第4章
加入书架 A- A+
点击下载App,搜索"America Through the Spectacles",免费读到尾

  12Bearnomaliceagainstanyone。

  13Beequitableandjusttoallmen。

  14Libertyandfreedombutnotlicense。

  15Donotuntootherswhatyewouldnotthatothersshoulddountoyou。

  Ihavejotteddowntheabovejustastheyoccurredtomewhilewriting。

  Theycaneasilybeamplified,andbemadethebasisofanethicalinstructioninalltheschools。Inanycase,everynationshouldaimatthehigheststandardofmorals。

  Co-educationintheUnitedStatesisnotsounpopularasinsomeothercountries,anditisincreasinginfavor。Inalltheprimaryschools,andinmostofthehighschools,boysandgirlsstudyinthesameclass-room,andgirlsareadmittedasstudentseveninsomecollegesanduniversities。

  Thisprincipleofadmittingthefairsextoequaleducationalprivilegesisslowlybutsurelybeingrecognizedeverywhere。Insomeuniversitiestheauthoritieshavegonehalf-way;lecturesaregiventothegirlstudentsinseparaterooms,orseparatebuildings,orhalls,areprovidedforthegirlstudents。Withregardtotheteachingstaff,intheprimaryschoolsnearlyalltheteachersarewomen,andinthehighschoolstheirnumberisatleasthalf,ifnotmore。

  Insomeoftheuniversitiesthereareladyprofessorsortutors。

  Itgoeswithoutsayingthatgirlshavethenaturaltalentforlearningeverythingthatboyscanlearn。Theobjectionsraisedbytheopponentsofco-educationseemtorestchieflyuponthedangeroftheintellectualorphysicaloverstrainofgirlsduringadolescence,andupontheunequalrateofdevelopmentofboysandgirlsduringthesecondaryschoolperiod。Itisfurtherallegedthatinmixedschoolsthecurriculumissoprescribedthatthegirls\'courseofstudyismoreorlessadaptedtothatoftheboys,withtheresultthatitcannothavetheartisticanