.
Theguynexttomewrotehisnameatthetopofthepaper.
Dick:Yes?
Harry:Thenhesatthereandlookedatitforthreehours!Hedidn’twriteaword!
Lesson105Hello,.
TheBoss:Where’sMissSimpson,Bob?Iwanther.
Bob:Doyouwanttospeaktoher,sir?
TheBoss:Yes,rtocomeatonce.
MissSimpson:Didyouwanttoeme,sir?
TheBoss:Ah,yes,ouspell“intelligent”?Canyoutellme?
MissSimpson:I-N-T-E-L-L-I-G-E-N-T.
TheBoss:That’’vetypeditwithonlyone“L”.
Thisletter’outotypeitagain.
MissSimpson:Yes,I’lldothat.I’msorryaboutthat.
TheBoss:Andhere’salittleprentforyou.
MissSimpson:Whatisit?
TheBoss:It’twillhelpyou.
Lesson107It’stoosmall
Assistant:Doyoulikethisdress,madam?
Lady:’salovelydress,butit’stoosmallforme.
Assistant:Whataboutthisone?It’’sverysmart.
ouliketotryit?
Lady:Allright.
Lady:I’mafraidthisgreendressistoosmallformeaswell.
It’ssmallerthantheblueone.
Lady:Idon’tlikethecoloureither.
Itdoesn’thebluedressisprettier.
Lady:Couldyoushowmeanotherbluedress?
Iwantadresslikethatone,butitmustbemysize.
Assistant:I’mafraidIhaven’thelargestdressintheshop.
Lesson109Agoodidea
Betty:ShallImakesomecoffee,Jane?
Jane:That’sagoodidea,Betty.
Betty:It’antanymilk?
Jane:Justalittleplea.
Betty:Whataboutsomesugar?Twoteaspoonfuls?
Jane:No,’noughforme.
Jane:Thatwasverynice.
Betty:Wouldyoulikesomemore?
Jane:Yes,plea.
Jane:I’dlikeacigarette,veone?
Betty:thereareafewinthatbox.
Jane:I’mafraidit’mpty.
Betty:Whatapity!（真遗憾）
Jane:Itdoesn’tmatter.
Betty:eandsmokeless!
Jane:That’sverygoodadvice!
Lesson111Themostexpensivemodel
MrFrith:hdoesitcostplea?
Assistant:It’ssixty-fourpounds.
MrsFrith:That’’taffordallthatmoney.
Assistant:Thismodel’’sonlytwenty-eightpounds.
But,ofcour,it’snotasgoodastheexpensiveone.
MrFrith:Idon’tlikethismodel.
Theothermodel’smoreexpensive,butit’sworththemoney.
MrFrith:Canwebuyitoninstalments?(分期付款)
Assistant:payadeposit（保证金）oftenpounds,andthenonepoundaweekforsixtyweeks.
MrFrith:Doyoulikeit,dear?
MrsFrith:Icertainlydo,butIdon’tliketheprice.
Youalwayswantthebest,butwecan’taffordit.
Sometimesyouthinkyou’reamillionaire!
MrFrith:Millionairesdon’tbuythingsoninstalments!
Lesson113smallchange
Conductor:Faresplea!
Man:TrafalgarSquareplea.
Conductor:I’msorry,’’tyougotanysmallchange?
Man:I’vegotnosmallchange,I’mafraid.
Conductor:I’llasksomeofthepasngers.
Conductor:Haveyouanysmallchange,sir?
1stPasnger:I’msorry.I’vegotnone.
2ndPasnger:Ihaven’tgotanyeither.
Conductor:Canyouchangethispoundnote,madam?
3rdPasnger:I’mafraidIcan’t.
4thPasnger:NeithercanI.
Conductor:I’mverysorry,tgetoffthebus.
’reallmillionaires!
TwoTramps:Exceptus,conductor.
1stTramp:I’vegotsomesmallchange.
2ndTramp:SohaveI.
lesson115Not….
Helen:Isn’tthereanyoneathome?
Jim:I’llknockagain,hing’sveryquiet.I’msurethere’snooneathome.
Helen:Butthat’roughthewindow.
Helen:Canyoueanything?
Jim:Nothingatall.
Helen:Let’strythebackdoor.
Jim:Look!Everyone’sinthegarden.
Pat:Hullo,,Jim.
Tom:’sniceandwarmouthere.
Pat:Comeandhavesomethingtodrink.
Jim:Thanks,veaglassofbearplea?
Pat:Beer?There’havesomelemonade.(柠檬水)
Jim:Lemonade!
Tom:Don'tbelieveher,’mebeer!
Lesson117Tommy’sbreakfast
Whenmyhusbandwasgoingintothedining-roomthismorning,hedroppedsomecoinsonthefloor.
edforthem,butwecouldnotfindthemall.
Whilewewerehavingbreakfast,ourlittleboy,Tommy,foundtwosmallcoinsonthefloor.
triedtogetthecoins,adalreadyswallowed
them!
Laterthatmorning,whenIwasdoingthehouwork,myhusbandtelephonedmefromtheoffice.
“How’sTommy?”heasked.
“Idon’tknow,”Ianswered,“Tommy’sbeentothelavatorythreetimesthismorning,butIhaven’thadanychangeyet!”
Lesson119Atruestory
Doyoulikestories?enedtoafriendofmineayearago.
Whilemyfriend,George,wasreadinginbed,heyhadenteredthehou,
erydark,ly,theyheardavoicebehindthem.
“What’sup?What’sup?”(什么事)evesdroppedthetorchandranawayasquicklyasthey
could.
edonthelight,buthecouldn’eves
rge’sparrot,Henry,wasstillthere.
“What’sup,George?”hecalled.
“Nothing,Henry,”Georgesaidandsmiled.
“Gobacktosleep.”
Lesson121Themaninthehat
Customer:Iboughttwoexpensivedictionariesherehalfanhourago,butIforgottotakethemwithme.
Manager:Whorvedyou,sir?
Customer:Theladywhoisstandingbehindthecounter.
Manager:Whichbooksdidyoubuy?
Customer:Thebookswhichareonthecounter.
Manager:Didyourvethisgentlemanhalfanhourago,MissRoberts?
Hesayshe’sthemanwhoboughtthebooks.
MissRoberts:Ican’tremember,whomIrvedwaswearingahat.
Manager:Haveyougotahat,sir?
Customer:Yes,Ihave.
Manager:Wouldyouputiton,plea?
Customer:Allright.
Manager:Isthisthemanthatyourved,MissRoberts?
MissRoberts:Yes,nizehimnow.
Lesson123AtriptoAustralia
Bill:Look,aphotographItookduringmytriptoAustralia.
Bob:Letmeeit,Bill.
Bob:thepeople?
Bill:They’repeopleImetduringthetrip.
Bill:That’stheshipwetraveledon.
Bob:Whatabeautifulship!
Bob:Who’sthis?
Bill:That’er?
Bob:whoofferedyouajobinAustralia.
Bill:That’sright.
Bob:Who’sthis?
Bill:Guess!
Bob:It’snotyou,isit?
Bill:That’sright.
Bill:Igrewabeardduringthetrip,butIshaveditoffwhenIcamehome.
Bob:Whydidyoushaveitoff?
Bill:Mywifedidn’tlikeit!
Lesson125
Susan:Can’tyoucomeinandhaveteanow,Peter?
Peter:Notyet,aterthegardenfirst.
Susan:Doyouhavetowateritnow?
Peter:I’it!It’sterriblydry.
Susan:Whatanuisance!（真讨厌）
Peter:Lastsummeritwasverydry,’tyouremember?Ihadtowateriteveryday.
Susan:Well,I’llhaveteabymylf.
Susan:Thatwasquick!Haveyoufinishedalready?
Peter:Yes,tofthewindow.
Susan:Goodheaven!It’ansyouneedn’twaterthegarden.
Peter:sIcanhavetea,instead.
Lesson127Afamousactress
Kate:Canyourecognizethatwoman,Millie?
Millie:IthinkIcan,beKarenMarsh,theactress.
Kate:’sthatbesideher?
Millie:ThatmustbeConradReeves.
Kate:ConradReeves,theactor?Itcan’aveanotherlook.
Ithinkyou’reright!Isn’theherthirdhusband?
Millie:No,Hemustbeherfourthorfifth.
Kate:Doesn’tKarenMarshlookold!
Millie:Shedoes,doesn’tshe!Ireadshe’stwenty-nine,butshemustbeatleastforty.
Kate:I’msuresheis.
Millie:ShewasafamousactresswhenIwasstillaschoolgirl.
Kate:Thatwasalongtimeago,wasn’tit?
Millie:Notthatlongago!I’mnotmorethantwenty-ninemylf.
Lesson12970milesanhour
Ann:Look,Harry!Thatpoliceman’syoutostop.
Policeman:Wheredoyouthinkyouare?Onaracetrack?
Youmusthavebeendrivingatventymilesanhour.
Harry:Ican’thavebeen.
Policeman:IwasdoingeightywhenIovertookyou.
Policeman:Didn’tyouethespeedlimit?
Harry:I’mafraidIdidn’t,avebeendreaming.
Ann:Hewasn’tdreaming,llinghimtodriveslowly.
Harry:That’swhyIdidn’tethesign.
Policeman:Letmeeyourdriving-licenandyourinsurancecertificate.
Policeman:Iwon’’dbetternotdoitagain!
Harry:Thankyou.I’llcertainlybemorecareful.
Ann:Itoldyoutodriveslowly,Harry.
Harry:Youalwaystellmetodriveslowly,darling.
Ann:Well,nexttimeyou’dbettertakemyadvice!
Lesson131Don’tbesosure
Roy:Whereareyougoingtospendyourholidaysthisyear,Harry?
Harry:Wemaygoabroad.I’wantstogotoEgypt.
I’dliketogothere,’tmakeupourminds.
Roy:Willyoutravelbyaorbyair?
Harry:Wemaytravelbya.
Roy:It’scheaper,isn’tit?
Harry:Itmaybecheaper,butittakesalongtime.
Roy:I’msureyouwillenjoyyourlves.
Harry:Don’alwaysworriestoomuch.
Who’sgoingtolookafterthedog?
Who’sgoingtolookafterthehou?
Who’sgoingtolookafterthegarden?
Wehavethisproblemeveryyear.
Intheend,westayathomeandlookaftereverything!
Lesson133Sensationalnews
Reporter:Haveyoujustmadeanewfilm,MissMarsh?
MissMarsh:Yes,Ihave.
Reporter:Areyougoingtomakeanother?
MissMarsh:No,I’mnot.I’erytired.
Idon'twanttomakeanotherfilmforalongtime.
Kate:let’sbuyanewspaper,Millie.
Listentothis!
“KarenMarsh:SensationalNews!（轰动新闻）Byourreporter,renMarsharrived
dmeshehadjustmadea
d
reportersshefeltverytiredanddidn’twanttomakeanotherfilmforalongtime.”
Millie:Well,fancythat,Kate!
Lesson135Thelatestreport
Reporter:Areyoureallygoingtoretire,Missmarsh?
MissMarsh:’’tletmemakeanother
film.
Reporter:Yourfuturehusband,MissMarsh?
MissMarsh:eisCarlos.
Wearegoingtogetmarriednextweek.
Kate:Look,Millie!Here’:
“KarenMarsh:
saidshecouldn’dher
eintroducedustoCarlosandtoldusthey
wouldgetmarriednextweek.”
Millie:That’snsationalnews,isn’tit,Kate?
Kate:’llbehersixthhusband!
Lesson137Apleasantdream
June:Areyoudoingthefootballpools(赌注),Brian?
Brian:Yes,I’venearlyfinished,June.I’msurewewillwinsomethingthisweek.
June:Youalwayssaythat,butweneverwinanything!Whatwillyoudoifyouwinalotofmoney?
Brian:IfIwinalotofmoney,Ishallbuyyouaminkcoat.
June:Idon’twantaminkcoat!Iwanttoetheworld.（见世面）
Brian:nalotofmoney,weshalltravelaroundtheworldandweshallstayatthebesthotels.
lhaveabeautifulgardenand…
June:allwedothen?
Brian:Ifwespendallthemoney,weshalltryandwinthefootballpoolsagain.
June:It’sapleasantdream,buteverythingdependson“if”!
Lesson139Isthatyou,John?
MrGrimes:Isthatyou,John?
JohnSmith:Yes,speaking.
MrGrimes:TellMaryweshallbelatefordinnerthivening.
JohnSmith:I’mafraidIdon’tunderstand.
MrGrimes:Hasn’tMarytoldyou?wouldbeatyourhouat
sixo’clock,butthebosswantsmetodosomeextrawork.I’’tknow
,andbytheway,mywifewantstoknowifMaryneedsanyhelp.
JohnSmith:Idon’tknowwhatyou’retalkingabout.
MrGrimes:ThatisJohnSmith,isn’tit?
JohnSmith:Yes,I’mJohnSmith.
MrGrimes:YouareJohnSmith,theengineer,aren’tyou?
JohnSmith:That’sright.
MrGrimes:YouworkfortheOverasEngineeringCompany,don’tyou?
JohnSmith:No,Idon’t.I’mJohnSmiththetelephoneengineerandI’mrepairingyourtelephoneline.
Lesson141Sally’sfirsttrainride
Lastweek,myfouryearolddaughter,Sally,wasinvitedtoachildren’as
nearthewindowandaskedquestionsabout
ly,amiddle-agedladygotonthetrainandsatoppositeSally.
“Hull,littlegirl.”idnotanswer,butlookedathercuriously.
Theladywasdresdinabluecoatandalarge,hetrainhadleftthestation,theladyopenedher
handbagandtookoutherpowdercompact(粉盒).Shethenbegantomakeupherface.
“Whyareyoudoingthat?”Sallyasked.
“Tomakemylfbeautiful,”awayhercompactandsmiledkindly.
“Butyouarestillugly.”asamud,butIwasveryembarrasd!
Lesson143Awalkthroughthewoods
amousbeautyspot（风景地点）.OnSundays,
hundrshave
-basketshavebeenplacedunderthetrees,but
dnesday,
ter-basketswere
emptyandthegroundwascoveredwithpiecesofpaper,cigarette-ends,oldtyres,emptybottlesand
herubbishIfoundasignwhichsaid:”Anyonewholeaveslitterinthewoods
willbeprocuted.(处罚)”!
Lesson1Aprivateconversation私人谈话
man
notheartheactors.I
nd,Icouldnotbearit.
Iturnedroundagain.'Ican'thearaword!'Isaidangrily.'It'snoneofyourbusiness,'theyoungmansaidrudely.'This
isaprivateconversation!'.
Lesson2Breakfastorlunch?早餐还是午餐？
imesstayinbeduntillunchtime.
arkoutside.
'Whataday!'Ithought.'It'srainingagain.'Justthen,yauntLucy.'I'vejustarrivedbytrain,'
shesaid.'I'mcomingtoeyou.''ButI'mstillhavingbreakfast,'Isaid.
'Whatareyoudoing?'sheasked.'I'mhavingbreakfast,'Irepeated.
'Dearme,'shesaid.'Doyoualwaysgetupsolate?It'soneo'clock!''
Lesson3Pleandmeacard请给我寄一张明信片
mmer,edmuumsandsatinpublicgardens.A
friendlywaitertaughtmeafewwordsofItalian.'fewlines,butIdidnotunderstanda
dayspasdquickly,
thewholedayinmyroom,butI
didnotwriteasinglecard!
Lesson4Anexcitingtrip激动人心的旅行
Ihavejustreceivedaletterfrommybrother,n
rkingforabigfir
justboughtanAustraliancarandhasgonetoAliceSprings,soonvisit
ere,hewillflytoPerth.
Mybrotherhasneverbeenabroadbefore,soheisfindingthistripveryexciting.
Lesson5Nowrongnumbers无错号之虞
MrJamesScottstisonlyfive
milesfromSilbury,butMrScottcannotgetatelephoneforhisnewgarage,sohehasjustboughttwelvepigeons.
Yesterday,dcoveredthedistanceinthreeminutes.
Uptonow,MrScotthasntagreatmanyrequestsforsparepartsandotherurgentmessagesfromonegaragetothe
way,hehasbegunhisownprivatetelephonervice.
Lesson6PercyButtons珀西·巴顿斯
dmeforamealanda
rnforthis,hefoodand
neighbourtoldmeabouthim.
sateveryhouinthestreetonceamonthandalwaysasks
foramealandaglassofbeer.
Lesson7Toolate为时太晚
reexpectingavaluableparcelof
urarlier,someonehadtoldthepolicethatthieveswouldtrytostealthe
eplanearrived,someofthedetectiveswerewaitinginsidethemainbuildingwhileotherswere
wo
detectiveswerekeepingguardatthedoor,rsurpri,thepreciousparcelwasfull
ofstonesandsand!
Lesson8Thebestandtheworst最好的和最差的
everybodyentersfor'TheNicestGardenCompetition'
eachyear,ith'sgardenislargerthanJoe'rksharderthanJoeandgrowsmore
flowersandvegetables,butJoe'adeneatpathsandhasbuiltawoodenbridgeover
ardenstoo,earIenterforthegardencompetitiontoo,andIalways
winalittleprizefortheworstgardeninthetown!
Lesson9Acoldwelcome冷遇
OnWednesdayevening,helastdayoftheyearandalargecrowdofpeoplehad
dstriketwelveintwentyminutes'nminutespasdandthen,at
fivetotwelve,edandwaited,butnothinghappened.
Suddenlysomeoneshouted,'It'stwominutespasttwelve!Theclockhasstopped!'
momenteverybodybegantolaughandsing.
Lesson10Notforjazz不适于演奏爵士乐
lledaclavichord(翼琴).vichordis
trumentwasboughtbymygrandfathermany
edtoplayjazzonit!Shestruckthekeystoohardandtwoofthe
ingrepairedbyafriendofmy
father's.
Lesson11Onegoodturndervesanother礼尚往来
orkedinalawyer'sofficeyearsago,butheis
agoodsalary,buthealwaysborrowsmoneyfromhisfriendsandneverpaysitback.
ewaating,Iasked
himtolendme&rpri,hegavemethemoneyimmediately.'Ihaveneverborrowedanymoneyfromyou,'
Harrysaid,'sonowyoucanpayformydinner!'
Lesson12Goodbyeandgoodluck再见，一路顺风
Ourncighbour,CaptainCharlesAlison,lmeethimattheharbourearlyin
beinhissmallboat,ailedacrosstheAtlanticmany
nAlisonwilltoutateighto'lehisboatandthenwe
takepartinanimportant
raceacrosstheAtlantic.
Lesson13TheGreenwoodBoys绿林少年
ent,llbe
llbecomingbytrainandmostoftheyoung
oweveningtheywillbesingingattheWorkers'Club.
thistime,l,the
waysthesameontheoccasions.
Lesson14DoyouspeakEnglish?你会讲英语吗？
hadleftasmallvillageinthesouthofFrance,Idroveontothenext
ay,ashehadgotintothecar,I
romafewwords,Idonotknowany
arlyreachedthetown,whentheyoungmansuddenlysaid,
veryslowly,'DoyouspeakEnglish?'AsIsoonlearnt,hewasEnglishhimlf!
Lesson15Goodnews佳音
ot
hadsatdown,methatthefirm
hatmyturnhadcome.'Mr.
Harmsworth,'Isaidinaweakvoice.'Don'tinterrupt,'smiledandtoldmeIwouldreceiveanextra
&100ayear!
Lesson16Apoliterequest彬彬有礼的要求
Ifyouparkyourcarinthewrongplace,lbeveryluckyifheletsyougo
r,aholidayin
Sweden,Ifoundthisnoteonmycar:'Sir,a"NoParking"lenjoyyour
teisonlyareminder.'Ifyoureceivearequestlikethis,you
cannotfailtoobeyit!
Lesson17Alwaysyoung青年常驻
eofthis,sheoftenappearsonthestage
me,lay,
arinanotherplay,shehadtowearshortsocks
andabright,neeveraskedherhowoldsheis,shealwaysanswers,'Mydear,itmustbe
terribletobegrownup!'
lesson18Heoftendoesthis!他经常干这种事！
AfterIhadhadlunchatavillageinn,ftitonachairbesidethedoorandnowitwasn't
there!AsIwaslookingforit,theinn-keepercamein.'Didyouhaveagoodmeal?'heasked.'Yes,thankyou,'I
answered,'butIcan''tgotmybag.'
minuteshereturnedwithmybagandgaveitbacktome.'I'mverysorry,'hesaid'Mydoghadtakenitintothegarden.
Heoftendoesthis.'
Lesson19Soldout票已售完
'Theplaymaybeginatanymoment,'Isaid.
'Itmayhavebegunalready,'Susananswered.
'Ihurriedtotheticket-office.'MayIhavetwoticketsplea?'Iasked.
'I'msorry,we'vesoldout,'thegirlsaid.
'Whatapity!'Susanexclaimed.
Justthen,amanhurriedtotheticket-office.
'CanIreturnthetwotickets?'heasked.
'Certainly,'thegirlsaid.
'CouldIhavethotwoticketsplea?'Iasked.
'Certainly,'thegirlsaid,'buttheyarefornextWednesday'sperformance.
'Imightaswellhavethem,'Isaidsadly.
Lesson20Onemaninaboat独坐孤舟
dofcatchingfish,catch
avingspentwholemorningsontheriver,Ialwaysgohomewithanemptybag.
'Youmustgiveupfishing!'myfriendssay.'It'sawasteoftime.'Buttheydon'trealizeoneimportantthing.I'mnot
yinterestedinsittinginaboatanddoingnothingatall!
Lesson21Madornot?是不是疯了？
port
wasbuiltduringthewar,ar,however,
mes
eenofferedalargesumofmoneytogoaway,butI
odysaysImustbemadandtheyareprobablyright.
Lesson22Aglasnvelope玻璃信封
Mydaughter,Jane,ar,wewere
travellingacrosstheChaewthe
erthoughtofitagain,buttenmonthslater,
r,swillcostalitt1emore,
buttheywillcertainlytravelfaster.
Lesson23Anewhou新居
etter,shesaidthatshewouldcometoEnglandnext
omes,ithad
tter,Itoldherthatshecouldstaywith
erymodernhou,soitlooksstrangetosome
betheonlymodernhouinthedistrict.
Lesson24Itcouldbewor不幸中之万幸
Ienteredthehotelmanager'stlost&50andIfeltveryupt.'Ileftthemoneyinmyroom,'
Isaid,'andit'snottherenow.'Themanagerwassympathetic,buthecoulddonothing.'Everyone'slosingmoneythe
days,'tedtamein
ained&5o.'Ifoundthisoutsidethisgentleman'sroom'shesaid.'Well,'Isaidto
themanager,'thereisstillsomehonestyinthisworld!'
lesson25DotheEnglishspeakEnglish?英国人讲的是英语吗？
lwaystationwasbig,tknowthewaytomyhotel,soIaskeda
lyspokeEnglishverycarefully,ter,however,couldnotunderstandme;I
eredme,buthespokeneitherslowlynorclearly.
'Iamaforeigner,'spokeslowly,herneverspokeEnglishlike
that!saidsomethingandIunderstoodit.'You'llsoonlearn
English!'and,lishunderstandeachother,butI
don'tunderstandthem!DotheyspeakEnglish?
lesson26Thebestartcritics最佳美术评论家
waystell
youwhatapictureis'about'.Ofcour,manypicturesarcnot'about'
thatyoungchildrenoftenappreciatemodernpictures
erisonlyven,butshealwaystellsmewhethermypicturesare
eintomyroomyesterday.'Whatareyoudoing?'sheasked.'I'mhangingthispictureonthewall,'
Ianswered.'It'ikeit?'Shelookedatitcriticallyforamoment.'It'sallright,'shesaid,'butisn'tit
upside-down?'right!Itwas!
Lesson27Awetnight雨夜
Lateintheafternoon,asthiswasdone,theycookedameal
wonderfulmeal,theytoldstoriesandsang
sfelttiredsotheypetoutthefireandcreptinto
leeping-bagswerewarmandcomfortable,iddleofthenight,two
twasfullofwater!Theyallleaptoutoftheirsleeping-bagsandhurried
eamwounditswayacross
thefieldandthenflowedrightundertheirtent!
Lesson28Noparking禁止停车
ustboughtanewhouinthecity,but
eversincehemovedin,returnshomeatnight,healwaysfindsthatsomeone
eofthis,hehasnotbeenabletogethisowncarintohisgarageevenonce.
Jasperhasputup'NoParking'signsoutsidehisgate,asputanuglystone
himwhatitwasandhetoldmethatitwas
Medusa,eofthemhasbeenturnedtostoneyet!
Lesson29Taxi!出租汽车！
'taxi'isasmallSwissaeroplane
calleda'PilatusPorter'.tsurprisingthingaboutit,however,
isthatitcanlandanywhere:onsnow,water,nFawcett'sfirstpasngerwasadoctor
hen,CaptainFawcetthasflown
landedontheroofofablockofflatsandonanotheroccasion,helandedin
wantedtoflyto
Rockall,alonelyislandintheAtlanticOcean,butCaptainFawcettdidnottakehimbecauthetripwastoodangerous.
Lesson30Footballorpolo?足球还是水球？
warmlastSunday,ildrenwereplayinggamesonthebankand
ly,oneofthechildrenkickedaballveryhardanditwenttowardsa
opleonthebankcalledouttothemanintheboat,lstruckhim
dtolookatthechildren,butthereweren'tanyinsight:theyhadallrun
away!edouttothechildrenandthrewtheballbackto
thebank.
Lesson31Successstory成功者的故事
Yesterdaysnowtheheadofa
verylargebusinesscompany,isjobtorepairbicyclesandatthat
dmoneyforyearsandin1938heboughtasmallwork-shopofhis
ndofthe
war,thesmallwork-shophadbe
tillsmilingwhenthedoor
tedhimtorepairtheirson'sbicycle!
Lesson32Shoppingmadeeasy购物变得很方便
ptationtostealisgreaterthaneverbefore--especiallyinlargeshops.
Adetectiverecentlywatche
Monday,therewerefewerpeopleintheshopthanusualwhenthewomancamein,soitwaasierforthedetectiveto
littletime,shechooneofthemostexpensivedress
intheshopewomansimplytook
ewasarrested,thedetectivefoundoutthatthe
l'gave'hermotherafreedressonceaweek!
lesson33Outofthedarkness冲出黑暗
Neaernoonshetoutfromthe
vening,theboatstruckarockandthegirljumpedintothea.
thattimeshecoveredadistanceofeight
extmorning,wshewasneartheshorebecauthelightwashighuponthe
vingattheshore,sallshe
ewokeupadaylater,shefoundherlfinhospital.
Lesson34Quickwork破案“神速”
etterhe
deredwhyhewaswantedbythepolice,buthewenttothestationyesterday
tation,hewastoldbyasmilingpolicemanthathisbicyclehadbeenfound.
Fivedaysago,thepolicemantoldhim,w
mudtoo,becauhe
tolentwentyyearsagowhenTedwasaboyoffifteen!
Lesson35Stopthief!捉贼！
whileago,however,
wasdrivingalongCatfordStreetrecently,hesawtwothievesrushout
edquicklyanddrovethe
hievesweretrying
togetawayintheircar,hebatteredcarwasmovingaway,Roystoppedhis
eves'yafterwards,thepolice
stoppedthecarandbothmenwerearrested.
Lesson36AcrosstheChannel横渡海峡
oingtotoutfromtheFrenchcoastatfive
o'strong
'
owhewillbewatchingheranxiouslyassheswimsthelongdistanceto
lhavesomethingtodrinkbutshewillnoteatany
Erna'hemwillbeErna's
mother,whoswamtheChannelherlfwhenshewasagirl.
Lesson37TheOlympicGames奥林匹克运动会
TheOlympicGameswillbeheldinourcountryinfouryears'atmanypeoplewillbevisitingthecountry,
thegovernmentwillbebuildingnewhotels,animmenstadium,andafinenewswimmingpool.'Theywillalsobe
eswillbeheldjustoutsidethecapitalandthewholeareawillbe
called'OlympicCity'.ndofnextyear,they
ody
llveryexcitedandarelookingforwardtotheOlympic
Gamesbecautheyhaveneverbeenheldbeforeinthiscountry.
Lesson38Everythingexcepttheweather惟独没有考虑到天气
Myoldfriend,Harrison,ften
osoonerreturnedthanhebought
immediatelyhebegantocomplainabouttheweather,foreventhoughitwas
stillsummer,omanyyearsofsunshine,Harrisongotashock.
nd,ardlyhadtime
amhehadhadforsomanyyearndedthere.
Harrisonhadthoughtofeverythingexcepttheweather.
Lesson39AmIallright?我是否痊愈？
WhileJohnGilbertwasinhospital,heaskedhisdoctortotellhimwhetherhisoperationhadbeensuccessful,butthe
lowingday,wasalone,he
edoctoransweredthephone,MrGilbert
saidhewasinquiringaboutacertainpatient,difMrGilbert'soperationhadbeensuccessful
askedwhenMrGilbertwouldbeallowedtogohomeandthedoctor
Millingtonaskedthecallerifhewasa
relativeofthepatient.'No,'thepatientanswered,'IamMrJohnGilbert.'
Lesson40Foodandtalk进餐与交谈
Lastweekatadinner-party,boldwasalarge,unsmilinglady
swerefixedonherplateandin
ashorttime,tomakeconversation.
'Anewplayiscomingto"TheGlobe"soon,'Isaid.'Willyoubeeingit?''No,'sheanswered.'Willyoubespending
yourholidaysabroadthisyear?'Iasked.'No,'sheanswered.
'WillyoubestayinginEngland?'Iasked.'No,'sheanswered.
Indespair,Iaskedherwhethershewanjoyingherdinner.
'Youngman,'sheanswered,'ifyouatemoreandtalkedless,wewouldbothenjoyourdinner!'
lesson41Doyoucallthatahat?你把那个叫帽子吗？
'Doyoucallthatahat?'Isaidtomywife.'Youneedn'tbesorudeaboutit,'mywifeansweredasshelookedatherlf
eeninthehatshopfor
halfanhourandmywifewasstillinfrontofthemirror.
'Wemustn'tbuythingswedon'tneed,'ttedsayingitalmostatonce.
'Youneedn'thavesaidthat,'mywifeanswered.'Ineednotremindyouofthatterribletieyouboughtyesterday.'
'Ifinditbeautiful,'Isaid.'Amancanneverhavetoomanyties.'
'Andawomancan'thavetoomanyhats,'sheanswered.
waswearingahatthatlookedlikealighthou!
Lesson42Notverymusical并非很懂音乐
AswehadhadalongwalkthroughoneofthemarketsofOldDelhi,time,
wenoticedasnake-charmerwithtwolargebasketsattheothersideofthesquare,
soonashesawus,hepi
begantoplayatune,outofthebasketandbegantofollowthemovements
verymuchsurpridwhenthesnakecharmersuddenlybegantoplayjazztunesandmodernpop
ke,however,continuedto'dance'ouslycouldnottellthedifferencebetweenIndianmusic
andjazz!
Lesson43OvertheSouthPole飞越南极
In1929,threeyearsafterhisflightovertheNorthPole,theAmericanexplorer,,successfullyflewoverthe
,atfirst,Byrdandhismenwereabletotakeagreatmanyphotographsofthe
mountainsthatlaybelow,oint,itemedcertainthattheirplanewouldcrash.
Itcouldonlygetoverthemountainsifitroto10,onceorderedhismentothrowouttwoheavyfood
wknewthathewouldbeableto
reachtheSouthPolewhichwas300milesaway,craftwasabletofly
overtheendlesswhiteplainswithoutdifficulty.
Lesson44Throughtheforest穿过森林
MrsAnneSterlingdidnd
rusheduptoherwhileshewashavingap
thestruggle,thestrapbrokeand,withthebagintheirposssion,
soonoutofbreath,ecaughtup
withthem,shesawthattheyhadsatdownandweregoingthroughthecontentsofthebag,sosheranstraightatthem.
Themengotsuchafrightthattheydroppedthebagandranaway.'Thestrapneedsmending,'saidMrsSterlinglater,
'buttheydidnotstealanything.'
Lesson45Aclearconscience问心无愧
ton,thelocalbutcher,hadlosthis
surethatthewalletmusthavebeenfoundbyoneofthe
villagers,onthspasd,andthenonemorning,Samfoundhiswalletoutsidehis
eenwrappedupinnewspaperanditcontainedhalfthemoneyhehadlost,togetherwithanotewhich
said:'Athief,yes,'butonly5opercentathief!'Twomonthslater,somemoremoneywasnttoSamwithanother
note:'Only25percentathiefnow!'Intime,allSam'tnotesaid:'Iam100
percenthonestnow!'
lesson46Expensiveanduncomfortable既昂贵又受罪
WhenaplanefromLondonarrivedatSydneyairport,workersbegantounloadanumberofwoodenboxeswhich
enlyoccurred
slyingintheboxontopofa
ewas
arrested,adalonganduncomfortabletrip,for
wasorderedtopay&345forthecostofthetrip.
Thenormalpriceofaticketis&230!
Lesson47Athirstyghost嗜酒的鬼魂
psonisgoingtollitbecau
methathecouldnotgotosleeponenightbecauheheardastrangenoicomingfromthebar.
Thenextmorning,hefouMr
Thompsonhadturnedthelightsoffbeforehewenttobed,saidthathehadfound
uggestedthatsomevillagersmust
havecomeinforafreedrink,lagershavetoldhimthattheywillnotacceptthe
innevenifhegivesitaway.
Lesson48Didyouwanttotellmesomething?你想对我说什么吗？
isthadjustpulledoutoneofmyteeth
tosaysomething,Icollected
birds'askedmehowmybrotherwasandwhetherI
ile,my
nlyfeltveryworried,butcouldnotsay
edentistatlastremovedthecotton-woolfrommymouth,Iwasabletotellhimthathehadpulledout
thewrongtooth.
Lesson49Theendofadream美梦告终
Tiredofsleepingonthefloor,firsttimeinhislife,
etheweatherwasveryhot,hecarriedthe
tverywellforthefirsttwonights,butonthethirdnight,
ofngmandidnotwakeupuntil
ghthebedwassmashedtopieces,
wokeup,ngatthebitsofwoodandmetalthatlayaroundhim,themansadlypicked
ehadputitonthefloor,hepromptlywenttosleepagain.
Lesson50Takenforaride乘车兜风
Ilovetravellinginthecountry,butIdon'nanexcursionrecently,butmytriptookme
longerthanIexpected.'I'mgoingtoWoodfordGreen,'IsaidtotheconductorasIgotonthebus,'butIdon'tknow
whereitis.''I'lltellyouwheretogetoff,'answeredtheconductor.
ometime,ground,I
realizedwithashockthatIwastheonlypasngerleftonthebus.
'You'llhavetogetoffhere,'theconductorsaid.'Thisisasfaraswego.''IsthisWoodfordGreen?'Iasked.'Ohdear,'
saidtheconductorsuddenly.'Iforgottoputyouoff.''Itdoesn'tmatter,'Isaid.'I'llgetoffhere.''Wearegoingbacknow,'
saidtheconductor.'Well,inthatca,Iprefertostayonthebus,'Ianswered.
Lesson51Rewardforvirtue对美德的奖赏
Myfriend,Herbert,hasalwaysbeenfat,nhisdiet
fall,tincludedmostofthe
thingsHerbertloves:butter,potatoes,rice,beer,milk,chocolate,hebell
eintohisroomandhurriedlyhidalarge
skedhimwhathewasdoing,hesmiled
ainedthathisdietwassostrictthathehadtorewardhimlf
ainedfivelargebarsofchocolateandthreebagsof
sweets!
Lesson52Aprettycarpet漂亮的地毯
eentryingtogetmynew
matterswor,theroomisrather
small,oment,theycovereveryinchoffloorspaceandI
whileago,mysisterhelpedmetocarryoneofmy
tintomyroomandgotabigsurpriwhenshesawallthobooksonthefloor.
'ThisistheprettiestcarpetIhaveeveren,'edatitforsometimethenadded,'Youdon'tneed
sithereinyoursparetimeandreadthecarpet!'
Lesson53Hotsnake触电的蛇
hen,theyhavebeentryingtofindouthowthefire
fireareoftencauday
thefiremenexaminedthegroundcarefully,realsoquitesurethata
rning,however,cedthe
remainsofasnakewhichwaswoundroundtheelectricwiresofa16,way,hewasableto
adsnatchedupthesnakefromthegroundand
didso,itntsparksdowntothe
groundandtheimmediatelystartedafire.
Lesson54Stickyfingers粘糊的手指
Afterbreakfast,
childrenwereatschool,
shorttimeIwasbutlythat
moment,dupthereceiverbetweentwosticky
metenminutestopersuadehertoringback
ess!Therewaspastryonmyfingers,onthetelephone,andonthe
soonemeit
wasthepostmanandhewantedmetosignforaregisteredletter!
Lesson55Notagoldmine并非金矿
chinecalled'TheRevealer'hasbeeninventedand
hinewasudinacaveneartheashore
ateswouldoftenburygoldinthecaveandthenfailtocollectit.
Armedwiththenewmachine,deroftheparty
waxaminingthesoilneartheentrancetothecavewhenthemachineshowedthattherewasgoldundertheground.
Veryexcited,
partythenarchedteofthis,
manypeopleareconfidentthat'TheRevealer'mayrevealsomethingofvaluefairlysoon.
Lesson56Fasterthansound!比声音还快！
carnteredforthisracelastyearandtherewasagreatdealof
tunusualcar
n1885,greatmanyloud
explosions,thecarsbrokedownonthecourandsomedriversspentmoretimeundertheir
carsthaninthem!Afewcars,however,ningcarreachedaspeedoffortymilesan
downhillattheendoftheraceanditsdriverhadalotoftroubletrying
erydifferentfrommoderncarracesbutnoless
exciting.
Lesson57CanIhelpyou,madam?你要买什么，夫人？
shehesitatedforamoment,shefinallywent
istantwhorvedherdidnotlikethewayshewasdresd.
Glancingatherscornfully,anwalkedoutoftheshopangrilyanddecided
urnedtotheshopthefollowingmorningdresdinafurcoat,withahandbagin
realizingwhoshewas,theassistantwaagertorveherthistimewithgreatdifficulty,heclimbedintotheshop
asshesawit,oyedherlfmakingthe
assistantbringalmosteverythinginthewindowbeforefinallybuyingthedressshehadfirstaskedfor.
Lesson58Ablessingindisgui?是因祸得福吗？
ThetinyvillageofFrinleyissaidtoposssa'curdtree'.Becauthetreewasmentionedinanewspaper,thenumber
ewasplantednearachurchfiftyyearsago,butitisonlyinrecentyears
idthatifanyonetouchesthetree,hewillhavebadluck;ifhepicksaleaf,he
arhasbeenaskedtohave
thetreecutdown,ointedoutthatthetreeisaufulsourceofincomeastouristshave
eofallthathasbeensaid,thetourists-havebeenpicking
,notoneofthemhasbeenstruckdownbysuddendeath!
Lesson59Inorout？进来还是出去？
Ourdog,Rex,imehewantedtocomeintothegardenhewouldbark
eighbourscomplainedofthenoi,myhusbandspentweekstraininghimto
r,whenIwasgoing
outshoppinglastweek,mehewasbarkingsothatsomeonewouldlet
himout!Sincethen,asheopensthegatefromtheoutside,hecomesinto
hisheimmediately
daymyhusbandremovedthegateandRexgotsoannoyedwehavenot
enhimsince.
Lesson60Thefuture卜算未来
Atavillagefair,ntohertentandshetoldmetosit
hadgivenhersomemoney,shelookedintoacrystalballandsaid:'Arelationofyoursiscomingtoe
entyouleavethistent,youwillgeta
lspeaktoyouandthenshewillleadyouaway
all.'AssoonasIwentoutside,IforgotallaboutMadamBellinskybecaumywifehurried
towardsme.'Wherehaveyoubeenhiding?'sheaskedimpatiently.'Yoursisterwillbehereinlessthananhourandwe
atealready.'Asshewalkedaway,Ifollowedheroutofthefair.
Lesson61TroublewiththeHubble哈勃望远镜的困境
Infuture,astronautswillberequlity
istsarenowtryingtodiscoverifthisispossible.
ThespaceshipAstrawhichlefttheearthashorttimeago,tain
point,theAstrawillstopforashorttimeandanastronautwillattempttoleavethestationaryspaceshipandthenreturn
lnotknowwhethest
messageixpectedtoarriveat7o'time,theAstrawillhavebeenflyingthroughspacefor
efirstradiomessageshavebeenreceived,
theresultsofthetripwillbeannouncedimmediately.
Lesson62Afterthefire大火之后
Firemenhadbeenfightingttime
before,,smokestillroupfromthewarmgroundover
wascomingonandthehillsthreatenedthesurroundingvillageswithdestruction,forheavy
efirehadatlastbeenputout,
theforestauthoritiesordwas
neshadbeenplantingedfornearlyamonthwhenit
,however,eofthegreattreeswhichhad
beengrowingthereforcenturies,patchesofgreenhadbeguntoappearintheblackenedsoil.
Lesson63Shewasnotamud她并不觉得好笑
Godyadmireshimforhisfinen
ofhumor--everybody,thatis,excepthissix-year-olddaughter,ly,oneofGeoffrey'sclostfriendsasked
aredthespeech
ncludedalargenumberoffunnystoriesinthespeechand,of
cour,ashehadfinished,eywasalittle
ayhome,heaskedJennyifshehadenjoyedthespeech.
Tohissurpri,shesaidshehadn'eyaskedherwhythiswassoandshetoldhimthatshedidnotliketoeso
manypeoplelaughingathim!
Lesson64TheChannelTunnel海峡隧道
Inl858,aFrenchengineer,AimeThomedeGamond,arrivedinEnglandwithaplanforatwenty-onemiletunnelacross
atform
nelwouldbewell-ventilatediftallchimneyswerebuiltabove
1860,abetterplanwasputforwardbyanEnglishman,estedthatadoublerailway
uldsolvetheproblemofventilation,forifatrainenteredthistunnel,itwoulddrawin
,atthetime,theBritishhadnotfearedinvasion,
ly,built,
itwillconnectBritaintoEuropeforthefirsttimeinhistory.
Lesson65Jumboversusthepolice小象对警察
LastChristmas,thecircusowner,JimmyGates,decidedtotakesomeprentstoachildren'dupas
FatherChristmasandaccompaniedbya'guardofhonour'ofsixprettygirls,hetoffdownthemainstreetofthecity
,shouldhaveknownthatthepolicewouldneverallowthissortofthing.A
policemanapproachedJimmyandtoldhimheoughttohavegonealongaside-streetasJumbowasholdingupthe
Jimmyagreedtogoatonce,npolicemenhadtopushveryhardtogethim
icehadadifficulttime,buttheyweremostamud.'Jumbomustweighafewtons,'saida
policemanafterwards,'soitwasfortunatethatwedidn',weshouldarresthim,butashe
hasagoodrecord,weshalllethimoffthistime.'
Lesson66Sweetashoney!像蜜一样甜！
TheHatheldPuffinisamodernaero-plane,butitsdesigner,MrJohnWimpenny,isfindingitdifficulttogetitoffthe
r
Wimpennyhadtheplanebuilt,1961,itwasthefirstman-poweredaircrafttoflyhalfamile.
Whilebeingflownbyachampionamateurcyclistin1963,hen,MrWimpenny
adthelengthofthewingsincreadsothattheynowmeasure93feet--almostaslongas
ughaircyclistsmaylearn
howtoflyovershortdistances,andmay,eventually,evengetacrosstheEnglishChannel,itisdoubtfulwhetherthey
willevercycleacrosstheAtlantic.
Lesson67Volcanoes火山
HarounTazieffthePolishscientist,hasspenthislife-timestudyingactivevolcanoesanddeepcavesinallpartsofthe
1948,hewentfwas
ablhemanagedtotakeanumber
ofbrilliantphotographs,cedthatariverofliquidrockwas
atenedtosurroundhimcompletely,ed
me,hemanagedtoclimbintothemouth
hasbeenabletotellusmoreaboutactivevolcanoesthananymanalive.
Lesson68Persistent纠缠不休
Icrosdthestreettoavoidmeetinghim,oupretendingthatI
hadnotenhim,erhow
busyyouare,thinkofawayofpreventinghimfromfollowingme
aroundallmorning.
'Hullo,Bert,'Isaid.'Fancymeetingyouhere!'
'Hullo,Elizabeth,'Bertanswered.''renotbusy
doinganything,areyou?'
'No,notatall,'Ianswered.'I'mgoingto...'
'Wouldyoumindmycomingwithyou?'heasked,beforeIhadfinishedspeaking.
‘Notatall,'Ilied,'butI'mgoingtothedentist.'
'ThenI'llcomewithyou,'heanswered.'There'salwaysplentytoreadinthe'waitingroom!'
lesson69Butnotmurder!并非谋杀！
enaskedtodriveinheavytrafficandhaddoneso
avingbeeninstructedtodriveoutoftown,atIhadpasd,I
minermusthavebeenpleadwithmyperformance,forhesmiledand
said,'Justonemorething,asI
taponthewindow,Iwantthecartobestoppedimmediately.'Icontinueddrivingandaftersometime,theexaminer
thesoundcouldbeheardclearly,nlypresdthebrake
minerlookedatmesadly.'MrEames,'hesaid,inamournful
voice,'youhavejustkilledthatchild!'
lesson70Redfordanger危险的红色
Duringabullfight,wdbegantoshout,butthedrunkwas
lwasbusywiththematadoratthetime,butitsuddenlycaughtsightofthedrunkwho
ntlynsitivetocriticism,thebullforgotallaboutthematador
nk,however,e
bullgotclotohim,
time,however,ebullemedto
feelsorryforhim,foritlookedonsympatheticallyuntilthedrunkwasoutofthewaybeforeoncemoreturningits
attentiontothematador.
Lesson71Afamousclock一个著名的大钟
WhenyouvisitLondon,oneofthefirstthingsyouwilleisBigBen,thefamousclockwhichcanbeheardalloverthe
ousofParliamenthadhotbeenburneddownin1834,thegreatclockwouldneverhave
takesitsnamefromSirBenjaminHallwhowasresponsibleforthemakingoftheclockwhenthe
tonlyofimmensize,als
heartheclockwhenitis
,however,
erwhohadbeenworkingonthetowerhungapotofpaintononeofthehands
andsloweditdown!
Lesson72AcarcalledBluebird“蓝鸟”汽车
Thegreatracingdriver,SirMalcolmCampbell,panew
worldrecordinSeptember1935atBonnevilleSaltFlats,rd,thecarhewasdriving,hadbeenspecially
ghCampbellreachedaspeedof
over304milesperhour,hehadgreatis
attempt,Campbellr,afewdays
later,hattime,racing
inghisfather'sfootstepsmanyyearslater,SirMalcolm's
son,Donald,sfather,hewasdrivingacarcalledBluebird.
Lesson73Therecord-holder纪录保持者
day'sfishing,oreighthoursinacinemaeingthe
samefilmoverandoveragain,veallbeenputtoshamebyaboywho,while
playingtruant,h-hikedtoDoverand,towardvening,wentintoaboattofindsomewhere
wokeupnextmorning,hediscoveredthattheboathad,inthemeantime,
ere,vergavehimafewbiscuitsanda
tcartheboystoppeddidnottakehimintothecentreofParisas
hehopeditwould,ewaspickedupbyapolicemanandnt
urelytuparecordforthethousandsofboyswhodreamofevading
school.
Lesson74Outofthelimelight舞台之外
Anancientbudindarkglass
andoldclothes,heysoondiscovered,
disguiscansometimesbetooperfect.
'Thisisawonderfulplaceforapicnic,'saidGloriaGleam.
'Itcouldn'tbebetter,Gloria,'BrinksleyMeersagreed.'Nonewspapermen,nofilmfans!Whydon'twecomemore
often?'
Meanwhile,twootheractors,RockwallSlingerandMerlinGreeves,hadcarriedtwolargefoodbasketstoashadyspot
eyhadallmadethemlvescomfortable,edveryangry.
'Nowyougutoutofhere,allofyou!'heshouted:'I'eethatnotice?Itsays"NoCamping"-in
cayoucan'tread!'
'Look,sheriff,'saidRockwall,'don'tbetoohardonus.I'mRockwallSlingerandthisisMerlinGreeves.'
'Oh,isit?'saidthesheriffwithasneer.'Well,I'mBrinksleyMeers,get
outofherefast!'
lesson75SOS呼救信号
Whenalightpasngerplaneflewoffcoursometimeago,
onlypasngers,ayoungwomanandhertwobabydaughters,ythick
nedasuitcainto
abedandputthechildreninsideit,thenight,itgotterribly
ankeptasnearasshecouldtothechildrenandeventriedtogetintothecaherlf,butitwastoosmall.
Early,nextmorninehadan
mpedouttheletters'SOS'ately,apilotsawthesignalandntamessagebyradiotothe
otlongbeforeahelicopterarrivedonthescenetorescuethesurvivorsoftheplanecrash.
Lesson76AprilFoolsDay愚人节
'Toendourspecialnewsbulletin,'saidthevoiceofthetelevisionannouncer,'wearetakingyoutothemacaronifields
heleadinggrowers,Giuppe
MoldovaandRicardoBrabante,tellmethattheyhavebeenexpectingasplendidcropthisyearandharvestinghas
ucanetwoworkerswho,betweenthem,havejustfinishedcuttingthreecart-loads
ofgoldenbrown
levillagehasbeenworkingdayandnightgatheringandthreshingthisyear'scropbeforethe
ight,beenhelpingherhusbandforthirtyyearsnow.
MrsBrabanstsceneshowsyou
whatwillhappenattheendoftheharvest:thefamousCalabrianmacaroni-eatingcompetition!SignorFratelli,the
prentchampion,tendsourspecialbulletinfortoday,Thursday,April1st.
Wearenowreturningyoutothestudio.'
Lesson77Asuccessfuloperation一例成功的手术
myisthatofShepenmut
ewerestrangemarksontheX-rayplatestakenofthemummy,
ywaytodothiswastooperate.
Theoperation,whichlastedforoverfourhours,provedtobeverydifficultbecauofthehardresinwhichcoveredthe
sofoundsomethingwhichthe
dwhichhastheheadofacowwasnormallyplaced
aredthatthemummywouldfallto
pieceswhentheycutitopen,mysuccessfullysurvivedtheoperation.
Lesson78Thelastone?最后一枝吗？
Afterreadinganarticleentitled'CigaretteSmokingandYourHealth'dwith
coleweekIdidnotsmokeatall
andduringthistime,ltheusualsymptomsofsomeonegivingupsmoking:abad
denoefforttohide
evendaysofthisIwenttoaparty.
oldfriendBrianurgedmetoaccepta
cigarette,neguiltily,wasdelighted
,asBrianpointedout,itistheeasiestthingintheworldtogive
elfhasdoneitlotsoftimes!
Lesson79Byair乘飞机
nts,udtoliveinSouthAmericaandIudtoflythere
uakingoff,wewereflyinglowover
thecityandslowlygainingheight,ewere
waitingtoland,anair-hostesstoldustokeepcalmandtogetofftheplanequietlyassoonasithadtoucheddown.
Eveelearntthattherewasa
ehad
landed,ately,nothingwasfoundandfivehourslaterwewereabletotakeoff
again.
Lesson80TheCrystalPalace水晶宫
PerhapsthemostextraordinarybuildingofthenineteenthcenturywastheCrystalPalace,whichwasbuiltinHydePark
stalPalacewasdifferentfromallotherbuildingsintheworld,foritwasmade
neofthebiggestbuildingsofalltimeandalotofpeoplefrommanycountriescametoeit.
Aasalsoagreatdealof
twonderfulpieceofmachineryonshowwasNasmyth'intho
days,travellingwasnotaasyasitistoday,steamboatscarriedthousandsofvisitorsacrosstheChannelfromEurope.
OnarrivinginEngland,eresixmillionvisitorsinall,andthe
,theCrystalPalacewasmovedtoSouth
inedoneofthemostfamousbuildingsintheworlduntilitwasburntdownin1936.
Lesson81Escape脱逃
Whenhehadkilledtheguard,grapidlyinthedarkness,
hesoonchangedintothedeadman',dresdinablueuniformandwitharifleoverhisshoulder,the
were
blazingandmenwererunninghereandthere:moment,a
largeblackcarwithfourofficersinsideit,icersgotoutandtheprisonerstoodto
eyhadgone,obviously
sonerfeltsorryforhim,buttherewas
ancamenear,,
jumpingintothecar,hedroveoffasquicklyashecould.
Lesson82Monsterorfish?是妖还是鱼？
peoplehaveoftenlaughedatstories
toldbyamen,itisnowknownthatmanyofthe'monsters'whichhaveattimesbeensightedaresimplystrangefish.
Occasionally,unusualcreaturesarewashedtotheshore,meago,however,
fishing-boatwascarriedmilesouttoabythepowerfulfishasit
ingthatthiswasnoordinaryfish,thefishermanmadeeveryeffortnottodamageitinanyway.
Whenitwaventuallybroughttoshore,headlikeahor,bigblue
eyes,shiningsilverskin,andabrightredtail,Thefish,whichhassincebeennttoamuumwhereitisbeing
examinedbyascientist,eatureshaverarelybeenenalivebymanastheyliveatadepthof
sixhundredfeet.
Lesson83Aftertheelections大选之后
TheformerPrimeMinister,MrWentworthLane,wretiringfrompolitical
nd,Crawley,hasalwaysbeenafanaticalopponentofMrLane'sRadicalProgressive
heelections,CrawleywenttotheformerPrimeMinister'askedifMrLanelivedthere,
thepolicemanondutytoldhimthatsincehisdefeat,ollowingday,
epolicemanwasjustwalkingslowlypasttheentrance,whenCrawleyasked
alittlesuspiciousthistime,after,
me,thepolicemanlosthistemper.'I
toldyouyesterdayandthedaybeforeyesterday,'heshouted,'etired
frompoliticallifeandgonetoliveabroad!''Iknow,'answeredCrawley,'butIlovetohearyousayit!'
Lesson84Onstrike罢工
nowshowlongitwill
menhavestatedthatthestrikewillcontinueuntilgeneralagreementisreachedaboutpayandworking
nersofprivatecarsaregoingto
offer'freerides'ile,a
numberofuyoungmenareexpert
drivers,butbeforetheydriveanyofthebus,dentsaregoingtotakethe
testintwodays',ar,thepublichaxpresdits
eortwopeoplehaveobjectedthatthestudentswilldrivetoo
fast!
Lesson85Nevertoooldtolearn活到老学到老
Ihavejustreceivedaletterfrommyoldschoolinformingmethatmyformerhead-master,MrRegmaldPage,willbe
oftheschool,oldandnew,who
havecontributedtowardsthegiftwillsigntheirnamesinalargealbumwhichwillbenttotheheadmaster'shome.
WeshallallrememberMrPageforhispatienceandunderstandingandforthekindlyencouragementhegaveuswhen
manyformerpupilswillbeattendingafarewelldinnerinhishonournext
uriouscoincidencethatthedaybeforehisretirement,MrPagewillhavebeenteachingforatotalof
ehasretired,,
thisdoesnotmatter,for,ashehasoftenremarked,oneisnevertoooldtolearn.
Lesson86Outofcontrol失控
Asthemantriedtoswingthespeed-boatround,ddesperatelyto
hiscompanion,nhadhardlyhadtimetorealizewhat
ed-boathadstruckabuoy,butitcontinuedto
eynoticedwith
than
aminute,thadpasd,theyswamonasquicklyastheycouldbecau
djusthadenoughtimetoswimoutofdangerwhentheboatagain
occasion,however,rolhadnearlyallbeenudup.
Beforelong,thenoidroppedcompletelyandtheboatbegantodriftgentlyacrossthewater.
Lesson87Aperfectalibi极好的不在犯罪现场的证据
'Atthetimethemurderwascommitted,Iwastravellingonthe8.0o'clocktraintoLondon,'saidtheman.
'Doyoualwayscatchsuchanearlytrain?'askedtheinspector.
'OfcourIdo,'answeredtheman.'Imustbeatworkat10.0o'oyerwillconfirmthatIwasthereon
time.'
'Wouldalatertraingetyoutoworkontime?'askedtheinspector.
'Isuppoitwould,butInevercatchalatertrain.'
'Atwhattimedidyouarriveatthestation?'
'tapaperandwaitedforthetrain.'
'Andyoudidn'tnoticeanythingunusual?'
'Ofcournot.'
'Isuggest,'saidtheinspector,'stthatyoudidnotcatchthe8.0o'clocktrain,but
,onthemorningofthemurder,the8.0
o'edownatFerngreenstationandwastakenofftheline.'
Lesson88Trappedinamine困在矿井里
arenotbroughttothesurfacesoontheymaylotheir
r,osivesareud,vibrationswillcautheroofofthemine
tendtobringthemenup
ehadnotbeenahardlayerofrockbeneaththesoil,theywouldhavecompletedthejobina
,ile,a
microphone,whichwasloweredintotheminetwohoursago,hanabledthementokeepintouchwiththeclost
theyarerunningoutoffoodanddrink,themenarecheerfulandconfidentthattheywillgetoutsoon.
knewhowdifficultitwastodrillthrough
thehardrock,theywouldloheart.
Lesson89Aslipofthetongue口误
enewsgotroundthatavarietyshowwould
edCompany,oqueuefor
hourstogetinandtherunately,the
hofailedtogetinneednothavefeltdisappointedasmanyof
yfunnythingsweheardthateveningcamefromthe
bviouslyverynervousandforsomeminutesstoodawkwardly
asheopenedhismouth,nowwhatthepoorman
shouldhavesaid,butwhatheactuallysaidwas:'dies,eveningand
gentlemen!'
lesson90Whatsforsupper？晚餐吃什么？
ThoughBrazilisoneoftherichestcountriesintheworld,ainlyforthis
reasonthattheBraziliangovered
bythegreatarchitectLucioCosta,thenewcity,Brasilia,replacedRiodeJaneiroasthecapitalofBrazifin1960.
eroads,whichcantakefourteenlanesoftraffic,havebeen
kept
ivescanvisit-shopping
centresonfoot,forinthespeciallydesignedlivingareas,t,thegovernmenthadgreat
1960,however,thepopulationhasbeen
atohavethecapital
movedsofarinlandwillhaveagreateffectonthefutureofBrazil.
Lesson91Threemeninabasket三人同篮
Apilotnotrmedthestationat
once,icerinthecontroltowerwasveryangrywhenheheard
thenews,thatsomeonemightbyspyingonthestationand
couldmakeballoonwasoverthe
station,terwards,theballoonbegantodescendanditlanded
icewerecalledin,buttheycouldnotarrestanyone,forthebasketcontainedtwoMembersof
ParliamentandtheCommandingOfficerofthestation!AstheCommandingOfficerexplainedlater,onehalfofthe
stationdidnotknowwhattheotherhalfwasdoing!
Lesson92Askingfortrouble自找麻烦
towakeupmywifebyringingthedoor-bell,
butshewasfastasleep,soIgotaladderfromtheshedinthegarden,putitagainstthewall,andbeganclimbingtowards
mosttherewhenasarcasticvoicebelowsaid,'Idon'tthinkthewindowsneedcleaningat
thistimeofthenight.'
iatelyregrettedansweringinthewayIdid,
butIsaid,'Ienjoycleaningwindowsatnight.'
'SodoI,'answeredthepolicemaninthesametone.'ointerruptamanwhenhe's
busyworking,butwouldyoumindcomingwithmetothestation?'
'Well,I'dprefertostayhere,'Isaid.'Youe,I'veforgottenmykey.'
'Yourwhat?'hecalled.
'Mykey,'Ishouted.'
Fortunately,theshoutingwokeupmywifewhoopenedthewindowjustasthepolicemanhadstartedtoclimbtowards
me.
Lesson93Anoblegift崇高的礼物
Oneofthemostfamousmonumentsintheworld,theStatueofLiberty,wasprentedtotheUnitedStatesofAmerica
atstatue,whichwasdesignedbythesculptorAuguste
Bartholdi,ualfigurewasmadeofcoppersupportedbyametalframeworkwhichhad
itcouldbetransportedtotheUnitedStates,asitehadtobefoundforit
1884,astatue
whichwas151feettall,lowingyear,
theendofOctober1886,thestatuehadbeenputtogetheragainanditwasofficiallyprentedtotheAmericanpeople
ncethen,thegreatmonumenthasbeenasymboloflibertyforthemillionsofpeoplewhohave
pasdthroughNewYorkHarbourtomaketheirhomesinAmerica.
Lesson94Futurechampions未来的冠军
Experimentcialswimmingpool
inLosAngeles,childrenoftwo
monthsolddonotappeartobereluctanttoenterthewater,Itisnotlongbeforetheyaresoaccustomedtoswimming
hatisverypopularwiththeyoungswimmersisthe
ldrencompete
daltheirtricycles,butmostofthemprefertopushordrag
ildrenrtheywill
everbecomefutureOlympicchampions,ile,theyshouldencouragethoamonguswho
cannotswimfiveyardsbeforetheyaregaspingforair.
Lesson95Afantasy纯属虚构
WhentheAmbassadorofEscalopiareturnedhomeforlunch,edpaleandhisclotheswere
inafrightfulstate.
'Whathashappened?'sheasked.
'Howdidyourclothesgetintosuchamess?'
'Afire-extinguisher,mydear,'answeredtheAmbassadordrily.'UniversitystudentsttheEmbassyonfirethis
morning.'
'Goodheavens!'exclaimedhiswife.'Andwherewereyouatthetime?'
'Iwasinmyofficeasusual,'answeredtheAmbassador.'ownimmediately.
ofcour,andthatfool,Horst,efinitelygetthat
fellowposted.'
TheAmbassador'swifewentonaskingquestions,whenshesuddenlynoticedabigholeinherhusband'shat.'Andhow
canyouexplainthat?'sheasked.
'Oh,that,'saidtheAmbassador.'te,don'tyouthink?
Fortunately,Iwasn'been,Iwouldnothavebeenabletogethomeforlunch.'
Lesson96Thedeadreturn亡灵返乡
stivalisacheerfuloccasion,foronthisday,thedeadare
areexpectedtobehungryaftertheirlong
journey,lly-madelanternsarehungoutsideeachhoutohelpthedeadtofindtheir
htlong,arlymorning,thefoodthathadbeenlaidoutforthedeadisthrown
intosthatarenearthea,thetiny
lanternswhichhadbeenhunginthestreetsthenightbefore,areplacedintothewaterwhenthefestivalisover.
Thousandsoflanternsslowla
movingspectacle,forcrowdsofpeoplestandontheshorewatchingthelanternsdriftingawayuntiltheycanbeenno
more.
Lesson1Apumaatlarge
Pumasarelarge,portscameintoLondonZoothatawild
pumahadbeenspottedforty-fivemilessouthofLondon,r,astheevidencebegan
toaccumulate,expertsfromtheZoofeltobligedtoinvestigate,forthedescriptionsgivenbypeoplewhoclaimedto
haveenthepumawereextraordinarilysimilar.
Thehuntforthepumabeganinasmallvillagewhereawomanpickingblackberriessaw'alargecat'onlyfive
diatelyranawaywhenshesawit,andexpertsconfirmedthatapumawillnotattacka
humanbeingunlessitiscornered（adj.被困得走投无路的）.Thearchproveddifficult,forthepumawasoften
obrvedatoeritwent,itleft
ntswereeninanumberofplacesandpumafur
lpeoplecomplainedof'cat-likenois'atnightandabusinessmanonafishingtrip
ertswerenowfullyconvincedthattheanimalwasapuma,butwherehaditcomefrom?
Asnopumashadbeenreportedmissingfromanyzoointhecountry,thisonemusthavebeenintheposssionofa
twentonforveralweeks,
isdisturbingtothinkthatadangerouswildanimalisstillatlargeinthequietcountryside.
Lesson2Thirteenequalsone
Ourvicarisalwaysraisingmoneyforonecauoranother,buthehasnevermanagedtogetenoughmoneyto
clockwhichudtostrikethehoursdayandnightwasdamagedmanyyears
agoandhasbeensilenteversince.
'Onenight,however,ourvicarwokeupwithastart:theclockwasstrikingthehours!Lookingathiswatch,hesawthat
itwasoneo'clock,ithatorch,thevicarwentupintothe
orchlight,hecaughtsightofafigurewhomheimmediatelyrecognizedas
BillWilkins,ourlocalgrocer.'WhateverareyoudoinguphereBill?'askedthevicarinsurpri.
'I'mtryingtorepairthebell,'answeredBill.'I',Iwas
hopingtogiveyouasurpri.'
'Youcertainlydidgivemeasurpri!'saidthevicar.'You',
I'mgladthebellisworkingagain.'
'That'sthetrouble,vicar,'answeredBill.'It'sworkingallright,butI'mafraidthatatoneo'clockitwillstrikethirteen
timesandthere'snothingIcandoaboutit.'
'We'llgetudtothatBill,'saidthevicar.'Thirteenisnotasgoodasonebutit''sgo
downstairsandhaveacupoftea.'
Lesson3Anunknowngoddess
Sometimeago，aninterestingdiscoverywasmadebyarchaeologistsontheAegean（adj.爱琴海的；n.）islandof
Kea．AnAmericanteamexploredatemplewhichstandsinanancientcityonthepromontoryofAyiaIrini．Thecityat
onetimemusthavebeenprosperous，foritenjoyedahighlevelofcivilization．Hous--oftenthreestoreyshigh--were
builtofstone．Theyhadlargeroomswithbeautifullydecoratedwalls．Thecitywavenequippedwithadrainage
system，foragreatmanyclaypipeswerefoundbeneaththenarrowstreets．
Thetemplewhichthearchaeo
ostsacredroomofthetemple,the
reprentedagoddessandhad,atonetime,yofonestatuewasfoundamongremainsdating
admust
e
archaeologistsreconstructedthefragments,theywereamazedtofindthatthegoddessturnedouttobeavery
wearingafull-lengthskirt
ehergreatage,shewasverygracefulindeed,but,sofar,thearchaeologistshavebeen
unabletodiscoverheridentity.
Lesson4ThedoublelifeofAlfredBloggs
Thedays,peoplewh
whoworkinofficesarefrequentlyreferredtoas'whitecollarworkers'forthesimplereasonthattheyusuallyweara
humannature,thatagreatmanypeopleareoftenwillingtosacrificehigherpayfor
ngiveritocurioussituations,asitdidinthecaofAlfred
BloggswhoworkedasadustmanfortheEllesmereCorporation.
Whenhegotmarried,lytoldherthat
orning,changedintooveralls
(n.工作服)returninghomeatnight,hetookashowerandchanged
'swifehasnever
discoveredthatshemarriedadustmanandsheneverwill,soonbeworking
beearningonlyhalfasmuchasheudto,buthefeelsthathisriinstatusis
won,hewillwearasuitalldayandotherswillcallhim'',not'Alf'.
Lesson5Thefacts
Editorsofnewspapersandmagazinesoftengotoextremestoprovidetheirreaderswithunimportantfactsand
arajournalisthadbeeninstructedbyawell-knownmagazinetowriteanarticleonthepresident's
earticlearrived,theeditorreadthefirstntenceandthenrefudtopublish
iclebegan:'Hundredsofstepsleadtothehighwallwhichsurroundsthepresident'spalace.'Theeditoratonce
ntthejournalistafaxinstructinghimtofindouttheexactnumberofstepsandtheheightofthewall.
Thejournalistimmediatelytouttoobtaintheimportantfacts,ile,
theeditorwasgettingimpatient,thejournalisttwourgenttelegrams,
yetanothertelegraminformingthejournalistthatifhedidnotreplysoonhewouldbe
ejournalistagainfailedtoreply,theeditorreluctantlypublishedthearticleasithadoriginallybeen
ater,yhadthepoormanbeenarrested,
r,hehadatlastbeenallowedtondacableinwhichheinformedthe
editorthathehadbeenarrestedwhilecountingthe1084stepsleadingtothe15-footwallwhichsurroundedthe
president'spalace.
Lesson6Smash-and-grab
timeofthemorning,thearcade
or,isassistants
hadbeenworkingbusilysince8o'dnecklacesandringshadbeenbeautifully
azingatthedisplayforveralminutes,MrTaylorwentbackintohis
shop.
Thesilencewassuddenlybrokenwhenalargecar,withitsheadlightsonanditshornblaring,roareddownthe
toastopoutsidethejeweler'stayedatthewheelwhiletwootherswithblackstockingsover
hiswasgoingon,MrTaylorwas
ofthethieveswasstruckbyaheavystatue,
raidwasalloverinthreeminutes,
itwasleaving,MrTaylorrushedoutandranafteritthrowingashtraysandvas,butitwasimpossibletostopthe
dgotawaywiththousandsofpoundsworthofdiamonds.
Lesson7Mutilatedladies
mpletruthwasdemonstratedratherdramaticallyduring
theinhabitantswereaskedtotakepartintheexerciduring
-raidwarningsweresoundedandthousandsofpeople
sandnursremainedabovegroundwhilePolicepatrolledthestreetsinca
anyonetriedtoleavetheshelterstoosoon.
Thepolayedundergroundfor
ingtheair-raidshelters,theysawthatdoctorsand
icalmake-upandartificialbloodhad
Peoplewerelying'dead'inghelpedtocarry
ldwassuppodtobe
eatricalmake-uponhisface,opleweresomovedbythe
r,
childlookedaroundforamomentandsaid,'Ithinkthey'reallcrazy!'
Lesson8Afamousmonastery
2470metres,itisthehighestmountainpassinEurope.
ThefamousmonasteryofStBernard,whichwasfoundedintheeleventhcentury,dreds
ofyears,StBriendlydogs,which
werefirstbroughtfromAsia,tatunnelhasbeenbuiltthrough
themountains,thePassislessdangerous,buteachyear,thedogsarestillntoutintothesnowwheneveratravelleris
ethenewtunnel,therearestillafewpeoplewhorashlyattempttocrossthePassonfoot.
Duringthesummermonths,themonasteryisverybusy,foritisvisitedbythousandsofpeoplewhocrossthePass
incars,Astherearesomanypeopleabout,er,however,lifeat
ks
shavegreaterfreedom,too,fortheyareallowedto
yregularvisitorstothemonasteryinwinterarepartiesofskierswhogothereat
oungpeople,wholovethepeaceofthemountains,alwaysreceiveawarm.
WelcomeatStBernard'smonastery.
Lesson9
Bynow,arocketwillhavetoffonits35millionmiletriptoMarsandscientistsmustbewaitinganxiouslyfor
ketwillbetravellingforsixmonthsbeforeitreachestheplanet.
Itcontainsanumberofscientificinstruments,turesthataretakenwillhave
icturesaresuccessful,theymaysolveanumberof
problemsaboutMarsandprovideinformationaboutthemarkingsonitssurfacewhich,nearly100yearsago,the
astronomer,Schiaparelli,thoughttobecanals.
llonlybepossiblewhenscientistshave
ellitecanonedaybeputintoorbitroundMars,
restingsuggestionformeasuringtheatmospherearoundMarshas
rballcontainingaradiotransmittercouldbedroppedfromasatellitesothatitwouldfall
iowouldsignaltheratewhichtheballwassloweddownandscientistswould
venbepossibletodropacapsulecontainingscientific
instrumentsontotheplanet'enagreatdealmoreinformationhasbeenobtained,willitbepossibleto
planamannedtriptoMars.
Lesson10ThelossofTitanic
Thegreatship,Titanic,sailedforNewYorkfromSouthamptononApril10th,carrying1316
modernstandards,the46,time,
however,shewasnotonlythelargestshipthathadeverbeenbuilt,butwasregardedasunsinkable,forshehadsixteen
twoofthewereflooded,gicsinkingofthis
greatlinerwillalwaysberemembered,forshewentdownonherfirstvoyagewithheavylossoflife.
Fourdaysafterttingout,whiletheTitanicwassailingacrosstheicywatersoftheNorthAtlantic,ahugeiceberg
healarmhadbeengiven,thegreatshipturnedsharplytoavoidadirect
anicturnedjustintime,narrowlymissingtheimmenwalloficewhichroover100feetoutofthe
ly,therewasaslighttremblingsoundfrombelow,andthecaptainwentdowntoewhathad
,thecaptainrealized
tohishorrorthattheTitanicwassinkingrapidly,forfiveofhersixteenwater-
tightcompartmentshadalreadybeenflooded!Theordertoabandonshipwasgivenandhundredsofpeopleplunged
ewerenotenoughlife-boatsforeverybody,1500liveswerelost.
Lesson11Notguilty
angestthingaboutitisthatreallyhonestpeopleareoften
denedprofessionalsmuggler,ontheotherhand,isnevertroubledbysuchfeelings,evenif
eturnedfromabroadrecently,aparticularlyofficious
youngCustomsOfficerclearlyregardedmeasasmuggler.
'Haveyouanythingtodeclare?'heasked,lookingmeintheeye.
'No,'Iansweredconfidently.
'Wouldyoumindunlockingthissuitcaplea?'
'Notatall,'Ianswered.
thingsIhadpackedsocarefullyweresooninadreadfulmess.
ly,IsawtheOfficer'potteda
tinybottleatthebottomofmycaandhepouncedonitwithdelight.
'Perfume,eh?'heaskedsarcastically.'Youshouldhavedeclaredthat.'Perfumeisnotexemptfromimportduty.'
'Butitisn'tperfume,'Isaid.'It'shair-oil.'ThenIaddedwithasmile,'It'sastrangemixtureImakemylf.'AsIexpected,
hedidnotbelieveme.
'Tryit!'Isaidencouragingly.
reetedbyanunpleasantsmellwhich
nuteslater,Iwasabletohurryawaywithpreciouschalk-markson
mybaggage.
Lesson12Lifeonadertisland
timesimagineadertislandtobea
ereissimpleandgood.
a
herstarvetodeathorlivelikeRobinsonCrusoe,waitingforaboatwhichnevercomes.
Perhapsthereisanelementoftruthinboththepictures,butfewofushavehadtheopportunitytofindout.
Twomenwhoreretakingabadly
thejourney,
quicklyloadedasmallrubberdinghywithfood,matches,andtinsofbeerandrowedforafewmilesacrossthe
erehardlyanytreesontheislandandtherewasnowater,but
hadbroughtaspeargun
withthem,ughtlobsterandfisheveryday,and,asoneofthemputit'atelikekings'.
Whenapassingtankerrescuedthemfivedayslater,bothmenweregenuinelysorrythattheyhadtoleave.
Lesson13It’sonlyme
Afterherhusbandhadgonetowork,MrsRichardsntherchildrentoschoolandwentupstairstoherbedroom.
Shewastooexcitedtodoanyhouworkthatmorning,forintheeveningshewouldbegoingtoafancydressparty
endedtodressupasaghostandasshehadmadehercostumethenightbefore,shewas
thecostumeconsistedonlyofasheet,uttingiton,Mrs
tedtofindoutwhetheritwouldbecomfortabletowear.
JustasMrsRichardswanteringthedining-room,wthatitmustbe
toldhimtocomestraightinifevershefailedtoopenthedoorandtoleavethebreadonthekitchen
tingtofrightenthepoorman,
lythedoorofthestore-roomwasopenedandaman
hardsrealizedth
triedtoexplainthesituation,saying'It'sonlyme',letoutacryandjumpedbackveral
sRichardswalkedtowardshim,hefled,slammingthedoorbehindhim.
Lesson14Anoblegangster
TherewasatimewhentheownersofshopandbusinessinChicagohadtopaylargesumsofmoneytogangsters
inreturnfor'protection'Ifthemoneywasnotpaidpromptly,thegangsterswouldquicklyputamanoutofbusinessby
ing'protechonmoney'agoasthefourteenthcentury,an
Englishman,SirJohnHawkwood,madetheremarkablediscoverythatpeoplewouldratherpaylargesumsofmoney
thanhavetheirlifeworkdestroyedbygangsters.
Sixhundredyearsago,SirJohn
soonertheItaliancity-states
wereatwarwitheachother,Hawkwoodudtohirehissoldierstoprinceswhowerewillingtopaythehighpricehe
sofpeace,whenbusinesswasbad,Hawkwoodandhismenwouldmarchintoacity-stateand,after
burningdownafewfarms,odmadelargesums
eofthis,diedattheageofeighty,the
Florentinesgavehimastatefuneralandhadapicturepaintedwhichwasdedicatedtothememoryof'themostvaliant
soldierandmostnotableleader,SignorGiovanniHaukodue'.
Lesson15Fiftypenceworthoftrouble
,ofcour,providesaregularsupplyofpocket-money,but
mechildren,encesare
notexchangedforsweets,rythriftychildrenmanagetofillupa
tofthem,sixpenceisasmallpricetopayforasatisfyingbarofchocolate.
Mynephew,George,wofthesixpencesIhavegivenhimhave
d,heboughthimlfsixpence
aytothesweetshop,hedroppedhissixpenceanditrolledalongthepavementandthen
tookoff
hisjacket,dnotfindhissixpence
anywhere,andwhatismore,ofpeoplegatheredroundhimandaladyrubbedhis
armwithsoapandbutter,e-brigadewascalledandtwofiremenfreedGeorgeusing
wasnottoouptbyhixperiencebecautheladywhoownsthesweetshopheard
abouthistroublesandrewardedhimwithalargeboxofchocolates.
Lesson16Maryhadalittlelamb
Maryandheary'sprize
tittiedtoatreeinafieldduringtheday
ning,however,ehadbeencut,soitwas
mitricameinfromthefields,hiswifetoldhimwhathadhappened.
Dimitriatoncetouttofindthethief.
ellingveralofhisfriendsaboutthetheft,
Dimitrifoundoutthathisneighbour,Aleko,iimmediatelywenttoAleko's
himhehadbetterreturnitorhewouldcallthepolice.
ruethathehadjustboughtalamb,heexplained,but
dofhavingactedsorashly,
theyweretalkingitbegantorainandDimitristayedinAleko'wentoutsidehalf
anhourlater,l,whichhadbeendyedblack,
hadbeenwashedcleanbytherain!
Lesson17Thelongestsuspensionbridgeintheworld
Verrazano,anItalianaboutwhomlittleisknown,sailedintoNewYorkHarbourin1524andnameditAngouleme.
Hedescribeditas'averyagreeablesituationlocatedwithintwosmallhillsinthemidstofwhichflowedagreatriver.'
ThoughVerrazanoisbynomeansconsideredtobeagreatexplorer,hisnamewillprobablyremainimmortal,foron
November21st,1964,thegreatestbridgeintheworldwasnamedafterhim.
TheVerrazanoBridge,whichwasdesignedbyOthmarAmmann,spanof
dgeissat
hesurface
ofthewater,pportthecablesfromwhichthebridgehasbeen
thefourcablescontains26,eenestimatedthatifthebridgewerepacked
withcars,r,sizeandstrengtharenottheonly
eitsimmensity,itisbothsimpleandelegant,fulfillingitsdesigner'sdreamto
create'anenormousobjectdrawnasfaintlyaspossible'.
Lesson18Electriccurrentsinmodernart
athatmodernartcanonlybeeninmuumsismistaken.
Evenpeoplewhotakenointerestinartcannothavefailedtonoticeexamplesofmodernsculptureondisplayinpublic
eformsstandingardens,
so-called'modern'pieceshavebeenondisplayfornearlyfiftyyears.
Inspiteofthis,somepeople--inc
firstthingIsawwhenIenteredtheartgallerywasanoticewhichsaid:'themare
dangerous!'hapedformsthataresuspendedfromthe
cbjects,however,weredifferent.
Linedupagainstthewall,ereshadbeenmagnetizedand
entreofthehall,therewereanumberoftallstructureswhich
were
atherlikeanexhibitionofprehistoric
eculiarformsnotonlyemeddesignedtoshockpeopleemotionally,buttogivethem
electricshocksaswell!
Lesson19Averydearcat
KidnappersarerarelyinterestedinAnimals,buttheyrecentlytookconsiderableinterestinMrsEleanorRamsay's
anorRamsay,averywealthyoldlady,hassharedaflatwithhercat,Rastus,
llytakesashortwalkintheeveningsandisalwayshomebyveno'ning,
however,kedeverywhereforhimbutcouldnotfindhim.
ThreedayafterRastus'disappearance,terstatedthatRastus
wasinsafehandsandwouldbereturnedimmediatelyifMrsRamsaypaidaransomof&saywas
inst,shedecidedtogotothepolice,
butfearingthatshewouldneverw
&1000fromherbankandfollowedthekidnapper'tmorning,theboxhaddisappearedbutMrs
ough,Rastusarrivedpunctuallyatveno'clockthat
edverywell,thoughhewasratherthirsty,icewere
astoundedwhenMrsRamsaytoldthemwhatshehad
eringtheamountshepaid,hewasdearinmorewaysthan
one!
Lesson20Pioneerpilots
In1908LordNorthcliffeofferedaprizeof&
19th,1909,intheearlymorning,HubertLathamtookofffrom
theFrenchcoastinhisplanethe'AntoinetteIV'.He
hadtravelledonlyvenmiles
'Antoinette'floatedonthewateruntilLathamwaspickedupbyaship.
Twodayslater,LouisBleriotarrivednearCalaiswithaplanecalled''.Bleriothadbeenmakingplanessince
efore,hehadcompletedasuccessfuloverlandflightduringwhichhe
,,too,arrivednearCalaisonthesamedaywitha
new'Antonette'.anesweregoingtotakeoffon
July25th,akingashorttestflightat4.15a.m.,Bleriottoffhalfan
landednearDover,thefirstpersontogreethimwasa
madeanotherattemptaweeklaterandgotwithinhalfamileofDover,buthewasunlucky
inefailedandhelandedontheaforthecondtime.
Lesson21DanielMendoza
edays,boxersfoughtwithbarefists
eofthis,theywereknownas'prize-fighters'.However,boxingwasverycrude,fortherewere
norulesandaprize-fightercouldberiouslyinjuredorevenkilledduringamatch.
Oneofthemostofgloves
wasnotintroduhewas
technicallyaprize-fighter,Mendozadidmuchtochangecrudeprize-fightingintoasport,forhebroughtsciencetothe
ay,aroto
tractedtheattentionofRichard
redtotrainMendozaandhisyoungpupilwas
,menquarrelled
washeldatStiltonwherebothmen
licbetagreatdealofmoneyonMendoza,ametHumphriesin
otuntilhisthirdmatchin1790thathefinallybeat
ile,hefoundedahighlysuccessfulAcademyandevenLord
edenormoussumsofmoneyandwaspaidasmuchas&100forasingle
ethis,ewasdefeatedbyaboxercalled
GentlemanJackson,enttoprisonforfailingtopayhisdebtsanddiedinpovertyin
1836.
Lesson22Byheart
ways,thisisunfortunateforthepooractors
ldexpectthemtoknowtheirpartsbyheart
sisnotalwaystheca.
Afamousactorinahighlysuccessfulplaywasoncecastintheroleofanaristocratwhohadbeenimprisonedin
astact,agaolerwouldalwayscomeonto
oughthenoblewaxpectedtoreadtheletterat
eachperformance,ht,thegaolerdecidedtoplayajokeon
hiscolleaguetofindoutif,aftersomanyperformances,
curtainwentuponthefinalactoftheen,
redthecellandprentedthelettertothearistocrat.
ler
lookedoneagerly,lestaredattheblanksheetof
,squintinghiyes,hesaid:'elettertome.'Andhepromptly
gthathecouldnotrememberawordofthelettereither,thegaolerreplied:
'Thelightisindeeddim,etmyglass.'Withthis,thearistocrat's
amument,thegaolerreturnedafewmomentslaterwithapairofglassandtheusualcopyoftheletterwhichhe
proceededtoreadtotheprisoner.
Lesson23Oneman’smeatisanotherman’spoison
Peoplebecomequitivedin
theMediterranean,forinstance,ldnotbeabletounderstandwhy
therhand,yourstomachwouldturnattheideaoffryingpotatoesinanimalfat--
truthisthatmostofushavebeenbroughtuptoeat
certainfoodsandwesticktothemallourlives.
inwine,snailsareagreat
recountlesspeoplewho,eversincetheirearlyyears,havelearnedto
nd,Robert,latisinalargetown,
rshehasbeenaskingmetocollectsnailsfrommygardenandtakethemtohim.
Theideaneverappealedtomeverymuch,butoneday,afteraheavyshower,Ihappenedtobewalkinginmygarden
whonasuddenimpul,I
collectedveraldozen,puttheminapaperbag,wasdelightedtoemeandequally
hebaginthe
hallanrgottenallaboutthe
would,ofcour,tfancy
ismay,wesawthatthereweresnailverywhere:
theyhadescapedfromthepaperbagandhadtakencompleteposssionofthehall!Ihaveneverbeenabletolookata
snailsincethen.
Lesson24Askeletoninthecupboard
Weoftenreadinnovelshowaeminglyrespectablepersonorfamilyhassometerriblecretwhichhasbeen
terriblecretiscalled'askeletoninthecupboard'.Atsomedramaticmomentinthestorytheterriblecretbecomes
der'shairstandsonendwhenhereadsinthefinalpagesofthenovelthatthe
heroine,adearoldladywhohadalwaysbeensokindtoeverybody,had,inheryouth,poisonedeveryoneofherfive
husbands.
ingdegrees,weallhavecretswhichwedonotwant
evenourclostfriendstolearn,ypersonIknowwhohasa
skeletoninthecupboardisGeorgeCarlton,studiedmedicineinhisyouth.
Insteadofbecomingadoctor,however,pentan
showedmetotheguestroomwhich,hesaid,
hadstackedmyshirtsand
underclothesintwoemptydrawers,IdecidedtohanginthecupboardoneofthetwosuitsIhadbroughtwithme.I
den
movementofthedoormadeitng
mysuit,sworthan'aterriblecret';thiswasarealskeleton!ButGeorge
wasunsympathetic.'Oh,that,'hesaidwithasmileasifheweretalkingaboutanoldfriend.'That'
forgetthatIwasamedicalstudentonceuponatime.'
Lesson25TheCuttySark
Oneofthemostfamoussailingshipsofthenineteenthcentury,theCuttySark,
vesasanimpressivereminderofthegreat
theywerereplacedbysteam-ships,sailingveslsliketheCuttySarkwereudtocarrytea
eshipstoutfromShanghaionJune18th,1872onan
ce,whichwentonforexactlyfourmonths,edtheendof
stofthetwoshipstoreachJavaafterthe
racehadbegunwastheThermopylae,butontheIndianOcean,edcertainthatshe
wouldbethefirstshiphome,st,shewasstruckbyaveryheavy
tySarkrolledfromsidetosideanditbecameimpossibletosteer
raryruddeeatly
reducedthespeedoftheship,fortherewasdangerthatifshetravelledtooquickly,thisrudderwouldbetornawayas
eofthis,rossingtheequator,thecaptaincalledinataporttohavea
newrudderfitted,thenewrudderwasfittedat
tremendousspeed,ivedinEnglandaweekaftertheThermopylae.
Eventhiswasremarkable,snodoubtthatifshehadnotlosther
ruddershewouldhavewontheraceeasily.
Lesson26Wanted:alargebiscuittin
wemayprideourlvesonourgoodtaste,weare
nolongerfreetochoothethingswewant,reffortstopersuade
ustobuythisorthatproduct,advertirshavemadeaclostudyofhumannatureandhaveclassifiedallourlittle
rtimentwhich
beginswiththe
ays,advertirsnotonlyofferfreesamplesbutfreecars,freehous,
vihundredsofcompetitionswhichwillenableustowinhugesumsof
ndtelevisionhavemadeitpossibleforadvertirstocapturetheattentionofmillionsofpeopleinthis
aradioprogramme,acompanyofbiscuitmanufacturersonceaskedlistenerstobakebiscuitsandnd
feredtopay$pontothis
long,y
elater,amancamealongwithabiscuit
gestwas713
tbeforethecompetitionclod,alorryarrivedatthe
eenbakedbyacollegestudentwhohadud
over1000poundsofflour,800poundsofsugar,200poundsoffat,
ufacturershadtopaymoremoneythanthey
hadanticipated,fortheyboughtthebiscuitfromthestudentfor$4800.
Lesson27Nothingtollandnothingtobuy
ightofthisstatement,teacherslivebylling
knowledge,philosophersbyllingwisdomandpriestsbyllingspiritualcomfort.
Thoughitmaybepossibletomeasurethevalueofmaterialgoodsintermsofmoney,itixtremelydifficulttoestimate
retimeswhenwewouldwillinglygiveeverythingwe
possstosaveourlives,yetwemight
ditionsofsocietyaresuchthatskills
nehassomethingtoll.
salmostllthemlvesashumanbeingstoarouthe
ekingindependence,mayaskyouformoney,buthewillneverask
eliberatelychontoleadthelifeheleadsandisfullyawareoftheconquencesHe,
mayneverbesurewherethenextmealiscomingfrom,butheisfreefromthethousandsofanxietieswhichafflictother
materialposssionmakeitpossibleforhimtomovefromplacetoplacewithea-Byhavingtosleep
intheopen,unt,beg,orstealoccasionallyto
keephimlfalive;hemayevenintimesofrealneed,doalittlework;n
speakoftrampswithcontemptandputtheminthesameclassasbeggars,buthowmanyofuscanhonestlysaythatwe
havenotfeltalittleenviousoftheirsimplewayoflifeandtheirfreedomfromcare?
Lesson28Fivepoundstoodear
Smallboshehadanchored,themen
fromtheboatshadclimbedonboardandthedecksweresooncoveredwithcolourfulrugsfromPersia,silksfromIndia,
coppercoffeepots,thetouristson
boardhadbegunbargainingwiththetradesmen,
soonergintentionofbuying
one,buthemwereasbigas
rewalkingpastashop,hehelda
meoverhalfanhourtogetridof
him.
ainly
aofthegoldcap,thewords'madeintheU.S.A.'saidthat
thepenwasworth&10,butasaspecialfavour,hewouldletmehaveitfor&myheadandheldupafinger
indicatingthatIwaswillingto
ulatingwildly,themanactedasifhefoundmyofferoutrageous,butheeventuallyreducedtheprice
to&ingmyshoulders,Ibegantowalkawaywhen,amomentlater,heranaftermeandthrustthepenintomy
hekeptthrowinguphisarmsindespair,specially
erhowhardItried,itwasimpossibletofillthis
beautifulpenwithinkandtothisdayithasneverwrittenasingleword!
lesson29Funnyornot?
Whethofhumouris
hman,forinstance,mightfindithardtolaughataRussian
ameway,aRussianmightfailtoeanythingamusinginajokewhichwouldmakeanEnglishmanlaugh
totears.
eofnationaldifferences,certainfunnysituationshavea
erwhereyoulive,youwouldfinditdifficultnottolaughat,say,CharlieChaplin'arlyfilms.
However,anewtypeofhumour,whichstemslargelyfromAmerica,l1ed'sick
humour'.Comediansbasoplefindthis
lowingexampleof'sickhumour'willenableyoutojudgeforyourlf.
Amanwhemomenthearrived
there,dedhavingtospend
thedoctordidhisbest,thepatient'stmasday,themanstill
t
lowingday,however,thedoctorconsoledhimby
tellinghimthathischancetook
heartand,sureenough,onNewYear'ensateforhisunpleasant
experiencesinhospital,rocess,heenjoyedhimlf
tillmumblingsomethingabouthospitals
attheendofthepartywhenheslippedonapieceoficeandbrokehisleftleg.
Lesson30Thedeathofaghost
mwasownedbytwobrothers,JoeandBertCox.
Theyemployedafewfarmhands,imeaworkergaveuphisjob,he
b
orker,whostayedupallnight,claimedtohaveenafigurecutting
corninthe
,itbecameanacceptedfactthattheCoxbrothermployedaconscientiousghostthatdidmostof
theirworkforthem.
Noonessindeedtheca.A
shorttimeago,newenttothefuneral,for
the'ghost'wasnoneotherthanEricCox,he
funeral,JoeandBertrevealed
eenobligedtojoin
learntthathe
wouldbentabroad,gtheauthorities,
y
eirfatherdied,they
years,Erichadlivedasareclu（隐遁者,寂寞者）.Heudto
sleepduringthedayandworkatnight,died,
however,hisbrothersfounditimpossibletokeepthecretanylonger.
Lesson31Alovableeccentric
Tsregardsocialconventions
variablywinsthemtheloveandrespectof
others,fortheyaddcolourtothedullroutineofeverydaylife.
Uptothetimeofhisdeath,shrewdand
wealthybusiness-man,nowntous
dislikedsnobs(势利小人)intenly.
Thoughheownedalargecar,hehardlyeverudit,enitwasrainingheavily,
,hewalkedintoanexpensiveshopafterhavingbeencaughtina
edtobuya&300furcoatforhiswife,buthewasinsuchabedraggledcondition
waxtremelyheavy,istantaskedhimtoleave,butDickiepaidnoattentiontohim
izingwhothecustomerwas,themanagerwasmostapologeticand
'ckiewasgiventhefurcoat,
contained&stedontheassistant'scountingthemoneybeforeheleft72,000penniesinall!On
anotheroccasion,heinvitedanum
exhibitionreceivedagreatdealofattentioninthepress,forthoughthepicturesweresuppodtobetheworkoffamous
artists,himfouryearstostagethilaboratejokesimplytoprovethat
criticsdonotalwaysknowwhattheyaretalkingabout.
Lesson32Alostship
llship,Elkor,whichhadbeenarchingtheBarentsSeafor
weeks,messagefromthemainlandhadbeenreceivedbytheship'scaptaininstructing
tainknewthatanotherattemptwouldbemadelater,forthesunkenshiphewastrying
tofindhadbeencarryingapreciouscargoofgoldbullion.
Despitethemessage,-bedwasscouredwithpowerfulnetsand
therthecrewwereatfirst
undertheimpressionthatthelostshiphadbeenfound,eyhad
stcontainedthepersonalbelongingsofa
aman,erebooks,clothingandphotographs,togetherwithletterswhichtheamanhadonce
tainoftheElkororderedhismentosalvageasmuchaspossiblefromthewreck.
Nothingofvaluewasfound,butthenumerousitemswhichwerebroughttothesurfaceprovedtobeofgreatinterest.
Fromaheavygunthatwasraid,hera-chest,
whichcontainedthebelongingsofaship'sofficer,therewasanunfinishedletterwhichhadbeenwrittenonMarch14th,
tvaluablefindofallwas
theship'slogbook,isthecaptainwasabletopiecetogetherallthe
enhadbeensailinginaconvoytoRussiawhenshewastorpedoedbyan
slaterconfirmedbyanavalofficialattheMinistryofDefenceaftertheElkorhadreturned
itemsthatwerefoundwerenttotheWarMuum.
Lesson33Adaytoremember
ybeginwellenough,butsuddenly
variablyhappensisthatagreatnumberofthingschootogowrongat
uppothatyouare
ephoneringsandthismarksthepreludetoan
unforeenriesof
ouareonthephone,thebabypullsthetable-clothoffthetablesmashinghalfyourbestcrockery
guphurriedlyandattendtobaby,crockery,ile,themealgets
iswerenotenoughtoreduceyoutotears,yourhusbandarrives,unexpectedlybringingthreegueststo
dinner.
ThingscangowrongonabigscaleasanumberofpeoplerecentlydiscoveredinParramatta,asuburbofSydney.
Durinanimmediatelybehind
dethedriverfollowing
asthrownforward,thecakewentright
acakeflyingthroughtheair,alorry-driverwhowasdrawingup
alongsidethecar,rywasloadedwithemptybeerbottlesandhundredsofthemslidoff
ile,thetrafficpiledup
eantime,thelorry-driverhadto
ostraydogsbenefitedfromallthisconfusion,fortheygreedilydevoured
ustoneofthodays!
Lesson34Ahappydiscovery
eexpensivekindofantiqueshopwhererare
objectsarebeautifullydisplnehas
salwayshopethatinitslabyrinthofmusty,dark,
disorderedroomsarealraritywillbefoundamongstthepilesofassortedjunkthatlitterthefloors.
dedicatedarcherforarttreasuresmusthavepatience,andaboveall,the
is,hemustbeatleastasknowledgeableasthe
cientistbentonmakingadiscovery,hemustcherishthehopethatonedayhewillbeamplyrewarded.
Myoldfriend,FrankHalliday,ftendescribedtomehowhepickedupamasterpiecefora
mere&urdaymorning,dneverbeenthere
before,ningpasdrapidlyandFrankwasabouttoleavewhenhenoticed
lertoldhimthatithadjustcomein,butthathecouldnotbebotheredto
fromaninteresting-lookingcarveddagger,theboxwasfullofcrockery,entlyliftedthe
crockeryoutoftheboxaomposition
andlineremindedhimofanItalianpaintingheknewwell,ngatitbriefly,thedealertold
himthatitwasworth&ouldhardlyconcealhixcitement,forheknewthathehadmadearealdiscovery.
ThetinypaintingprovedtobeanunknownmasterpiecebyCorreggioandwasworththousandsofpounds.
Lesson35Justicewasdone
tsaythatjusticehasbeendonewhenaman's
hoek
it,,howeverwioreminent,are
humanandcanmakemistakes.
Thereorpunishmentareoutquite
times,uaphralikeitrves
himright,weare,inpart,admittingthatacertaintofcircumstanceshanabledjusticetoactofitsownaccord.
Whenathiefwascaughtonthepremisofalargefurstoreonemorning,theshopassistantsmusthavefoundit
impossibletoresistthetemptationtosay'itrveshimright'.Theshopwasanold-fashionedonewithmanylarge,
disudfireplacesandtall,smidday,agirlheardamuffledcrycomingfrombehindoneof
rywasrepeatedveraltimes,
cryhadcertainlycomefromoneofthechimneys,butasthereweresomanyofthem,thefiremencouldnotbecertain
catedtherightchimneybytappingatthewallsandlisteningfortheman'
chippingthroughawallwhichwaighteeninchesthick,
waxtremelynarrow,themanwasunabletomove,butthefiremenwereeventuallyabletofreehimbycuttingahuge
ry-looking,blackenedfigurethatemerged,atonceadmittedthathehadtriedtobreakintothe
ehadbeendone
evenbeforethemanwashandedovertothepolice.
Lesson36Achanceinamillion
WearelesscredulousthanweudtobeInthenineteenthcentury,anovelistwouldbringhisstorytoaconclusionby
prentingshappilyacceptedthefact
thatanobscuremaid-rvantwasreallythehero'-lostbrother,whowaspresumeddead,wasreally
aliveallthetimeandwickedlyplottingtobringaboutthehero'readerswouldfindsuch
,inreallife,circumstancesdosometimesconspiretobringaboutcoincidences
whichanyonebutanineteenthcenturynovelistwouldfindincredible.
AGermantaxi-driver,FranzBussman,recentlyfoundabrotherwhowasthoughttohavebeenkilledtwentyyears
nawalkingtourwithhiswife,heyhadgoneon,MrsBussman
commentedontheworkman'sclos
pouredscornontheidea,pointing
MrsBussmanwasfullyacquaintedwiththisstory,
yslater,shentaboytotheworkman
toaskhimifhisnamewasHansBussman,Needlesstosay,theman'snamewasHansBussmanandhereallywas
Franz'slong-lostbrother.
Whenthebrotherswerere-united,avingbeenwounded
towardstheendofthewar,pitalhadbeenbombed
ile,hisunitwaslostandallrecordsofhim
turnedtohis
familyhome,butthehouhadbeenbombedandnooneintheneighbourhoodknewwhathadbecomeofthe
ngthathisfamilyhadbeenkilledduringanair-raid,HansttleddowninaVillagefiftymilesaway
wherehehadremainedeversince.
Lesson37TheWesthavenExpress
earsofpre-conditioning,mostofushavedevelopedan
aybedelayedbystorms;airflightsmaybecancelledbecauofbad
weather;exceptionallyheavysnowfallmighttemporarilydislocaterailwayrvices.
Itithisthatwhenmistakes
occur,theyaremorelikelytobeoursthantheirs.
Afterconsultingmyrailwaytime-table,
directfroardedthetrain,I
ime,thisdidnotstrikemeasodd.I
reflectedthattheremustbeagreatmanypeoplebesidesmylfwhowishedtotakeadvantageofthixcellentrvice.
NeitherwasIsurpridwhenthetrainstoppedatWidley,ighty
nthetraindawdledatstationafterstation,
suddenlydawnedonmethatthixpresswasnotroaringdownthelineatninetymilesanhour,butbarelychugging
a
pasngerifthiswastheWesthavenExpress,minedtolodgeacomplaintassoon
rslater,deniedthetrain's
existence,asanoteoftriumphinmyvoicewhenItoldhimthatitwas
ngatitbriefly,steriskconductedmetoafootnoteat
:'Thisrvicehasbeensuspended.'
Lesson38Thefirstcalendar
Futurehistorianswilllhardly
knowwhichfactstolectfromthegreatmassofevidencethatsteadily
,gramophonerecords,and
llbeable,asitwere,toeand
historianattem
eminglyinsignificantremainscanshedinteresting
lightonthehistoryofearlyman.
Uptonow,historianshaveassumedthatcalendarscameintobeingwiththeadventofagriculture,forthenmanwas
scientificevidenceemstoindicatethatthis
ianshavelongbeenpuzzledbydots,linesandsymbolswhichhavebeenengravedon
walls,bones,adswhomadethemarkingslivedbyhuntingandfishing
duringthelastIceAge,whichbeganabout35,edabout10,elatingmarkingsmadein
variouspartsoftheworld,vefoundthatitisconnectedwith
,infact,a,ongbeenknownthat
thehundadefinitemeaning,for
ssiblethatthereisadefiniterelationbetweenthepaintings
sthatmanwasmakingarealefforttounderstandtheasons
20,000yeararlierthanhasbeensuppod.
Lesson39Nothingtoworryabout
TheroughroadacrosstheplainsoonbecamesobadthatwetriedtogetBrucetodrivebacktothevillagewehadcome
oughtheroadwaslitteredwithbouldersandpittedwithholes,
ngathismap,heinformedusthatthenextvillagewasameretwentymiles
erwhat
theconditionswere,hebelievedthatacarshouldbedrivenasfastasitcouldpossiblygo.
Aswebumpedoverthedustytrack,elsscoopedupstoneswhich
surethatsoonerorlaterastonewouldripaholeinourpetroltankor
eofthis,wekeptlookingback,wonderingifwewereleavingatrailofoilandpetrolbehind
eliefitwaswhentheboulderssuddenlydisappeared,givingwaytoastretchofplainwheretheonly
onto
renewedpleadings,weallgotouttoexaminethefissure,he
rmedhimthatthefissureextendedforfiftyyardsandwastwofeetwideandfourfeetdeep.
ngagedlowgearanddroveataterrifyingspeed,keepingthefrontwheelsastridethe
wehadtimetoworryaboutwhatmighthappen,wewerebackonthe
onsultedt
hargedatit,butinthemiddle,thecarcametoa
wlightonthedash-boardflashedangrilyandBrucecheerfullyannouncedthattherewasnooilin
theengine!
Lesson40Who’swho
Ithasneverbeenexplainedwts
specializeinaparticulartypeofpracticaljoke:ngthefire-brigadetoputoutanon-existentfireisacrude
formofdeceptionwhichnolf-respectingstudentwouldeverindulgein,Studentsoftencreateamusingsituations
tudentrecentlysawtwoworkmenusingapneumaticdrill
outsidehisuniversity,heimmediatelytelephonedthepoliceandinformedthemthattwostudentsdresdupas
ashehadhungup,hewentovertotheworkmenand
toldthemthatifapolicemanorderedthemtogoaway,dthatastudenthad
epoliceandtheworkmenwere
gratefultothestudentforthispieceofadvanceinformation.
Thestudenthough,a
receivedaveryrudereplyfrom
oneoftheworkmen,kmentoldhimtodoashepleadandthe
yafterwards,fourmorepolicemenarrivedandremonstratedwiththeworkmen.
Asthemenrefudtostopworking,kmenstruggledfiercely
,thepolicepointedoutironicallythatthiswould
dingtospeakriously,oneoftheworkmenaskedifhe
mightmakeatelephonecallbeforebeingtaken
enhesawthattheman
wasactuallytelephoningthepolicedidherealizethattheyhadallbeenthevictimsofahoax.
Lesson41IllusionsofPastoralpeace
rnandcitybred,Ihavealwaysregardedthecountryas
somethingyoulookatthroughatrainwindow,my
friendsliveinthecity,theyextolthe
virtuesofthepeacefullife,onlyoneofthemhavergonetoliveinthecountryandhewasbackintownwithinsix
hestillrevertalkingaboutthefriendly
people,thecleanatmosphere,gcanbecompared,he
maintains,withthefirstcockcrow,thetwitteringofbirdsatdawn,thesightoftherisingsunglintingonthetreesand
yllicpastoralsceneis
ndfailstomentionthelongandfriendlesswintereveningswhichareinterruptedonlyby
anoccanothingaboutthepoorlection
ofgoodsintheshops,oraboutthounfortunatepeoplewhohavetotravelfromthecountrytothecityeverydaytoget
plearepreparedtotolerateafourhourjourneyeachdayforthedubiousprivilegeoflivinginthe
uldbesavedsomuchmiryandexpeniftheychotoliveinthecitywherethey
rightlybelong.
Ifyoucandowithoutthefewpastoralpleasuresofthecountry,youwillfindthecitycanprovideyouwiththebestthat
variablylivenearbyandarealwaysavailable
foraninformalchatoranevening'myacquaintancesinthecountrycomeuptotownonceor
mthisisamajoroperationwhichinvolvesconsiderable
laydrawstoitsclo,ydweller
estexhibitions,films,ng,
too,ypeoplerun
wildwhentheygoshoppinginthecityandstaggerhomeloadedwithasmanyofthenecessitiesoflifeastheycancarry.
ssomethingcomfortingaboutthewarmglowshedby
ngscouldbemoreimpressivethanthepeacethatdescendson
dertedcitystreetsatweek-endswhenthethousandsthattraveltoworkevery
lwaysbeenamysterytomewhycitydwellers,who
appreciateallthethings,obstinatelypretendthattheywouldprefertoliveinthecountry.
Lesson42ModernCavemen
Caveexploration,orpotholing,asithascometobeknown,sitisthedesireforsolitude
orthechanceofmpossibletogive
asatisfactoryexplanationforapot-holer',caveshavethesamepeculiarfascinationwhichhigh
ingreallydeepcaves
dertakingsrequirethepreciplanningandforesightofmilitary
akeaslongaightdaystorigupropeladdersandtoestablishsupplybasbeforeadescentcanbe
tionsofthissortarenecessary,foritisimpossibletoforetelltheexactnatureofthe
pestknowncaveintheworldistheGouffreBergernearGrenoble.
menchasmhasbeenformedbyanundergroundstreamwhichhastunnelled
onlysixfeet
across,emightneverhavebeendiscoveredhadnottheentrancebeenspottedbythe
distinguishedFrenchpotholer,tsdiscovery,ithasbecomeasortofpotholers'anumber
ofdescentshavebeenmade,muchofitstillremainstobeexplored.
nteringthenarrowgapontheplateau,theyclimbed
dtoedgetheirwayalongthis,sometimes
wadingacrossshallowstreams,lytheycametoawaterfallwhichdroppedinto
ungedintothelake,andafterloadingtheirgearonaninflatable
rubberdinghy,ectthemlvesfromtheicywater,theyhadtowear
arendofthelake,theycametohugepilesofrubblewhichhadbeenwashedupbythe
partofthecave,theycouldhearaninsistentboomingsoundwhichtheyfoundwascaudbyasmall
ingthroughacleftintherocks,thepotholers
arrivedatanenormouscavern,witchingonpowerfularclights,theysawgreat
stalagmites—someofthemoverfortyfeethigh--risingupliketree-trunkstomeetthestalactitessuspendedfromthe
bout,eriesilenceofthecavern,the
onlysoundthatcouldbeheardwasmadebywaterwhichdrippedcontinuouslyfromthehighdomeabovethem.
Lesson43Fullyinsured
ngpublicorprivatepropertyisastandardpractice
,however,youwereholdinganopenairgardenpartyorafeteitwouldbeequally
sstosay,thebiggertheriskaninsurancecompanytakes,
tuncommontohearthataship-pingcompanyhasmadeaclaimfor
claimmadebyalocalauthoritytorecoverthecostofsalvagingasunken
piedishmustsurelybeunique.
Admittedlyitwasanunusualpiedish,eenpurchadbyalocal
committeedecidedthatthebestwayto
transportthedishwouldbebycanal,yafteritwaslaunched,thepiecommitteewent
ametime,anumberofteenagersclimbedontothedishandheldalittlepartyoftheir
dancesprovedtobemorethanthediskcouldbear,forduringthepartyitcapsizedandsankinvenfeet
ofwater.
Thepiecommitteetelephoneingin
theirwetclothes,theteenagersd
littledifficultyinfindingit,esofthedishwereso
smooththatitwasalallychains
hrotothesurfaceandwas
agonizingmoment,thedishwasperchedprecariouslyonthebankofthe
canal,me
theyfixedheahnowhadtobe
lchwasagainputintooperationand
lminuteslater,thedishwassuccessfullyhauledabovethesurfaceofthe
treamedinasdanger
thatthewavewouldrebounding
attremendousspeed,themenmanagedtogetthedishontodrylandbeforethewavereturned.
Lesson44Speedandcomfort
Peopletravellinglongdistancesfrequentlyhavetodecidewhethertheywouldprefertogobyland,a,
ompartmentssoongetcrampedand
gisonlyapartialsolution,forthemonotonous
theday,t,
whenyoureallywishtogotosleep,reluckyenoughtogetacouchette,youspend
halfthenightstaringatthesmallbluelightintheceiling,orfumblingtofindyourpassportwhenyoucrossafrontier.
rjourneysareevenlesspleasant,foritisquite
r-waysyoucan,atleast,travelfairlysafelyathighspeeds,butmoreoftenthannot,
thegreaterpartofthejourneyisspentonnarrow,arison,tripsby
stretchyourlegsonthespaciousdecks,playgames,swim,meet
interestingpeopleandenjoygoodfood--alwaysassuming,ofcour,not,andyouarelikely
togeta-sick,youtravelinidealweather,ajourneystakealongtime.
Relativelyfewpeoplearepreparedtosacrificeuptoathirdoftheirholidaysforthepleasureoftravellingonaship.
Aeroplaneshavethereputatiso
hingcanmatchthemforspeedand
lingataheightof30,000feet,farabovetheclouds,andatover500milesanhourisanexhilarating
othavetodevi
waysoftakingyourmindoffthejourney,whours,you
lescapistcanwatchafreefilmshowandsipchampagneon
nwhensuchrefinementsarenotavailable,plane
reffortlesslyoverhighmountainsanddeepvalleys.
andscapeishiddenfromview,youcanenjoytheextraordinarysightof
unbrokencloudplainsthatstretchoutformilesbeforeyou,rneyis
ryoudecidetospendyourtime,one
thingiscertain:lnothavetospendthenextfewdays
recoveringfromalongandarduousjourney.
Lesson45Thepowerofpress
Indemocraticcountr,thisfreedom
sawemay
enjoyreadingaboutthelivesofothers,itixtremelydoubtfulwhetherwewouldequallyenjoyreadingaboutourlves.
Actingonthecontentionthatfactsaresacred,reporterscancauuntoldsufferingtoindividualsbypublishingdetails
perxertsuchtremendousinfluencethattheycannotonlybringaboutmajorchanges
tothelivesofordinarypeoplebutcanevenoverthrowagovernment.
Thestoryofapoorfamilythatacquiredfameandfortuneovernight,
familylivedinAberdeen,asmalltownof23,arentshadfivechildren,lifewas
reexpectingtheirsixthchildandfacedwithevenmorepressingeconomic
hadonlyhadonemorechild,uldhavecontinuedto
ysuddenlybecametheparentsofquintuplets,
fourgirlsandaboy,afterthebirthofthefivechildren,an
aswasofnationalimportance,forthe
poorcouplehadbecometheparentsoftheonlyquintupletsinAmerica.
sioncamerasandnewspaperscarriedthenewstoeveryoneinthecountry.
Newspapersandmagazinesofferedthefamilyhugesumsfortheexclusiverightstopublishstoriesandphotographs.
Giftspouredinnotonlyfromunknownpeople,butfrombabyfoodandsoapmanufacturerswhowishedtoadverti
farmhouthefamilylivedinwastobereplacedbyanew$100,erskept
pressingforinterviewssolawye
ereannouncedtobuildahugenewhighway,asAberdeenwas
strectedontheoutskirtsofthetowndirectedtouristsnotto
Aberdeen,butto'Quint-CityU.S.A.'Thelocalauthoritiesdiscusdthepossibilityoferectinga'quintmuum'to
satisfythechefivebabieswerestill
quietlysleepinginoxygententsinahospitalnurry,dneveragain
dbecomethevictimsofcommercialization,fortheirnameshad
nitlfreceivedsomuchattentionthatalmosteveryoneoftheinhabitantswas
affectedtoagreaterorlessdegree.
Lesson46Doityourlf
Sogreatisourpassionfordoingthingsforourlves,thatwearebecomingincreasinglylessdependentonspecialized
anpleadignoranceofasubjectanylonger,
withtherighttoolsandmaterials,llages
spendhoursoftheirleisuretimeinstallingtheirownfireplaces,laying-outtheirowngardens;buildinggaragesand
making
allykeenenthuater
forthedo-it-yourlfcrazenotonlybyrunningspecialadvisoryrvicesfornovices,butbyofferingconsumersbitsand
ingsprovideanexcellentoutletforpent-upcreativeenergy,but
unfortunatelynotallofusarebornhandymen.
Wivestensbandswhocanhardlydrivea
nailinstraightaresuppodtobebornelectricians,carpenters,ghtsfu,furniture
getsrickety,pipesgetclogged,orvacuumcleanersfailtooperate,wivesautomaticallyassumethattheirhusbandswill
somehowputthingsright.
Theworstthingaboutthedo-it-yourlfgameisthatsometimeshusbandsliveunderthedelusionthattheycando
rokendowntheprevioussummer,and
thoughIpromidtorepairit,nothearofthesuggestionandsaidthatIwouldfixit
urdayafternoon,sIcoulde,it
onlyneededaminoradjustment:aturnofascrewhere,alittletighteningupthere,adropofoilanditwouldbeasgood
erfirmlyrefudtomow,soIdecidedtodismantleit.
Thegardxtremelyplead
buyinganewchainIwasfacedwiththeinsurmountabletaskofputtingtheconfusingjigsawpuzzletogetheragain.I
wasnotsurpridtofindthatthemachinestillrefud
toworkafterIhadreasmbledit,forthesimplereasonthatIwasleftwithveralcuriouslyshapedbitsofmetalwhich
wifenaggedmeto
dosomethingaboutit,sstosayour
somewhereindeepgrassthereisarustinglawn-mowerwhichIhave
promidtorepaironeday.
Lesson47Throughtheearth’scrust
Satellitesorbitingroundtheearthhaveprovidedscientistswithavastamountofinformationaboutconditionsinouter
arison,rovedeasiertogoup
pestholeevertobe
boredonlandwentdown25,ngaholeunderthea
pestholeboredunderahasbeenabout20,ecently,
scientistshavebeenunabletodevis
illwhich
isbeingtestedatLeonaValleyRanchinTexasisdrivenbyaturbineenginewhichispropelledbyliquidmudpumped
iamondtipofthedrillrevolves,istshavebeenamazedto
llhasbeendesignedtoborethroughtheearthtoa
depthof35,enablescientiststoobtainsamplesofthemysteriouslayerwhichliesimmediatelybelowthe
earth'yerisknownastheMohorovicicDiscontinuity,butiscommonlyreferredtoas'theMoho'.
Beforeitispossibletodrillthisdeephole,icaltestswill
becarriedouttofindthepointatwhichtheearth'eepossiblesiteswhicharebeingconsidered
areallata:eyhavedetermindedonasite,theywillhaveto
erectadrillingveslwhichwill
lwillconsistofanimmenplatformwhichwillrito70feetabove
besupportedbysixhollowcolumnswhichwilldescendtoadepthof60feetbelowtheoceansurface
teeltowerrisingtoaheightofnearly200feetwillrestontheplatform.
Thedrillwillbestoredinthetower
andwillhavetobeloweredthroughabout15,thetower,therewill
bealaboratory,gtheplatforminpositionatawillgive
is,sci,
duringtheoperationsthedrillhastobewithdrawn,arewillthereforehaveto
betakentorojectissuccessful,
scientistswillnotonlylearnagreatdealabouttheearth,butpossiblyaboutthenatureoftheuniveritlf.
Lesson48Thesilentvillage
Inthismuch-travelledworld,ysassume
plewhoarecutoffnotonlyfromforeigntourists,but
toreallyremotevillagesareldomenjoyable--as
mywifeandIdiscoveredduringatourthroughtheBalkans.
Wehadspentvttractedmany
visitorsfortheywerenotonlyofgreatarchitecturalinterest,butcontaineda
aybeforeourdeparture,veralbusloadsoftourists
smorethanwecouldbear,sowedecidedtospendourlastdayexploringthe
apathwhichledoutofthetown,
expectedthepathtoendabruptly,pedthroughthewood
dethatthepathcontinuedontheotherside,butwehad
erewasa
hewasreluctanttodo
soatfirst,hledtoatinyvillageperchedonthesteepsidesofa
ceconsistder
aclearbluesky,thevillagelookedforbidding,lageemed
derted,theonlysignoflifebeinganugly-lookingblackgoattiedtoatreeonashortlengthof
gdownonadilapidatedwoodenfencenearthefield,weopenedacoupleoftinsofsardines
nce,gupIsawthatwe
redthemfoodandspoketothem
kindly,laterwalkeddown
themainstreetofthevillage,lagewhichhademed
derted,hirtsleevesstoodoutsidetheirhousand
tfrighteningthingofallwasthatnota
g
backdownthemainstreet,wequickenedourpaceandmadeourwayrapidlytowardsthestreamwherewehopedthe
boatmanwaswaiting.
Lesson49TheIdealServant
erealivetodayshewouldnotbeabletoairherviewsonher
favouritetopicofconversation:rrietlivedinthat
ahuge,ramblingcountryhoucalled'The
Gables'.Shewasntimentallyattachedtothishou,foreventhoughitwasfar
toobigforherneeds,shepersistedinlivingtherelongafterherhusband'shegrewold,auntHarrietud
er
howmanyguestswereprent,quetfloorsshonelikemirrors;highly
polishedsilverwasdisplayedingleamingglasscabinets;evenmyuncle'shugecollectionofbookswaskept
rrietpresidedoveraninvisiblearmyofrvantsthatcontinuouslyscrubbed,
cleaned,aysreferredtothemas'theshiftingpopulation',fortheycameandwentwithsuch
frequencythatIneverevengotachancetolearntheirnames,Thoughmyauntpursuedwhatwas,inthodays,an
enlightenedpolicyinthatsheneverallowedherdomesticstafftoworkmorethaneighthoursaday,shewaxtremely
healwaysdecriedtheficklenessofhumannature,shecarriedonanunrelentingarchforthe
idealrvanttotheendofherdays,workedforaunt
thattimeshesogainedmyaunt'sconfidence,thatshewasputinchargeofthedomestic
staff.
AuntHarietcouldnotfindwordstopraiBessie'tiontoallherotherqualifications,
edtheroleoftheperfectrvantforthreeyearsbeforeauntHarrietdiscoveredher
'littleweakness'.AfterbeingabntfromTheGablesforaweek,myauntunexpectedlyreturnedoneafternoonwitha
ywasthemealwellbelowtheusualstandard,butBessie
ecamein
withthelastcour—ahugepudding-shetrippedonthecarpetandthepuddingwentflyingthroughtheair,narrowly
misdmyaunt,thisoccasionedgreatmirthamongthe
guests,stshad,of
cour,realizedthisfromthemomentBessieopenedthedoorforthemand,longbeforethefinalcatastrophe,hadhada
erdeparture,auntHarriet
discoveredthattherewerepilesofemptywinebottlesofallshapesandsizesneatlystackedinwhathadoncebeen
Bessie'dmysteriouslyfoundtheirwaytherefromthewine-cellar!
Lesson50NewYearResolutions
ly,atleast,mostofuscouldcompileformidablelistsof'do's'and'don'ts
'.lvetogetupearliereachmorning,
eatless,findmoretimetoplaywiththechildren,doathousandandonejobsaboutthehou,benicetopeoplewedon't
like,drivecarefully,periencehastaughtusthatcertainaccomplishments
maininveteratesmokers,itisonlybecauwehavesooftenexperiencedthefrustration
usfailinoureffortsatlf-improvementbecauourschemesaretooambitiousand
makethefundamentalerrorofannouncingourresolutionstoeverybody
fthepitfalls,thisyearI
edmylftotwomodestambitions:todophysicalexercivery
-nightpartyonNewYear'sEve,providedmewithagoodexcufornot
carryingouteitherofthenewresolutionsonthefirstdayoftheyear,butonthecond,Iappliedmylfassiduously
lyexercislastedonlyelevenminutesandIpropodtodothemearlyinthemorningbefore
f-disciplinerequiredtodragmylfoutofbedelevenminutearlierthanusualwas
heless,Imanagedtocreepdownintotheliving-roomfortwodaysbeforeanyonefoundmeout.
Afterjumpingaboutonthecarpetandtwistingthehumanframeintouncomfortablepositions,Isatdownatthe
tmorningthewholefamilytroopedinto
sreallyunttlingbutIfendedoffthetauntsandjibesofthefamilygood-humouredly
r,eIspentatexercisgradually
ary10th,IwasbacktowhereIhadstartedfrom.I
arguedthatifIspentlesstimeexhaustingmylfatexercisinthemorningIwouldkeepmymindfreshforreading
ingthehypnotizingeffectoftelevision,Isatinmyroomforafeweveningswithmy
eyesgluedtoabook,onenight,however,feelingcoldandlonely,Iwentdownstairsandsatinfrontofthetelevision
ovedtobemyundoing,forIsoongotbacktomyoldbadhabitofdozingoffinfrontofthe
haven',Ihavejustboughtabookentitled'HowtoRead
aThousandWordsaMinute'.Perhapsitwillsolvemyproblem,butIjusthaven'thadtimetoreadit!
Lesson51Automation
Oneofthegealreadywidelyud
inindustryandinuniversitiesandthetimemaycomewhenitwillbepossible
ersarecapableofdoingextremelycomplicatedworkinallbranchesof
nsolvethemostcomplexmathematicalproblemsorput
tance,theycanprovide
informationonthebestwaytopreventtrafficaccidents,ortheycancountthenumber
oftimestheword'and'etheyworkaccuratelyandathighspeeds,theysaverearch
oleprocessbywhichmachinescanbeudtoworkforushasbeencalled
uture,aut
comingofautomationisboundtohaveimportantsocialconquences.
Sometimeagoanexpert,onautomation,SirLeonBagrit,pointedoutthatitwasamistaketobelievethatthe
machinescould'think'.Thereisnopossibilitythathumanbeingswillbe'controlledbymachines'.Thoughcomputers
arecapableoflearningfromtheirmistakesandimprovingontheirperformancetheyneeddetailedinstructionsfrom
nnever,asitwere,leadindependentlives,or'ruletheworld'by
makingdecisionsoftheirown.
SirLeonsaidthatinthefuture,computerswouldbedevelopedwhichwouldbesmallenoughtocarryinthepocket.
Orerscouldbepluggedintoa
tance,peoplegoingonholidaycouldbeinformedaboutweather
conditions;alsobepossibletomaketiny
llenablepeoplewhodonotshareacommonlanguagetotalktoeachotherwithoutany
possibletoassstheimportanceofamachineofthissort,formany
internationalmisundeerswillalsobe
idingamachinewithapatient'ssymptoms,adoctorwillbeabletodiagnothenatureofhis
rly,machinescouldbeudtokeepacheckonapatient's
willthereforeh-keepersand
accountants,too,couldberelievedofdullclericalwork,for
thetedioustaskofersarethemost
efficientrvantsmanhaverhadandthereisnolimittothewaytheycanbeudtoimproveourlives.
Lesson52Mudismud
Mycousin,Harry,ethefactthatthe
bottleistintedadelicateshadeofgreen,anobrvantvisitorwouldsoonnoticethatitisfilledwithwhatlookslikea
eretoaskHarrywhatwasinthebottle,hewouldtellyouthatitcontainedperfumed
xpresddoubtorsurpri,hewouldimmediatelyinviteyoutosmellitandthentorubsomeintoyour
tlereallydoescontain
rycameintotheposssionofthisoutlandishstuffmakesaninterestingstorywhichheisfond
r-more,theacquisitionofthisbottlecuredhimofabadhabithehadbeendevelopingforyears.
Harryudtoconsideritagreatjoketogointoexpensivecosmeticshopsandmakeoutrageousrequestsforgoodsthat
ringashop,hewouldaskforanewperfumecalled
'ScentedShadow'orfor'insolublebathcubes'.Ifashopgirltoldhimshehadnotheardofit,hewouldpretendtobe
dtobetoldthatoneofhisimaginaryproductswastemporarilyoutofstockandhewould
faithfullypromitocallagainatsomefuturedate,rymanagedtokeepastraight
faceduringtheperformancesisquitebeyondme.
Harrydo,hewenttoan
exclusiveshopinLondonandaskedfor'Myrolite'.TheshopassistantlookedpuzzledandHarryrepeatedtheword,
egirlshookherheadinbewilderment,Harrywentontoexplainthat'myrolite'
wasahard,planationevidentlyconveyed
ducedallsortsofweirdconcoctions,butnoneofthemmet
withHarry'rryputonhisactofbeingmildlyannoyed,thegirlpromidtoordersomeforhim.
Intoxicatedbyhissuccess,ctedthegirltolookathiminblank
r,itwashisturntobesurprid,forthegirl'yesimmediatelylitupandshe'fetchedveral
e,edupwhat
ladtogetawaywithamerefiveguineasandhe
beatahastyretreat,enon,Harrydecidedthatthislittlegamehehad
iousbottlewhichnowadornsthebookcainhisstudywashisfirstand
lastpurchaofrarecosmetics.
Lesson53Inthepublicinterest
TheScandinaviancountriehas
evolvedanexcellentsystemforprotectin
systemhasworkedsowell,thatithasbeenadoptedinothercountrieslikeDenmark,Norway,Finland,andNew
untrieswithlargepopulationslikeBritainandtheUnitedStatesareriouslyconsideringimitatingthe
Swedes.
TheSwedeswerethefirsttorecognizethatpublicofficialslikecivilrvants,collectorscanmakemistakesoract
agoas1809,theSwedishParliamentintroduceda
amentarycommitteereprentingallpoliticalpartiesappoints
apersonwhoiicialtitleofthepersonis
'Justiteombudsman',buttheSwedescommonlyrefertohimasthe'J.O.'or'Ombudsman'.TheOmbudsmanisnot
sti
complaintsmustbemadeinwriting,ightlawyer
snothingcretiveabouttheOmbudsman's
work,izen'scomplaintisjustified,theOmbudsmanwillact
entlyreprimandanofficial
lowingcaisatypicalexampleoftheOmbudsman'swork.
AforeignerlivinginaSwedishvillagewrotetotheOmbudsmancomplainingthathehadbeenill-treatedbythepolice,
udsmanimmediatelywrotetotheChiefofPoliceinthedistrictaskinghim
asnothingintherecordtoshowthattheforeigner'scomplaintwasjustifiedandthe
mpossiblefortheOmbudsmantotakeaction,butwhenhe
receivedasimilarcomplaintfromanotherforeignerinthesamevillage,heimmediatelyntoneofhislawyersto
yerascertainedthatapolicemanhadindeeddealtroughlywithforeignersonveral
tthatthepolicemanwa
onlypossiblefortheOmbudsmanto
icemaninquestionwasverely
reprimandedandwasinformedthatifanyfurthercomplaintswerelodgedagainsthim,
Ombudsman'spromptactionatonceputanendtoanunpleasantpracticewhichmighthavegoneunnoticed.
Lesson54Instinctorcleverness?
continuallywageswaronitem,fortheycontaminatehisfood,carrydias,ingorbite
withoutprovocation;theyflyuninvitedintoourroomsonsummernights,
indreadnotonlyofunpleasantinctslikespidersorwasps,gaboutthem
gthattheindustriousantlivesinahighly
organizedsocietydoesnothingtopreventusfrombeingfilledwithrevulsionwhenwefindhordesofthemcrawling
erhowmuchwelikehoney,orhowmuchwehavereadaboutthe
uncannynofdirectionwhichbeesposss,ourfearsareunreasonable,but
ametime,however,yreadingaboutthem,
especiallywhenwefindthat,liketheprayingmantis,ystaringatthem
entrancedastheygoabouttheirbusiness,unaware(wehope)notstoodinaweatthesightofa
spiderpouncingonafly,oracolumnofantstriumphantlybearinghomeanenormousdeadbeetle?
LastsummerIspentdaysinthega
eciallyproudofit,notonlybecauithas
survivedveralverewinters,thesummer,Inoticed
rsoftinyinctscalledaphidesweretobefoundonthe
revisitedbyalaopcolonyofantswhichobtainedasortofhoneyfromthem.I
immediatelyembarkedonanexperimentwhich,eventhoughitfailedtogetridoftheants,keptmefascinatedfor
thebaofthetreewithstickytape,makingitimpossiblefortheantstoreachtheaphides.
ngtime,Iwatchedthemscurryingaroundthebaof
entoutatmidnightwithatorchandnotedwithsatisfaction(andsurpri)thattheants
werestilearlynextmorning
d,re
climbingupthewallofthehouandthenontotheleavesof
shadbeenquicktofindan
answertomythoroughlyunscientificmethods!
Lesson55Fromtheearth:greatings
elescopeshaveonebigadvantageover
conventionaltelescopesinthattheycanoperateinallweatherconditionsandcanpickupsignalscomingfromvery
tpowerful
signalsthathavebeenreceivedhavebeenemittedbywhatemtobetrulycolossalstarswhichscientistshavenamed
'quasars'.
Abetterunderstandingofthepio
tellescope,overtwicethesize,
omersnolongerregardasfancifultheideathattheymayone
dassibilitygivesritointeresting
advancedcivilizationsmayhaveexistedonotherplanetslongbeforeintelligentformsoflife
ly,intelligentbeingwhicharejustbeginningtodeveloponremoteworldsmaybeready
topickupoursignalsinthousandsofyears'time,eculationsnolonger
belongtotherealmofsciencefiction,forastronomersarenowexploringthechancesofcommunicatingwithliving
creatures(iftheyexist)dertakingwhichhasbeennamedProjectOzmawasbegunin1960,
butitmaytakeagreatmanyyearsbeforeresultsareobtained.
Awareofthefactthatitwouldbeimpossibletowaitthousandsormillionsofyearstoreceiveananswerfromadistant
planet,scientistngagedinProjectO
alsfromtheearthwerereceivedbyintelligent
creaturesonaplanetcirclingthis
star,enBanktelescopeinWestVirginiahasbeen
speciallydesigncontactwere
eventuallyestablished,astron
wouldumathematicsasthisisthe
sreason,intelligentcreaturesinanypart
uldbeabletoreplytooursignals
epicture
ewhenanythingemstobepossible,itwouldbenarrow-minded
intheextremetoridiculetheattemptstofindoutifthereislifeinotherpartsoftheuniver.
Lesson56Theriverbesideourfarm
Theriverwhichformstheetitwe
sonlyenoughspringwatertosupplytheneedsofthehou,sowehavetopumpfrom
instinctively,justasbeekeeperswiththeirbees,that
misfortunemightovertakeusiftheimportanteventsofourliveswerenotrelatedtoit.
meswegoup-streamtoafavouritebackwater,some-
timeswehaveourpartyattheboathou,whichapredecessorofoursatthefarmbuiltinthemeadowhardbythe
t-wavewechooamidnightbirthdaypartyandthatisthemostexciting
ometheasonsbytheriver-side,crowningtheyoungestgirlwithflowersinthespring,holdinga
summerfestivalonMidsummerEve,givingthanksfortheharvestintheautumn,andthrowingahollywreathintothe
arareoccurrenceasour
uckyinthatonlythelowerfields,whichmakeupaverysmallproportionof
ourfarm,areaffectedbyflooding,butotherfarmsarelessfavourablysited,andfloodingcansometimesspelldisaster
fortheirowners.
cattlehadbeenmovedintostallsandwe
,however,worriedaboutournearestneighbours,whofarmwaslowlyingandwhowere
loodshadputthetelephoneoutoforder,wecouldnotfindouthowtheywere
atticwindowwecouldgetasweepingviewoftheriverwheretheirlandjoinedours,andatthe
stsignofdisasterwasadeadsheepfloatingdown.
Nextcameahor,swimmingbravely,butwewereafraidthatthestrengthofthecurrentwouldpreventitslanding
lyaraftappeared,lookingratherlikeNoah'sark,carryingthewhole
family,afewhens,thedogs,acat,izedthattheymusthavebecomeundulyfrightenedby
therisingflood,fortheirhou,whichhadsoundfoundations,wouldhavestoodstoutlyevenifithadbeenalmost
ofourfamilywadeddownthroughourfloodedmeadowswithboathooks,inthehopeofbeing
ablelthinkitamiraclethatthey
wereabletodoso.
Lesson57Thereturnofthenative
pectedtobenearmyobjectivebynow,buteverythingstill
lyfivewhenmyfatherhadtakenmeabroad,
motherhaddiedafteratragicaccident,hingaround
himwasfullofherprence,ewcountryhe
becameabsorbedinmakinganewlifeforthetwoofus,otmarryagain
andIwasbroughtupwithoutawoman'scare;butIlackedfornothing,
tsandminehadbecometoofirmlyembeddedinthenewland.
Buthewantedtoetheoldfolkagainandtovisitmymother'memortallyillafewmonthsbeforewe
hadplannedtogoand,whenheknewthathewasdying,hemademepromitogoonmyown.
Ihiredacarthedayafterlandingandboughtacomprehensivebookofmaps,whichIfoundmosthelpfulonthecross
countryjourney,otthatIactuallyremembered
atherhaddescribedoverandoveragainwhatweshouldeateverymilestone,afterleaving
thenearesttown,,Ihadbeenwrong,forIwasnow
lost.
metenmilessinceleavingthetown,andatthispoint,according
tomyfather,Ishouldbelookingatfarmsandcottagesinavalley,withthespireofthechurchofourvillageshowingin
enovalley,nofarms,edthatImusthave
vebacktothetownandbegantoretracetheroute,takingfrequentglancesat
sifIhad
stumbledintoanightmarecountry,,asinanightmare,therewasnobodyinsightto
atelyforme,asIwaswonderingwhattodonext,thereappearedonthehorizonamanonhorback,
dtillhecamenear,thattherewas
villagenolongerexistedbecauithadbeensubmerged,ewasnotanaturalone,buta
manmaderervoir.
Lesson58Alittlespotofbother
ppinghadtiredherandherbaskethad
iftherthoughtswereonlunchandagoodrest;butwhenshegot
outatherownfloor,thinkingthat
shemustreprimandherdailymaidthenextmorningforsuchamonstrouspieceofnegligence,whensheremembered
thatshehadgoneshoppingafked
slowlyintothehallandatoncenoticedthatalltheroomdoorswereopen,yetfollowingherregularpracticeshehad
gintothedrawingroom,
wasasstimpulwastogoroundall
theroomslookingforthethieves,butthenshedecidedthatatherageitmightbemoreprudenttohavesomeonewith
her,timeherlegswerebeginningtotremble,soshesatdown
andacceptedacupofverystrongtea,,hercomposureregained,shewasreadyto
toffwiththeporter'sassistanceto
archforanyintruderswhomightstillbelurkinginherflat.
Theywentthroughtherooms,beingcarefultotouchnothing,astheydidnotwanttohinderthepoliceintheirarch
livedintheflatforthirtyyearsandwasaveritablemagpieat
hoarding;anditemedastt
sortingouttheoliceinspector
arripectorbegantolookfor
fingerprints,whiletheconstablecheckedthatthefrontdoorlockshadnotbeenforced,thereby
provingasnotraceoffingerprints,
buttheinspectorfoundadirentry
intothisflatwasapparentlynottheburglars'pectorthen
askedtheoldladytotrytocheckwhatwasmissingbythenextdayandadvidhernottostayaloneintheflatfora
ladythoughthewasafussycreature,butsincetheporteragreedwithhim,sherangupherdaughter
andaskedforherhelpinwhatshedescribedasalittlespotofbother.
Lesson59Posssionamassingandcollecting
Peopletendtoamassposssions,theycanhaveadelightful
honeverhavetochangehou
aveun-wantedobjectsindrawers,
cupboardsandatticsforyears,growold,people
alsoaccumulatebelongingsfortwootherreasons,lackofphysicalandmentalenergy,bothofwhichareesntialin
turningoutandthrowingaway,ownedforalongtimearefullofassociationswiththepast,
perhapswithrelativeswhoaredead,ingsare
heIwouldliststringandbrownpaper,kept
bythriftypeoplewhenaparcelhasbeenopened,tingsmallitemscaneasily
omeonewhoalwayscutsoutfromnewspaperssketchesofmodelclothesthatshewouldlike
tobuy,snotrich,thechancesthatshewilleverbeabletoaffordsuchpurchasare
remote;armlesshabit,butitlittersup
herdesktosuchanextentthateverytimesheopensit,loobitsofpaperfalloutineverydirection.
idesrelaxationforleisurehours,asjust
lookingatone'snothavetogooutsideforamument,sincethecollectionishoud
eritconsistsof,stamps,records,firsteditionsofbooks,china,glass,antiquefurniture,pictures,model
cars,stuffedbirds,toyanimals,
thereisalwayssomethingtodoinconnectionwithit,fromfindingtherightplaceforthelatestadditiontoverifying
bbyeducatesonenotonlyinthechonsubject,butalsoingeneralmatterswhichhave
tstomeetlike-mindedcollectors,togetadvice,tocompare
notes,toexchangearticles,to
'ehobbyleadstotravel,perhapstoameetingin
anothertown,possiblyatripabroadinarchofararespecimen,forcollectorsarenotconfinedtoanyonecountry.
Overtheyearsonemaywellbecomeanauthorityonone'shobbyandwillveryprobablybeaskedtogiveinformaltalks
tolittlegatheringsandthen,ifsuccessful,waylf-confidencegrows,firstfrommasteringa
subject,ting,byoccupyingsparetimesoconstructively,makesaperson
contented,withnotimeforboredom.
Lesson60TheimportanceofPunctuality
Putit,nothingcouldeverbebroughttoa
conclusion;asparly-populatedruralcommunityisitpossibleto
ellectual,whoisworkingonsome
abstruproblem,ereforeforgiven,iflatefora
pleareoftenrdfor
energetic,quick-mindedpeopletowastetime,sotheyareoftentemptedtofinishajobbeforettingouttokeepan
cidentsoccurontheway,likepuncturedtyres,diversionsoftraffic,suddendescentoffog,they
eoftenmoreindustrious,r-punctualcanbe
ythingtodowasaskthemtocomehalfanhourlaterthantheother
eyarrivedjustwhenwewantedthem.
Ifyouarecatchingatrain,itisalgh
beingearlymaymeanwastingalittletime,thiswillbelessthanifyoumissthetrainandhavetowaitanhourormore
forthenextone;andyouavoidthefrustrationofarrivingattheverymomentwhenthetrainisdrawingoutofthe
stationandbeingunabletogeton
hardersituationistob
experiencebefellacertainyounggirlthefirsttimeshewastravellingalone.
Sheenteredthestationtwentyminutesbeforethetrainwasdue,sinceherparentshadimpresduponherthatitwould
beunforgivabletomissitandcau
t
inherhandbagforthepieceofpaperonwhichherfatherhadwrittendownallthedetailsofthejourneyandgiveitto
edthatatraindidcomeintothestationatthetimeonthepaperandthatitdidstop,butonlytotake
onwater,laskedtoeatimetable,feelingsurethatherfathercouldnothavemadesucha
terwenttofetchoneandarrivedbackwiththestationmaster,whoproduceditwithaflourishand
pointedoutamicroscopic'o'besidethetimeofthearrivalofthetrainathisstation;thislittle'o'indicatedthatthetrain
l,tearsstreamingdownherface,
beggedtobeallowedtoslipintotheguard'stationmasterwasadamant:
shehadtowatchthattraindisappeartowardsherdestinationwhileshewasleftbehind.
Lesson1
Wecanreadofthingsthathappened5,000yearsagointheNearEast,reare
ywaythattheycanprervetheirhistoryisto
recountitassaegendsareuful
becautheycantellussomethingaboutmigrationsofpeoplewholivedlongago,butnonecouldwritedownwhatthey
pologistswonderedwheretheremoteancestorsofthePolynesianpeoplesnowlivinginthePacificIslands
asofthepeopleexplainthatsomeofthemcamefromIndonesiaabout2,000yearsago.
Butthefirstpeoplewhowerelikeourlveslivedsolongagothateventheirsagas,iftheyhadany,
archaeologistshaveneitherhistorynorlegendstohelpthemtofindoutwherethefirst'modernmen'camefrom.
Fortunately,however,ancientmenmadetoolsofstone,especiallyflint,becauthisiasiertoshapethanotherkinds.
Theymayalsohaveudwoodandskins,oesnotdecay,andsothetoolsoflong
agohaveremainedwheneventhebonesofthemenwhomadethemhavedisappearedwithouttrace.
Lesson2
Why,youmaywonder,shouldspidersbeourfriends?Becautheydestroysomanyincts,andinctsincludesome
swouldmakeitimpossibleforustoliveintheworld;theywould
devourallourcropsandkillourflocksandherds,
owealottothebirdsandbeastswhoeatinctsbutallofthemputtogetherkillonlyafractionofthenumberdestroyed
er,unlikesomeoftheotherincteaters,spidersneverdotheleastharmtousorourbelongings.
Spidersarenotincts,asmanypeoplethink,tellthedifferencealmostata
glanceforaspideralwayshaightlegsandaninctnevermorethansix.
Howmanyspidersareengagedinthisworkonourbehalf?Oneauthorityonspidersmadeacensusofthespidersina
grassfieldinthesouthofEngland,andheestimatedthatthereweremorethan2,250,000inoneacre,thatissomething
like6,000,sarebusyforatleasthalftheyearinkillingincts.
Itisimpossibletomakemorethanthewildestguessathowmanytheykill,buttheyarehungrycreatures,notcontent
eenestimatedthattheweightofalltheinctsdestroyedbyspidersinBritaininone
yearwouldbegreaterthanthetotalweightofallthehumanbeingsinthecountry.
Lesson3
Modernalpiniststrytoclimbmountainsbyaroutewhichwillgivethemgoodsport,andthemoredifficultitis,the
ioneeringdays,however,lyclimberswerelooking
fortheeasiestwaytothetopbecauthesummitwastheprizetheysought,especiallyifithadneverbeenattained
uethatduringtheirexplorationstheyoftenfaceddifficultiesanddangersofthemostperilousnature,
equippedinamannerwhichwouldmakeamodernclimbershudderatthethought,buttheydidnotgooutoftheirway
dasingleaim,asolitarygoal--thetop!
foroneortwoplacessuchasZermatt
andChamonix,whichhadrapidlybecomepopular,Alpinevillagestendedtobeimpoverishedttlementscutofffrom
nsastherewereweregenerallydirtyandflea-ridden;thefoodsimplylocal
cheeaccompaniedbybreadoftentwelvemonthsold,valleyboastedno
innatall,andclimbersfoundshelterwherevertheycould--sometimeswiththelocalpriest(whowasusuallyaspooras
hisparishioners),ablythebackgroundwasthesame:dirtand
poverty,accustomedtoeatingven-courdinnersandsleepingbetweenfinelinen
sheetsathome,thechangetotheAlps
musthavebeenveryhardindeed.
Lesson4
IntheSovietUnionveralcashavebeenreportedrecentlyofpeoplewhocanreadanddetectcolourswiththeir
fingers,econcernsan'eleven-year-oldschoolgirl,VeraPetrova,
whohasnormalvisionbutwhocanalsoperceivethingswithdifferentpartsofherskin,
shecameintohisofficeandhappenedtoputherhandsonthedoorofa
lysheaskedherfatherwhyhekeptsomanyoldnewspaperslockedawaythere,andevendescribed
thewaytheyweredoneupinbundles.
Vera'scurioustalentwasbroughttothenoticeofascientificrearchinstituteinthetownofUIyanovsk,nearwhere
shelives,andinAprilshewasgivenariesoftestsbyaspecialcommissionoftheMinistryofHealthoftheRussian
thetestsshewasabletoreadanewspaperthroughanopaquescreenand,strangerstill,by
movingherelbowoverachild'sgameofLottoshewasabletodescribethefiguresandcoloursprintedonit;and,in
anotherinstance,wearingstockingsandslippers,tomakeoutwithherfoottheoutlinesandcoloursofapicturehidden
allthetests
Verawasblindfold;and,indeed,ex
alsofoundthatalthoughshecouldperceivethingswithherfingersthisabilityceadthemomentherhandswerewet.
Lesson5
ndredyearsor
morehehasbeenkilled,captured,andimprisoned,eshavebeenmountedinnaturalhistorymuums
everywhere,andhehaestereotyped
monsterofthehorrorfilmsandtheadventurebooks,andanobvious(thoughnotperhapsstrictlyscientific)link
withourancestralpast.
lysatisfactoryphotographhaverbeentakenofoneinawild
state,nozoologist,howeverintrepid,hasbeenabletokeeptheanimalundercloandconstantobrvationinthedark
eley,theAmericannaturalist,ledtwoexpeditionsinthenineteen-twenties,andnow
liesburiedamongtheanimalshe
nhewasunabletodiscoverhowlongthegorillalives,orhoworwhyitdies,norwasheableto
definetheexactsocialpatternofthefamilygroups,sandmany
otherthingsremainalmostasmuchamysteryastheywerewhentheFrenchexplorerDuChaillufirstdescribedthe
minableSnowmanwhohauntstheimaginationofclimbersinthe
Himalayasishardlymoreelusive.
Lesson6
Peoplearealwaystalkingabout'theproblemofyouth'.Ifthereisone—whichItakeleavetodoubt--thenitisolder
peoplewhocreateit,etdowntofundamentalsandagreethattheyoungareafterall
sonlyonedifferencebetweenanoldmanandayoungone:the
youngmanhasagloriousfuturebeforehimandtheoldonehasasplendidfuturebehindhim:andmaybethatiswhere
therubis.
WhenIwasateenager,IfeltthatIwasjustyounganduncertain--thatIwasanewboyinahugeschool,andIwould
hathing,beingaproblemgives
youacertainidentity,andthatisoneofthethingstheyoungarebusilyengagedineking.
veanairoffreedom,andtheyhavenotadrearycommitmenttomeanambitions
enotanxioussocialclimbers,semsto
metolinkthemwithlife,'sasiftheywereinsomencosmicbeingsinviolentanlovely
econceited,ill-
mannered,presumptuousoffatuous,butIdonotturnforprotectiontodrearyclichesaboutrespectforelders--asifmere
tthatweareequals,andIwillarguewithhim,asanequal,ifIthinkheiswrong.
Lesson7
IamalwaysamazedwhenIhearpeoplesayingthatsportcreatesgoodwillbetweenthenations,andthatifonlythe
commonpeoplesoftheworldcouldmeetoneanotheratfootballorcricket,theywouldhavenoinclinationtomeeton
onedidn'tknowfromconcreteexamples(the1936OlympicGames,forinstance)that
internationalsportingcontestsleadtoorgiesofhatred,onecoulddeduceitfromgeneralprinciples.
ytowin,andthegamehaslittlemeaningunlessyou
illagegreen,whereyoupickupsidesandnofeelingoflocalpatriotismisinvolved,itis
possibletoplaysimplyforthefunandexerci:butassoonasthequestionofprestigearis,assoonasyoufeelthat
youandsomelargerunitwillbedisgracedifyoulo,who
significantthingisnotthebehaviouroftheplayersbuttheattitudeofthespectators:and,behindthespectators,ofthe
kthemlvesintofuriesovertheabsurdcontests,andriouslybelieve--atanyrateforshort
periods--thatrunning,jumpingandkickingaballaretestsofnationalvirtue.
Lesson8
Parentshavetodomuchlessfortheirchildrentodaythantheyudtodo,andhomehasbecomemuchlessofa
scanbeboughtreadymade,washingcangotothelaundry,foodcanbeboughtcooked,cannedor
prerved,breadisbakedanddeliveredbythebaker,milkarrivesonthedoorstep,mealscanbehadattherestaurant,
theworks'canteen,andtheschooldining-room.
Itisunusualnowforfathertopursuehistradeorotheremploymentathome,andhischildrenrarely,ifever,ehimat
ethereforeldomtrainedtofollowtheirfather'soccupation,andinmanytownstheyhavea
ngwage-earneroftenearnsgoodmoney,andsoonacquiresa
ileareasithaslongbeencustomaryformotherstogoouttowork,butthis
practicehasbecomesowidespreadthattheworkingmotherisnowanotunusualfactorinachild'shomelife,the
numberofmarriedtherearning
andhisolderchildrendrawingsubstantialwagesfatherisldomthedominantfigurethathestillwasatthebeginning
therworks
economicadvantagesaccrue,butchildrenlosomethingofgreatvalueifmother'mploymentpreventsherfrom
beinghometogreetthemwhentheyreturnfromschool.
Lesson9
Notallsoundsmadebyanimalsrveaslanguage,andwehaveonlytoturntothatextraordinarydiscoveryof
echo-locationinbatstoeacainwhichthevoiceplaysastrictlyutilitarianrole.
Togetafullapprecneknows
thatifheshoutsinthevicinityofawalloramountainside,theroffthissolid
madebytappingonthehullofashipwillbe
reflectedfromtheabottom,andbymeasuringthetimeintervalbetweenthetapsandthereceiptoftheechoesthe
orntheecho-soundingapparatus,nowingeneraluinships.
Everysolidobjectwillreflectasound,offishwilldo
acomparperience,and
withimprovedapparatus,itisnowpossiblenotonlytolocateashoalbuttotellifitisherring,cod,orotherwell-known
fish,bythepatternofitcho.
Afewyearsagoitwasfoundthatcertainbatmitsqueaksandbyreceivingtheechoestheycouldlocateandsteer
ho-locationinbatsisoftencomparedwithradar,
theprincipleofwhichissimilar.
Lesson10
Inournewsocietythereisagrowingdislikeoforiginal,ipulateddonotunderstandthem;the
ycommitteemenregardthemwithhorror,knowingthatnopigeonholescanbefound
ddowithafeworiginal,creativemeninourpoliticallife—ifonlytocreatesomeenthusiasm,relea
someenergy--butwherearethey?ineisfalling
topieceswhilethejointownehow
thecold,colourlessmen,withoutideasandwithnootherpassionbutacravingforsuccess,getoninthissociety,
mesyoumightthinkthemachines
weworshipmakeallthechiefappointments,n
mid-nightanddawn,whensleepwillnotcomeandalltheoldwoundsbegintoache,Ioftenhaveanightmarevisionof
afutureworldinwhichtherearebillionsofpeople,allnumberedandregistered,withnotagleamofgeniusanywhere,
notanoriginalmind,arichpersonality,nidealsofourtime,organizationand
quantity,willhavewonforever.
Lesson11
AlfredtheGreatactedashisownspy,edayswanderingminstrels
renotfightingmen,hadlearnedmanyof
theirballadsinhisyouth,andcouldvaryhisprogrammewithacrobatictricksandsimpleconjuring.
WhileAlfred'slittlearmyslowlybegantogatheratAthelney,thekinghimlftouttopenetratethecampof
Guthrum,adttleddownforthewinteratChippenham:thitherAlfred
cedatoncethatdisciplinewasslack:theDaneshadthelf-confidenceofconquerors,andtheircurity
vedwell,heycollected
womenaswellasfoodanddrink,andalifeofeahadmadethemsoft.
cethereasmbledwastrivialcompared
redhaddeducedthattheDaneswerenolongerfitforprolongedbattle:andthattheir
commissariathadnoorganization,butdependedonirregularraids.
So,facedwiththeDanishadvance,onstantlyonthe
move,rolshaltedtheraidingparties:red
begasodecouldreasonablyrve
asauniqueepicofroyalespionage!
Lesson12
Wcompensatedforbyanouter
gissparedtomakethe
tting,thecostumes,ffortshelptomasktheesntialemptinessofthe
characterization,slooklikehous,thestreetslooklikestreets;
thepeoplelookandtalklikepeople;buttheyareemptyofhumanity,credibility,sstosay,the
disgracefulcensorshipccodedoesnot
disturbtheprofits,northeentertainmentvalueofthefilms;'t
tiontotheimpressivenessofthettings,thereisauofthecamera,
hathumanimportisallthisskill,allthiffort,allthinergyintheproduction
ofeffects,whenthestory,thereprentationoflifeishollow,stupid,banal,childish?
Lesson13
cewhichOxfordonceknew,andwhichagreatuniversitycity
shouldalwayshave,hasbeensweptruthlesslyaway;andnobenefactionsandrearchendowmentscanmakeupforthe
nthemorningtheoldcourtsshaketotheroarofbustakingthe
nextshifttoCowleyandPresdSteel,greatlorrieswithadoubledeckcargoofcarsforexportlumberpastMagdalen
fmotor-enginesarehurriedhitherandthitherandthestreetsarethrongedwitha
populationwhichhasnointerestinlearningandknowsnostudiesbeyondrvo-systemsanddistributors,compression
ratiosandcamshafts.
Theoreticallythemarriageofanoldatoflearningandtraditionwithanewandwealthyindustrymightbeexpectedto
thavebeenthoughtthatthecultureoftheuniversitywouldradiateoutand
ishasnothappenedmaybethefaultoftheuniversity,foratbothOxfordand
Cambridgethecollegestendto
liveinanerawhichiscertainlynotofthetwentiethcentury,anduponaplanetwhichbearslittleremblancetothe
erthefaultmayliethefactremainsthatitisthetheatreatOxfordandnotatCambridgewhichis
onthevergeofextinction,andtheonlyfruitofthecombinationofindustryandtherarefiedatmosphereoflearningis
thedustinthestreets,andapatheticnofbeinglostwhichhangsoversomeofthecolleges.
Lesson14
enwho
havereasontofearthattheywillbekilledinbattlemayjustifiablyfeelbitterinthethoughtthattheyhavebeencheated
noldmanwhohasknownhumanjoysandsorrows,andhasachieved
whateverworkitwasinhimtodo,twaytoovercomeit-soat
leastitemstome----istomakeyourinterestsgraduallywiderandmoreimpersonal,untilbitbybitthewallsofthe
egorecede,vidualhumanexistenceshouldbe
likeariver--smallatfirst,narrowlycontainedwithinitsbanks,andrushingpassionatelypastbouldersandover
llytherivergrowswider,thebanksrecede,thewatersflowmorequietly,andintheend,withoutany
visiblebreak,theybecomemergedinthea,who,inoldage,can
ehislifeinthisway,willnotsufferfromthefearofdeath,,withthe
decayofvitality,wearinessincreas,dwishtodiewhilestillatwork,
knowingthatotherswillcarryonwhatIcannolongerdo,andcontentinthethoughtthatwhatwaspossiblehasbeen
done.
Lesson15
Whenanyoneopensacurrentaccountatabank,heislendingthebankmoney,repaymentofwhichhemaydemandat
anytime,ily,thebanker-customerrelationship
isthatofdebtorandcreditor--whoiswhichdependingonwhetherthecustomer'saccountisincreditorisoverdrawn.
But,inadditiontothatbasicallysimpleconcept,thebankanditscustomerowealargenumberofobligationstoone
theobligationscangiveritoproblemsandcomplicationsbutabankcustomer,unlike,say,a
buyerofgoods,cannotcomplainthatthelawisloadedagainsthim.
Thebankmustobeyitscustomer'sinstructions,,forexample,acustomerfirstopens
anaccount,heinstrusthebank
specimensofhissignature,andthereisaveryfirmrulethatthebankhasnorightorauthoritytopayoutacustomer's
moneyonachequeonwhichitscustomer'snodifferencethattheforgerymayhave
beenaveryskilfulone:thebankmustrecognizeitscustomer'sreasonthereisnorisktothecustomer
inthemodernpractice,adoptedbysomebanks,ofprintingthecustomer'facilitates
forgeryitisthebankwhichwilllo,notthecustomer.
Lesson16
Thedeepestholesofallaremadeforoil,andtheygodowntoasmuchas25,onotneedtondmen
downtogettheoilout,esareonlyborings,lessthanafootindiameter.
Myparticularexperienceislargelyinoil,andthearchforoilhasdonemoretoimprovedeepdrillingthananyother
hasbeendecidedwherewearegoingtodrill,o
betallbecauitislikeagiantblockandtackle,andwehavetolowerintothegroundandhauloutofthegroundgreat
lengthsofdrillpipewhicharerotatedbyanengineatthetopandarefittedwithacuttingbitatthebottom.
Thegeologistneedstoknowwhatrocksthedrillhasreached,
cutsacleancylinderofrock,getdownto
theoil,itusuallyflowstothesurfacebecaugreatpressure,eitherfromgasorwater,essuremust
beundercontrol,avourtoavoid
theold,romanticideaofagusher,ittostaydowntheholeuntilwecanleaditoffin
acontrolledmanner.
Lesson17
Thefactthatwearenotsurewhat'intelligence'is,norwhatispasdon,doesnotpreventusfromfindingitavery
ufulworkingconcept,andplacingacertainamountofrelianceontestswhich'measure'it.
Inanintelligencetestwetakeasampleofanindividual'sabilitytosolvepuzzlesandproblemsofvariouskinds,andif
wehavetakenareprentativesampleitwillallowustopredictsuccessfullythelevelofperformancehewillreachina
widevarietyofoccupations.
Thisbecameofparticularimportancewhen,asaresultofthe1944EducationAct,condaryschoolingforallbecame
law,andgrammarschools,withtheexceptionofasmallnumberofindependentfoundationschools,becameavailable
henumberofgrammarschoolsinthecountrycouldaccommodateatmost
approximately25percentofthetotalchildpopulationofeleven-plus,ly
academicexaminationsandtestswerefelt,quiterightly,tobeheavilyweightedinfavourofchildrenwhohadhadthe
advigencetestsweredevidto
counteractthisnarrowspecialization,byintroducingproblemswhichwerenotbadonspecifically
elligencetestisanattempttoasssthegeneralabilityofanychildtothink,
reason,judge,analyandsynthesizebyprentinghimwithsituations,bothverbalandpractical,whicharewithinhis
rangeofcompetenceandunderstanding.
Lesson18
Twofhegeneralatmosphereofcrecyin
whichitiscarriedout,rasanyinquiryisa
cretone,itnaturallylimitsallthoengagedincarryingitoutfromeffectivecontactwiththeirfellowscientistither
inothercountriesorinuniversities,oreven,oftenenough,reeof
thebiggerfirmsareengagedinrearcheswhichareofsuchgeneraland
fundaeatmanyprocess
dependingonsuchrearcharesough
pliesparticularlytochemicalindustries,
wherechancediscoveriemesthe
crecygoerms,forinstance,
havegreatdifficultyinobtainingtechnicalorscientificbooksfromlibrariesbecautheyareunwillingtohavetheir
namenteredashavingtakenoutsuchandsuchabookforfeartheagentsofotherfirmsshouldbeabletotracethe
kindofrearchtheyarelikelytobeundertaking.
Lesson19
Agentlemanis,lowedtocultivatehobbies,
eveneccentricities,ldhave
relativreareweaknessinthe
Englishgentleman'llyknowsnothingofpoliticaleconomyandlessabouthowforeign
notrespectlearningandprefers'sport'.Theproblemtforsocietyisnotthevirtuesof
thetypesomuchasitsadequacyforitsfunction,stoconsidersufficientlythe
wantsofthecustomer,whomustbuy,
ievinginthenecessityoflarge-scaleproductioninthe
modernworld,heispassionatelydevotedtoexcessivecrecy,n
incurableandwidespreadnepotisminappointment,discountingabilityandrelyinguponamysticentitycalled
'character,'whichmeans,inagentleman'smouth,kof
imaginationandthenarrownessofhissocialloyaltieshaverangedagainsthimoneofthefundamentalestatesofthe
capableofthatimaginativerealismwhichadmitsthatthisisanewworldtowhichhemustadjusthimlf
andhisinstitutions,thateveryprivilegeheformerlytookasofrighthecannowattainonlybyofferingproofthatitis
directlyrelevanttosocialwelfare.
Lesson20
Intheorganizationofindustriallifetheinfluenceofthefactoryuponthephysiologicalandmentalstateoftheworkers
industryisbadontheconceptionofthemaximumproductionatlowestcost,
inorderthxpandedwithoutany
ideaofthetruenatureofthehumanbeingswhorunthemachines,andwithoutgivinganyconsiderationtotheeffects
producedontheindividualsandonth
peanddimensionsoftheskyscrapersdependentirelyonthe
necessityofobtainingthemaximumincomepersquarefootofground,andofofferingtothetenantsofficesand
udtheconstructionofgiganticbuildingswheretoolargemassofhumanbeings
heyenjoythecomfortandbanalluxuryoftheir
dwelling,erncityconsistsofmonstrous
edificesandofdark,narrowstreetsfullofpetrolfumes,coaldust,andtoxicgas,tornbythenoiofthetaxi-cabs,
lorriesandbus,andthrongedcealesslybygreat
sly,ithasnobeenplannedforthegoodofitsinhabitants.
Lesson21
IntheearlydaysofthettlementofAustralia,
rabbithadnonaturalenemiesintheAntipodes,sothatitmultipliedwiththatpromiscuousabandoncharacteristicof
eddevastationbyburrowingandbydevouringtheherbagewhichmight
istsdiscoveredthatthisparticularvarietyofrabbit(andapparently
nootheranimal)wassusceptibletoafatalvirusdia,ctinganimalsandlettingthemlooin
theburrows,twasfoundthattherewasatypeofmosquitowhich
etherestoftheworldwastryingtogetridof
mosquitoes,ctivelyspreadthediaalloverthecontinentanddrastically
rbecameapparentthatrabbitsweredevelopingadegreeofresistancetothisdia,
erehopes,however,thattheproblem
oftherabbitwouldbecomemanageable.
Ironically,Europe,whichhadbequeathedtherabbitasapesttoAustraliaacquiredthisman-madediaasa
hphysiciandecide
didnot,however,adthroughFrancewherewildrabbitsarenotgenerally
regardedasapestbutasasportandaufulfoodsupply,anditspreadtoBritainwherewildrabbitsareregardedasa
pestbutwheredomesticatedrabbits,equallysusceptibletothedia,
questionbecameoneofwhetherMancouldcontrolthediahehadinvented.
Lesson22
Therehaslongbeenasuperstitionamongmarinersthatporpoiswillsavedrowningmenbypushingthemtothe
surface,Studiobiologistshavepointed
outthat,howeverintelligenttheymaybe,
theoccasionswhentheyhavepushedtoshoreanunconscioushumanbeingtheyhavemuchmorelikelydoneitoutof
curiosityorforsport,1928someporpoiswerephotographedworkinglike
,ashasbeenreported,theyhaveprotectedhumansfromsharks,itmay
havebeenbecaucuriosityasand
ssiblethatuponsuchanoccasionabattleensued,withthesharksbeingdrivenaway
orkilled.
Whetheritbebird,fishorbeast,econstantlyaftertheturtles,
theFerdinandsofmarinelife,ngcalfespeciallyenjoyed
raisingaturtletothesanydaya
youngporpoimaybeentryingtoturna300-poundaturtleoverbystickinghissnoutundertheedgeofhisshell
noteasy,hergame,asthe
turtleswimsacrosstheoceanarium,
onerrecovershiquilibriumthanthenextporpoicomesalongandhits
wsatisfied
merelytotrytostandup,tleatlastgivesupbypullinghis
feetunderhisshellandthegameisover.
Lesson23
Itisfairlyclearthatthesleepingperiodmusthavesomefunction,andbecauthereissomuchofitthefunctionwould
ationsaboutitsnaturehavebeengoingonforliterallythousandsofyears,andoneodd
findingthatmakestheproblempuzzlingisthatitlooksverymuchasifsleepingisnotsimplyamatterofgivingthe
bodyarest.'Rest',intermsofmusclerelaxationandsoon,canbeachievedbyabriefperiodlying,orevensitting
y'stissuesarelf-repairingandlf-restoringtoadegree,andfunctionbestwhenmoreorless
abasicamountofmovementoccursduringsleepwhichisspecificallyconcernedwith
preventingmuscleinactivity.
Ifitisnotaquestionofrestingthebody,thenperhapsitisthebrainthatneedsresting?Thismightbeaplausible
heelectroencephalograph(whichissimplyadeviceforrecordingthe
electricalactivityofthebrainbyattachingelectrodestothescalp)showsthatwhilethereisachangeinthepatternof
activityduringsleep,ondfactorismore
960anAmericanpsychiatristnamedWilliamDementpublishedexperiments
edthattheaverageindividual'ssleepcycleis
punctuatedwithpeculiarburstsofeye-movements,somedriftingandslow,wokenduring
theskenatothertimesthey
roupofpeopleweredisturbedfromtheireye-movementsleepforveralnightsonend,and
anothergroupweredisturbedforanequalperiodoftimebutwhentheywerenotexhibitingeye-movements,thefirst
groupbegantoshowslicationsof
allthiswerethatitwasnotthedisturbanceofsleepthatmattered,butthedisturbanceofdreaming.
Lesson24
Walkingforwalking'ssakemaybeashighlylaudableandexemplaryathingasitisheldtobebythowhopractiit.
anhasprofesdtomethathisbrainneverworkssowellaswhen
heisswingingalongthehighroadoroverhillanddaleThisboastisnotconfirmedbymymemoryofanybodywhoon
aSundaymorninghasforcedme
enceteachesmethatwhateverafellow-guestmayhaveofpowertoinstructorto
amuwhenheissittinginachair,orstandingonahearth-rug,quicklyleaveshimwhenhetakesoneoutforawalk.
Theideasthatcomesothickandfasttohiminanyroom,wherearetheynow?wherethatencyclopaedicknowledge
whichheboresolightly?wherethekindlingfancythatplayedlikesummerlightningoveranytopicthatwasstarted?
Theman'sfacethatwassomobileistnow;thatA(ourhost)isa
ardsfurtheron,p
tlyheaddsthatsheisoneofthemost
s
vapidlyaloudtome:'TheKing'edtollAlesandSpirits.'Iforeethatduringtherestofthewalkhe
tsatitwithhisstick,andsays'
Miles.'tsatthewall,andsays'DriveSlowly.'.Iefarahead,on
theothersideofthehedgeborderingthehighroad,
duecour.'Trespasrs,'hesays,'willbeProcuted.'Poorman!—mentallyawreck.
Lesson25
eperiodstheirsaliva,amild,digestivejuice
likeourown,otforceduponthembythesurvival
competition;theycouldhavecaughtandlivedonpreywithoutusingpoisonjustasthethousandsofnon-poisonous
toasnakeismerelyaluxury;itenablesittogetitsfoodwithverylittleeffort,nomoreeffort
onlysnakes?Cats,forinstance,wouldbegreatlyhelped;norunningrightswithlarge,fierce
itwouldbeanassistancetoallthe
carn,ofthevertebrates,
unpredictableNaturelectedonlysnakes(andonelizard).OnewondersalsowhyNature,withsomesnakesconcocted
poisonofsuchextremepotency.
Intheconverot;somesnakes
manufacturedapoisondifferentineveryrespectfromthatofothers,asdifferentasarnicisfromstrychnine,and
sonactsonthenerves,theotherontheblood.
Themakersofthenervepo(adders)
andrattlesnakesmanufacturethebloodpoison,isonsareunpleasant,butbyfar
idthatthenervepoisonisthemoreprimitiveofthetwo,thattheblood
poisonis,sotospeak,asitmay,thenervepoisondoesitsbusiness
,however,didnotacquiretheirpoison
foruagainstmanbutforuagainstpreysuchasratsandmice,andtheeffectsontheofviperinepoisonisalmost
immediate.
Lesson27
s,perhaps,thegreatestofallWesternstars,forunlikeGaryCooperandJohnWayneheappearedin
artwhocreatedthebasicformula
oftheWesternfilm,anddevidtheprotagonistheplayedineveryfilmhemade,thegood-badman,theaccidental,
nobleoutlaw,orthehonestbutframedcowboy,orthesheriffmadesuspectbyviciousgossip;inshort,theindividualin
conflictwithhimlfandhisfrontierenvironment.
UnlikemostofhiscontemporariesinHollywood,Hartactually'ivedinitasa
childwhenitwasalreadydisappearing,andhisherowasfirmlyrootedinhismemoriesandexperiences,andinboththe
houghnoperiodorplaceinAmericanhistoryhasbeenmore
absurdlyromanticized,mythandrealitydidjoinhandsinatleastonearena,theconflictbetweentheindividualand
encroachingcivilization.
MenaccustomedtostrugglingforsurvivalagainsttheelementsandIndianwerebewilderedbypoliticians,bankersand
business-men,andunhordbyfences,'sgood-badmanwasalwaysanoutsider,alwaysone
ofthedisinherited,andifhefounditnecessarytoshootasherifforrobabankalongtheway,hiarlyaudiencesfound
iteasytounderstandand
forgive,especiallywhenitwasHartwho,intheend,overcametheattackingIndians.
Audiencesintheconddecadeofthetwentiethcenturyfounditpleasanttoescapetoatimewhenlife,thoughhard,
ldo;livinginaworldinwhichundeclaredaggression,war,hypocrisy,chicanery,anarchy
andimpendingimmolationarepartofourdailylives,weallwantacodetoliveby.
Lesson27
Whydoestheideaofprogressloomsolargeinthemodernworld?Surelybecauprogressofaparticularkindis
ghmankindhasundergonenogeneral
improvementinintelligenceormorality,ithasmadeextraordinaryprogresstheaccumulationofknowledge.
Knowledgebegantoincreaassoonasthethoughtsofoneindividualcouldbecommunicatedtoanotherbymeansof
einventionofwriting,agreatadvancewasmade,forknowledgecouldthenbenotonlycommunicated
iesmadeeducationpossible,andeducationinitsturnaddedtolibraries:thegrowthofknowledge
followedakindofcompound-interestlaw,swas
comparativelyslowuntil,withthecomingscience,owledgebegantobe
cklebecameastream;thestreamhasnowbecomeatorrent.
Moreover,assoonasnewknowledgeisacquired,called'modern
civilization'isnottheresultofabalanceddevelopmentofallman'snature,butofaccumulatedknowledgeappliedto
blemnowfacinghumanityis:Whatisgoingtobedonewithallthisknowledge?Asissooften
pointedout,wbeingud
nyspectacle,forinstance,bemoregrimlywhimsicalthanthatofgunnersusingscienceto
shattermen'sbodieswhile,cloathand,surgeonsuittorestorethem?Wehavetoaskourlvesveryriouslywhat
willhappenifthistwofolduofknowledge,withitver-increasingpower,continues.
Lesson28
Notwosortsofbirdspractiquitethesamesortofflight;thevarietiesareinfinite,buttwoclassmayberoughlyen.
Anyshipthatcrossthepacificisaccompaniedformanydaysbythesmalleralbatross,whichmaykeepcompanywith
therentsofairthatthewallsof
theshipdirectupwards,aswellasinthelineofitscourareenoughtogivethegreatbirdwithitsimmenwings
atrossisthekingofthegliders,theclassofflierswhichharnesstheairto
theirpurpo,snearertotheengines
withwhichmanhas'conquered'theair,,andlikethemthepigeons,areendowedwithsteel-like
muscles,thatareagoodpartoftheweightofthebird,andthewillplytheshortwingswithirresistiblepowerthat
theycanbumblerfollowers,suchas
partridges,havealikepowerofstrongpropulsion,pickthemupinutterexhaustion,ifwindover
snot
nordoesitboastofitspower;butbelongstotheair,travellingitmaybesixthousandmilestoandfromitsnorthern
nestinghomefeedingitsflownyoungasitfliesandslippingthroughamediumthatemstohelpitspassageeven
rdsdousgood,thoughwenolongertakeomensfromtheirflightonthissideandthat,
andeventhemostsuperstitiousvillagersnolongertakeofftheirhatstothemagpieandwishitgood-morning.
Lesson29
Ayoungmanesasuntand,unabletounderstandortoexpresstheemotionthatitrousinhim,concludesthatit
fficultforanyofusinmomentsofintenaestheticexperience
toresistthesuggestionthatwearecatchingaglimpofalightthatshinesdowntousfromadifferentrealmof
existence,differentand,becautheexperienceisintenlymoving,,thoughthegleamsblind
anddazzle,yetdothertoothan
wecandescribe,forlanguage,whichwasinventedtoconveythemeaningsofthisworld,cannotreadilybefittedtothe
usofanother.
s
noskyinJunesobluethatitdoesnotpointforwardtoabluer,nosuntsobeautifulthatitdoesnotwakenthevisionof
agreaterbeauty,avisionwhichpassbeforeitisfullyglimpd,andinpassingleavesanindefinablelongingand
,ifthisworldisnotmerelyabadjoke,lifeavulgarflareamidthecoolradianceofthestars,andexistencean
emptylaughbrayingacrossthemysteries;iftheintimationsofasomethingbehindandbeyondarenotevilhumour
bornofindigestion,orwhimsiesntbythedeviltomockandmaddenus,if,inaword,beautymeanssomething,yet
imptheunutterable,itisunwitotrytoutterit,norshouldwe
ektoinvestwithsignificancethatwhich
intermsofourhumanmeaningsismeaningless.
Lesson30
Eachcivilizationisborn,itculminates,sawidespreadtestimonythatthisominousfactisdueto
,slowlyandatfirstfaintly,anoppositetendencyis
roadsandbettervehiclesatfirstinducedthewealthierclasstoliveontheoutskirtsofthecities.
wtof
eprenttime,throughouttheeighteenthandnineteenthcenturies,thisnew
tendencyplacedthehomeintheimmediatesuburbs,butconcentratedmanufacturingactivity,businessrelations,
government,romthecareofchildrenandperiodsofsheerrest,theactive
waystheconcentrationofsuchactivitieswavenmoreemphasized,andthe
,ifweexaminethetrendof
technologyduringthepastgeneration,ore,thereasons
icalpowercanbetransmittedforhundredsofmiles,mencan
communicatealmostinstantaneouslybytelephone,thechiefsofgreatorganizationscanbetransportedbyairplanes,the
cinemascanproduceplaysineveryvillage,music,speeches,everyreasonfor
thegrowthofthecities,concurrentlywiththegrowthofcivilizationhasbeenprofoundlymodified.
Lesson31
ManypeopleinindustryandtheServices,whohavepracticalexperienceofnoi,regardanyinvestigationofthis
questionasawasteoftime;thther
hand,thowhodislikenoiwillsometimesumostinadequateevidencetosupporttheirpleasforaquietersociety.
Thisisapity,slikelytobediscreditedifitgetstobeassociated
withbadscience.
tarticleinaweeklynewspaper,forinstance,
washeadedwithastrikingillustrationofaladyinastateofconsiderabledistress,withthecaption'Shewasyetanother
victim,reducedtoascreamingwreck'.Onturningeagerlytothetext,onelearnsthattheladywasatypistwhofound
thesoundofofficetypewriterswo
thesnaginthinoiacauofthe
illness,orwerethecomplaintsaboutnoimerelyasymptom?Anotherpatientmightequallywellcomplainthather
neigh-bourswerecombiningtoslanderherandpercuteher,andyetonemightbecautiousaboutbelievingthis
statement.
Whatisneededinthecaofnoiisastudyoflargenumbersofpeoplelivingundernoisyconditions,todiscover
tedStatesNavy,forinstance,recentlyexamined
averylargenumberofmenworkingonaircraftcarriers:eunpleasantto
liveevenveralmilesfromanaerodrome;ifyouthinkwhatitmustbeliketosharethedeckofashipwithveral
squadronsofjetaircraft,therpsychiatric
interviewsnosultmerelyconfirms
earlierAmericanandBritishstudies:ifthereisanyeffectofnoiuponmentalhealthitmustbesosmallthatprent
esnotprovethatitdoesnotexist;butitdoesmeanthatnoiis
lessdangerousthan,say,beingbroughtupinanorphanages--whichreallyisamentalhealthhazard.
Lesson32
Itisanimalsandplantswhichlivedinornearwaterwhoremainsaremostlikelytobeprerved,foroneofthe
necessaryconditionsofprervationisquickburial,anditisonlyintheasandrivers,andsometimeslakes,where
mudandsilthavebeencontinuouslydeposited,thatbodiesandthelikecanberapidlycoveredoverandprerved.
Buteveninthemostfavourablecircumstancesonlyasmallfractionofthecreaturesthatdieareprervedinthisway
beforedecaytsinor,evenmorelikely,ll,alllivingcreatureslivebyfeedingon
somethingel,whetheritbeplantoranimal,deadoralive,
remainsofplantsandanimalsthatlivedonlandaremuchmorerarelyprerved,forthereisldomanythingtocover
uthinkoftheinnumerablebirdsthatoneesflyingabout,nottomentiontheequallynumerous
smallanimalslikefieldmiceandvoleswhichyoudonote,itisveryrarelythatonecomesacrossadeadbody,except,
ofcour,compoandarequicklydestroyedbytheweatheroreatenbysomeothercreature.
Itisalmostalwaysduetosomeveryspecialcircumstancesthattracesoflandanimalssurvive,asbyfallinginto
inaccessiblecaves,orintoanicecrevas,liketheSiberianmammoths,whenthewholeanimalissometimesprerved,
whathappenedtothefamousBeresovkamammothwhichwasfoundprervedandingood
outhweretheremainsoffirtrees--thelastmealthathehadbeforehefellintothecrevasandbroke
nimalswere
trappedintarpits,liketheelephants,sabre-toothedcats,andnumerousothercreaturesthatarefoundatRancholaBrea,
ntlywhathappenedwasthatwatercollectedonthetarpits,andthe
biggeranimalsliketheelephantsventuredoutontotheapparentlyfirmsurfacetodrink,andwerepromptlyboggedin
n,whentheyweredead,thecarnivores,likethesabre-toothedcatsandthegiantwolves,cameoutto
realsoendlessnumbersofbirdsinthetaraswell.
Lesson33
Fromtheventeenth-centuryempireofSweden,thestoryofagalleonthatsankatthestartofhermaidenvoyagein
rlythreeandahalfcenturiesshelayatthebottomof
stheVasa,royalflagshipofthegreatimperialfleet.
KingGustavusAdolphus,'TheNorthernHurricane',thenattheheightofhismilitarysuccessintheThirtyYears'War,
intendedto
playaleadingroleinthegrowingmightofSweden.
AsshewaspreparedforhermaidenvoyageonAugust10,1628,eSkeppsbronand
surroundingislandsthepeod
labouredforthreeyearstoproducethisfloatingworkofart;shewasmorerichlycarvedandornamentedthanany
hsterncastlewasariotofcarvedgods,demons,knights,kings,warriors,mermaids,cherubs;and
zoomorphicanimalshapesablazewithredandgoldandblue,symbolsofcourage,power,andcruelty,wereportrayed
tostirtheimaginationsofthesuperstitioussailorsoftheday.
Thenthecannonsmergedfrom
herdriftingcloudofgunsmokewiththewaterchurnedtofoambeneathherbow,herflagsflying,pennantswaving,
sailsfillinginthebreeze,andtheredandgoldofhersuperstructureablazewithcolour,sheprentedamoremajestic
-portswereopenandthemuzzlespeepedwickedlyfrom
indfreshenedtherecameasuddensquallandtheshipmadeastrangemovement,
OrdnanceOfficerorderedalltheportcannontobeheavedtostarboardtocounteractthelist,butthesteepeningangleof
esoundofrumblingthunderreachedthewatchersontheshore,ascargo,ballast,
ammunitionand400peopler
gun-portswerenowbelowwaterandtheinrushaledtheship'firstglorioushour,themightyVasa,which
wasintendedtoruletheBaltic,sankwithallflagsflying—intheharbourofherbirth.
Lesson34
Thisisascepticalage,butalthoughourfaithinmanyofthethingsinwhichourforefathersferventlybelievedhas
weakened,ourconfidenceintdern
faithinmedicinesisrovedbythefactthattheannualdrugbilloftheHealthServicesismountingtoastronomical
orityofthepatientsattendingthemedicalout-patients
departmentsofourhospitalsfeelthattheyhavenotreceivedadequatetreatmentunlesstheyareabletocarryhomewith
themsometangibleremedyintheshapeofabottleofmedicine,aboxofpills,orasmalljarofointment,andthedoctor
inchargesnoquickermethodof
disposingofpatientsthanbygivingthemwhattheyareaskingfor,andsincemostmedicalmenintheHealthServices
areoverworkedandhavelittletimeforofferingtime-consumingandlittle-appreciatedadviceonsuchsubjectsasdiet,
rightliving,andtheneedforabandoningbadhabits,etc.,thebottle,thebox,andthejararealmostalwaysgrantedthem.
Norisitonlytheignorantandill-educatedpersonwhohassuchfaithinthebottleofmedicine,especiallyifitbe
wrappcountedofThomasCarlyle
thatwhenheheardoftheillnessofhisfriend,HenryTaylor,hewentoffimmediatelytovisithim,carryingwithhimin
hispocketwhatremainedofa
bottleofmedicineformerlyprescribedforanindispositionofMrsCarlyle'ewantirelyignorantofwhatthe
bottleinhispocketcontained,ofthenatureoftheillnessfromwhichhisfriendwassuffering,andofwhathad
previouslybeenwrongwithhiswife,butamedicinethathadworkedsowellinoneformofillnesswouldsurelybeof
equalbenefitinanother,andcomfortedbythethoughtofthehelphewasbringingtohisfriend,hehastenedtoHenry
Taylor'ydoesnotrelatewhetherhisfriendacceptedhismedicalhelp,
greatadvantageoftakingmedicineisthatitmakesnodemandsonthetakerbeyondthatofputtingupforamoment
withadisgustingtaste,andthatiswhatallpatientsdemandoftheirdoctors--tobecuredatnoinconvenienceto
themlves.
Lesson35
Manystrangenewmeansoftransporthavebeendevelopedinourcentury,thestrangestofthembeingperhapsthe
1953,aformerelectronicngineerinhisfifties,ChristopherCockerell,whohadturnedtoboat-building
ontheNorfolkBroads,suggestedanideaonwhichhehadbeenworkingformanyyearstotheBritishGovernmentand
heideaofsupportingacraftona'pad',orcushion,oflow-pressureair,ringedwithacurtainof
nce,peoplehavehaddifficultyindecidingwhetherthecraftshouldberangedamongships,
planes,pbuilder,Cockerellwastryingto
findasolutiontotheproblemofthewaveresistancewhichwastesagooddealofasurfaceship'spowerandlimitsits
werwastoliftthevesloutofthewaterbymakingitrideonacushionofair,nomorethanoneortwo
'flies',therefore,butit
cannotflyhigher--itsactionde-pendsonthesurface,waterorground,overwhichitrides.
ercrafttravelledfirstoverthewater,thenmountedthe
beach,climbedupthedunes,tcrosdtheChannel,ridingsmoothlyoverthewaves,
whichprentednoproblem.
Sincethattime,varioustypesofhovercrafthaveappearedandtakenupregularrvice--cruisontheThamesin
London,forinstance,reonlyatthebeginningofadevelopmentthatmay
opherCockerell'scraftcanestablishtransportworksinlargeareaswithpoor
communicationssuchasAfricaorAustralia;itcanbecomea'flyingfruit-bowl',carryingbananasfromtheplantations
totheports,gianthovercraftlinerscouldspantheAtlantic;andtherailwayofthefuturemaywellbethe'hovertrain',
ridingonitsaircushionoverasinglerail,whichitnevertouches,atspeedsupto300m.p.h.--thepossibilitiesappear
unlimited.
Lesson36
Ourknowledgeoftheoceansahundredyearsagowasconfinedtothetwo-dimensionalshapeofthea-surfaceandthe
hazardsofnavigationprenawas
deepandmysterious,andanyonewhogavemorethanapassingthoughttothebottomconfinesoftheoceansprobably
esClarkRosshadobtainedasoundingofover2,400fathomsin1836but
itwasnotuntil1800,inewasputatthedisposaloftheRoyalSocietyforveralcruis,thata
riesofdeepsoundingswasobtainedintheAtlanticandthefirstsampleswerecollectedbydredgingthebottom.
ngerexpeditionestablishedthestudyofthea-floorasasubjectworthyof
ofactivityassociatedwiththelayingofsubmarinecablessoon
confirmedtheChallenger'sobrvationthatmanypartsoftheoceanweretwotothreemilesdeep,andtheexistenceof
underwaterfeaturesofconsiderablemagnitude.
TodayenoughsoundingsareavailabletoenableareliefmapoftheAtlantictobedrawnandweknowsomethingofthe
greatvarietyofthea-bed'heacoversthegreaterpartoftheearth'ssurfaceitisquitereasonable
toregardthea-floorasthebasicformofthecrustoftheearth,withsuperimpoduponitthecontinents,togetherwith
theislandsandotherfeatures
tinentsformruggedtablelandswhichstandnearlythreemilesabovetheflooroftheopenocean.
Fromtheshore-lineouttoadistancewhichmaybeanywherefromafewmilestoafewhundredmilesrunsthegentle
slopeofthecontinentalshelf,ldividing-linebetweencontinentsandoceans
ntinentalslopeusuallystartsataplacesomewhereneartheice-fathommark
andinthecourofafewhundredmilesreachesthetrueocean-floorat2,500-3,peaveragesabout
1in30,butcontainssteep,probablyvertical,cliffs,andgentlediment-coveredterraces,andnearitslowerreaches
thereisalongtailing-offwhichisalmostcertainlytheresultofmaterialtransportedouttodeepwaterafterbeingeroded
fromthecontinentalmass.
Lesson37
TheVictorians,realizingthatthegreatesthappinessaccordedtomanisthatprovidedbyahappymarriage,endeavoured
,forourpart,admittingthefactthatnofeatofintelligenceand
characterissoexactingasthatrequiredoftwopeoplewhodesiretolivepermanentlytogetheronabasisofamity,are
obsdbytheproblemofhowtorenderthebasicfactsofcohabitationsimplerandmorereasonable,inorderthat
torianswouldhaveconsideredit'painful'or'unpleasant'wereone
topointouttelvesstartfromthis
veryassumptionaormsofarrant
untruthfulnessVictorianoptimismappearstometohavebeenthemostcowardlyandthemostdamaging.
Truth,therefore,portant,ifonedoesnotwishtoinconvenienceandtoboreone's
friends,smoreimportantnottothinklies,ortoslideintothomechanicalanduntruthfulhabits
otorianhabitofmind(whichI
considertohavebeenabadhabitofmind)wasundulypreoccupiedbywhatwassociallyandmorallyconvenient.
Convenienceis,however,inallaffairsoflife,uldhavethecouragetothink
uncomfortably,sinceitisonlybyrejectingtheconvenientthatonecancometothinkthetruth.
Not,afterall,ther
hand,enerallyawarewhenonehassaidsomething,oractedinsomeway
whichhaslenerallyaware,also.
whenonehasthrustasideaninconv's
awarenessintheformercaisingeneralmoreacutethaninthelatter,sincewearemoreonthelook-outforthelieswe
,however,itistheuntruthfulthoughtwhichisthemoreviciousofthetwo.
tinuouslyinginthemind,adiatowhich
theAnglo-Saxonispeculiarlyexpod,spellsthedestructionofhumanthoughtandcharacter.
Lesson38
Appreciationofperhapswhy
sculpturehasbeendescribedasthemostdifficultofallarts;certainlyitismoredifficultthantheartswhichinvolve
appreciationofflatforms,repeopleare'form-blind'
childlearningtoe,firstdistinguishesonlytwo-dimensionalshape;itcannotjudgedistances,,forits
personalsafetyandpracticalneeds,ithastodevelop(partlybymeansoftouch)theabilitytojudgeroughly
ingsatisfiedtherequirementsofpracticalnecessity,mostpeoplegonofurther.
Thoughtheymayattainconsiderableaccuracyintheperceptionofflatform,theydonotmakethefurtherintellectual
andemotionaleffortneededtocomprehendforminitsfullspatialexistence.
strivecontinuallytothinkof,andu,forminitsfullspatialcompleteness.
Hegetsthesolidshape,asitwere,insidehishead--hethinksofit,whateveritssize,asifhewereholdingitcompletely
allyvisualizesacomplexformfromallrounditlf;heknowswhilehe
looksatonesidewhattheothersideislike;heidentifieshimlfwithitscentreofgravity,itsmass,itsweight;he
realizesitsvolume,nsitiveobrverofsculpturemustalso
learntofeelshapesimplyasshape,,forexample,perceiveaneggasa
simplesinglesolidshape,quiteapartfromitssignificanceasfood,orfromtheliteraryideathatitwillbecomeabird.
Andsowithsolidssuchasashell,anut,aplum,apear,atadpole,amushroom,amountainpeak,akidney,acarrot,a
tree-trunk,abird,abud,alark,aladybird,abulrush,ehecangoontoappreciatemorecomplex
formsofcombinationsofveralforms.
Lesson39
InhisownlifetimeGalileowasthecentreofviolentcontroversy;butthescientificdusthaslongsincettled,andtoday
wecaneevenhisf,incontrast,itisonly
inmoderntimesthatGalileohasbecomeaproblemchildforhistoriansofscience.
,aboveall,amanwhoexperimented:whodespidthe
prejudicesandbooklearningoftheAristotelians,whoputhisquestionstonatureinsteadoftotheancients,andwho
eenthefirsttoturnatelescopetothesky,andhehadenthereevidence
hemanwhoclimbedtheLeaningTowerofPisaand
droppedvariousweightsfromthetop,whorolledballsdowninclinedplanes,andthengeneralizedtheresultsofhis
manyexperimentsintothefamouslawoffreefall.
Butaclorstudyoftheevidence,supportedbyadeepernoftheperiod,andparticularlybyanewconsciousness
ofthephilosophicalundercurrentsinthescientificrevolution,,
althoughtheoldGalileolivesoninmanypopularwritings,amonghistoriansofscienceanewandmoresophisticated
ametimeoursympathyforBalileo'escopic
obrvationarejustlyimmortal;theyaroudgreatinterestatthetime,theyhadimportanttheoreticalconquences,
andtheyprovidedastrikingweblame
thowholookedandfailedtoewhatGalileosaw,ifwerememberthattouatelescopeatthelimitofitspowers
callsforlongexperienceandintimatefamiliaritywithone'sinstrument?Wasthephilosopherwhorefudtolook
throughGalileo'stelescopemoreculpablethanthowhoallegedthatthespiralnebulaeobrvedwithLordRos's
greattelescopeintheeighteen-fortieswerescratchesleftbythegrinder?Wecanperhapsforgivethowhosaidthe
moonsofJupiterwereproducedbyGalileo'sspy-glassifwerecallthatinhisday,asforcenturiesbefore,curvedglass
wasthepopularcontrivanceforproducingnottruthbutillusion,untruth;andifasinglecurvedglasswoulddistort
nature,howmuchmorewouldapairofthem?
Lesson40
Populationsincreaanddecrearelativelynotonlytooneanother,partsofthe
world,therelationbetweenpopulationandresourcesisalreadyunfavourableandwillprobablybecomeevenmore
owingpovertyinthemidstofgrowingpovertyconstitutesapermanentmenaceto
onlytopeace,rpopulationisnot
vourablerelationshipbetweennumbersandresourcestendstomaketheearningofa
ismoreabundantthangoods,andtheindividualiscompelledtoworklong
lusofaccumulatedpurchasingpowerstandsbetweenhimandthetyranniesofunfriendly
naacyis,amongotherthings,the
abilitytosay'no'ncannotsay'no'totheboss,unlessheissureofbeingabletoeatwhentheboss's
annotbecertainofhisnextmealunlessheownsthemeansofproducingenough
wealth,forhisfamilytoliveon,orhasbeenabletoaccumulateasurplusoutofpastwages,orhasachanceofmoving
tovirginterritories,ercrowdedcountry,veryfewpeopleownenoughtomake
themfinanciallyindependent;veryfewareinapositiontoaccumulatepurchasingpower;andthereisnofreeland.
Moreover,inanycountrywherepopulationpressharduponnaturalresources,thegeneraleconomicsituationisaptto
besoprecariousthatgovernmentcontrolofcapitalandlabour,productionandconsumption,
noaccidentthatthetwentiethcenturyshouldbethecenturyofhighlycentralizedgovernmentsandtotalitarian
dictatorships;ithadtobesoforthesimplereasonthatthetwentiethcenturyisthecenturyofplanetaryovercrowding.
Lesson41
thoutaneducation,manyofusbelieve,isanunfortunatevictim
ofadvercircumcedoftheimportance
ofeducation,modernstates'invest'ininstitutionsoflearningtogetback'interest'intheformofalargegroupof
enlightenedyoungmenandwomen
ion,withitscyclesofinstructionsocarefullyworkedout,punctuatedby
text-books--thopurchasablewellsofwisdom--whatwouldcivilizationbelikewithoutitsbenefits?
Somuchiscertain:thatwewouldhavedoctorsandpreachers,lawyersanddefendants,marriagesandbirths--butour
dlaylessstresson'factsandfigures'andmoreonagoodmemory,on
appliedpsychology,ducationalsystemwere
fashionedafteritsbooklesspastwe
wouldhavethemostdemocraticformof'college'hepeoplewhomweliketocallsavagesall
knowledgeinheritedbytraditionissharedbyall;itistaughttoeverymemberofthetribesothatinthisrespect
everybodyis,equallyequippedforlife.
Itistheidealconditionofthe'equalstart'
primitiveculturestheoblireno
'illiterates'--ifthetermcanbeappliedtopeopleswithoutascript--whileourowncompulsoryschoolattendancebecame
lawinGermanyin1642,inFrance
in1806,andinEnglandin1876,andisstillnon-existentinanumberof'civilized'owshowlongitwas
beforewedeemeditnecessarytomakesurethatallourchildrencouldshareintheknowledgeaccumulatedbythe
'happyfew'duringthepastcenturies.
snoneofthe
hurrywhich,inoursociety,,achildgrowsupunder
theever-prentattentionofhisparents,thereforethejunglesandthesavannahsknowofno'juveniledelinquency.'No
necessityofmakingalivingawayfromhomeresultsinneglectofchildren,andnofatherisconfrontedwithhisinability
to'buy'aneducationforhischild.
Lesson42
Parentsareoftenuptwhentheirchildrenpraithehomesoftheirfriendsandregarditasaslurontheirowncooking,
orcleaning,orfurniture,ayeven
accuthemofdisloyalty,ormakesomespitefulremarkaboutthefriends'ossofdignityanddescent
intochildishbehaviouronthepartoftheadultsdeeplyshockstheadolescents,andmakesthemresolvethatinfuture
verylongtheparentswillbecomplaining
thatthechildissocretiveandnevertellsthemanything,buttheyldomrealizethattheyhavebroughtthison
themlves.
Disillusionmentwiththeparents,howevergoodandadequatetheymaybebothasparentsandasindividuals,istosome
ildrenhavesuchahighidealoftheirparents,unlesstheparentsthemlveshavebeen
unsatisfactory,swouldbegreatlysurpridanddeeply
touchediftheyrealizehowmuchbelieftheirchildrenusuallyhaveintheircharacterandinfallibility,andhowmuch
ntswerepreparedforthisadolescentreaction,andrealizedthatitwasasignthatthe
childwasgrowingupanddevelopingvaluablepowersofobrvationandindependentjudgement,theywouldnotbeso
hurt,andthereforewouldnotdrivethechildintooppositionbyrentingandresistingit.
Theadolescent,withhispassionforsincerity,alwaysrespectsaparentwhoadmitsthatheiswrong,orignorant,oreven
echildcannotforgiveistheparents'refusaltoadmitthechargesifthechild
ianparentsbelievedthattheykepttheirdignitybyretreatingbehindanunreasoning
authoritarianattitude;infactheydidnothingofthekind,butchildrenwerethentoocowedtoletthemknowhowthey
etendtogototheotherextreme,butonthewholethisisahealthierattitudebothforthechildand
wayswirandsafertofaceuptoreality,howeverpainfulitmaybeatthemoment.
Lesson43
Faithincontrollednuclain,Calder
HallonthecoastofCumbeuentlya
ssitytheyaresitednearthecoastsortidalwaterbecauofthe
needofmuchwpowerisassociatedin
the
publicmindwiththedestructiveforceofatombombsandpartlyforthisreason,thoughitisclaimedthatthereisno
dangertobeassociatedwithatomicpowerstations,theyarebeingsitedawayfrompopulouscentres.
Theprentpositionisthatthethreemainsourcesofpowerarecoal,timesreferto
electricity,gasorpetrolasiftheyweretheactualsourceofpower,forgettingthatelectricitymustbegeneratedbythe
consumptionofcoaloroilorbytheutilizationofwaterpower,whilstcoke,gasandpetrolareexamplesofcondary
fuelsbywhichcoalandoilmaybemoreeffectivelyud.
Wherealternativekandweightof
coalrequiredinthemajorityofmanufacturingindustriesislargeincomparisonwiththebulkandweightofotherraw
notalwaystrue--waswiththemanufactureofpigironandsteelfromlow-gradeironores--butitdid
leadtotheconcentrationof
industrialdevelopmentsonthecoal-fields,aphenomenonwelleninsuchcountriesasBritainwheretheIndustrial
ingasolidmustbedistributedmainlybyrailorwater.
Bywayofcontrastoilcanbetransportedlargedistancesbypipelinebutoverasmovementhasinvolvedbuildingof
largenumbersoftankers,includingnow
suitableonothergroundsoilfieldshavenotbecomeindustrialregions;onthe
contrarytheoilindustryismarkedbyacertainamountofsmellandanelementofdanger,hencethesitingofrefineries
talwaysrealizedthattheownersofpipelinescanhandletheoilofdifferent
customers,ndingitthroughatdifferent,n
1959Britainreceivedthefirstshipcargoofnaturalgas----liquefiedforthepurpooftransport.
Lesson44
Ifanationisntiallydisunited,creastheexpenof
government,andreducescorrespondinglytheamountofeconomicresourcesthatcouldbeudfordevelopingthe
country,Anditshouldnhecost
ofgovernmentishigh,resourcesfordevelopment
arecorrespondinglylow.
Thismaybeillustratedbycorpri
purpos,weareconcernedonlywithone
ministrativeoverheadinabusinessis
inistrativeoverheadofabusinessislowtotheextentthat
everyoneworkinginthebusinesscan,
caneachbetrustedtotakesuchresponsibilities,andtoexercisuchinitiativeasfallswithintheirsphere,then
belowbecauitwillbenecessarytohaveonlyonemanlookingaftereach
job,withouthavinganothermantocheckuponwhatheisdoing,keephiminline,andreportonhimtosomeoneel.
Butifnoonecanbetrustedtoactinaloyalandresponsiblemannertowardshisjob,thenthebusinesswillrequire
armiesofadministrators,checkers,andforemen,
administrativeoverheadris,sotheearningsofthebusiness,aftermeetingtheexpenofadministration,willfall;and
thebusinesswillhavelessmoneytodistributeasdividendsorinvestdirectlyinitsfutureprogressanddevelopment.
xtentthatthepeoplecanbereliedupontobehaveinaloyaland
responsiblemanner,thegovernme
nationisdisunited,thegovernmentcannotbesurethattheactionsofthepeoplewillbeintheinterestsofthenation;and
itwillhavetowatch,check,itednationthereforehastoincurundulyhigh
costsofgovernment.
Lesson45
Attheageoftwelveyears,ettoreachitsfullsizeandstrength,andits
ownerhisorherfullintelligence;rwewereinfantsandyoung
children,andconquentlymorevulnerable;later,weshallundergoaprogressivelossofourvigourandresistance
which,thoughimperceptibleatfirst,willfinallybecomesosteepthatwecanlivenolonger,howeverwellwelookafter
ourlves,andhoweverwellsociety,andourdoctors,clineinvigourwiththepassingoftimeis
eofthemostunpleasantdiscoverieswhichweallmakethatwemustdeclineinthisway,thatifwe
escapewars,accidentsanddiasweshalleventuallydieofoldage,andthatthishappensataratewhichdifferslittle
frompersontoperson,sothatthereareheavyoddsinfavourofourdyingbetweentheagesofsixty-fiveandeighty.
Someofuswilldiesooner,chancesareagainstit,and
thereisavirtuallimitonhowlongwecanhopetoremainalive,howeverluckyandrobustweare.
Normaofamiliarwiththefact
thatmanages,thatpeoplehaveforyearsassumedthattheprocessoflosingvigourwithtime,ofbecomingmorelikely
todietheolderweget,wassomethinglf-evident,likethecoolingofahotkettleorthewearing-outofapairofshoes.
Theyhavealsoassumedthatallanimals,andprobablyotherorganismssuchastrees,oreventheuniveritlf,mustin
thenatureofthings'wearout'.Mostanimalswecommonlyobrvedoinfactageaswedoifgiventhechancetolive
longenough;andmechanicalsystemslikeawoundwatchorthesun,doinfactrunoutofenergyinaccordancewiththe
condlawofthermodynamics(whetherthewholeuniverdoessoisamootpointatprent).Butthearenot
analogoustowatch,by
contrast,tchcouldneverrepairitlfit
doesnotconsistoflivingparts,onlyofmetal,d,atonetime,repairourlves
wellenough,atleast,ntwelveandeighty
yearswegraduallylothispower;anillnesswhichattwelvewouldknockusover,ateightycanknockusout,andinto
uldstayasvigorousasweareattwelve,itwouldtakeabout700yearsforhalfofustodie,and
another700forthesurvivorstobereducebyhalfagain.
Lesson46
Aftermillenniaofgrowthsoslowthateachgenerationhardlynoticedit,thecitiesaresuddenlyracingoffinevery
ldpopulationgoesupbytwopercentayear,citypopulationgoesupbyfourpercentayear,butin
onlyoneexampleofalmostvisible
acceleration,Atsnoreasonto
nologygraduallyswallowsupallformsofwork,industrialandagricultural,
theruralareasaregoingtoshrink,justastheyhaveshrunkinBritain,andthevastmajorityoftheirpeoplewillmove
,inBritainnowonlyaboutfourorfivepercentofpeopleliveinruralareasanddependuponthem;
allthroughthedevelopingworldthevanguardoftheruralexodushasreachedtheurbanfringesalready,andtherethey
huddle,migrantsinthefavellasandbarriosofLatinAmerica,inshantytownsinAfrica,inthohorrifying
eadingtowardsanurbanworld.
Thinormousincreawillgoaheadwhateverwedo,andwehavetorememberthatthenewcitiesdevourspace.
sagreaterdensityofhouholdgoods;theydemandmore
llthecarchangeverything:risingincomesandrisingpopulationscan
makeurbancardensityincreabysomethinglikefourandfivepercentinadecade;trafficflowsritofillwhatever
alsohasacuriousambivalence:itcreatesandthenitdestroysmobility.
Thecartemptspsthembelievethey
canspendSundayinBrighton,butmakesitimpossibleforthemtoreturnbefore,say,go
furtherandfurtherawaytoreachopenairandcountrysidewhichcontinuouslyrecedesfromthem,andjustastheir
workingweeksdeclineandtheybegintohavemoretimeforleisure,theyfindtheycannotgettotheopenspacesorthe
recreationorthebeacheswhichtheynowhavethetimetoenjoy.
Recentlysomestudiesweremadeinthebehaviourofmicewhenexpodtomorethanacertaindegreeofdensity,
frustration,andnoi,somesociologistswonderwhetheritmightnotbethe
mbinationofveryhighdensityofpopulation,goodsandrvices,andmachines,allincreasing
withalmostbruta1speed,doesaccountforsomereallyantisocialtendenciesinmodernurbangrowth.
Lesson47
ThemodernPlato,likehisancientcounterpart,hasanunboundedcontemptforpoliticiansandstatesmenandparty
spoliticsadirtygame,andonlyentersthemreluctantlybecauheknows
tupinthetraditionsoftherulingclass,
hehasanaturalpityforthecommonpeoplewhomhehaslearnttoknowasrvants,andobrvedfromadistanceat
theirworkinthefactory,evermixedwiththemorspokentothem
onequalterms,buthasdemandedandg
knowsthatiftheytrusthim,culture,hegenuinelydespis
thelf-madeindustrialistandnews-paper-king:withamodestprofessionalsalaryandalittleprivateincomeofhisown,
ryandfinanceemtohimtobeactivities
unworthyofgentlemen,although,alas,manyareforcedbyexigenciesofcircumstancetotakesomepartinthem.
intellectual,hegentlylaughsatthesuperstitionsofmostChristians,butattendschurchregularlybecauheesthe
importanceoforganizedreligionforthemaintenanceofsoundmoralityamongthelowerorders,andbecauhe
uinepassionsareforliteratureandthephilosophyof
plightoftheworldcompelshisunwilling
attention,intochaosanddestroythemost
gloriouscivilizationwhichtheworldhasknown,hefeelsthatitishightimeformenofgoodnandgoodwillto
interveneandtotakepoliticsoutofthehandsoftheplutocratsoftheRightandthewoolly-mindedidealistsoftheLeft.
Sinceheandhiskindaretheonlyreprentativesofdecencycombinedwithintelligence,theymuststepdownintothe
arenaandsavethemassforthemlves.
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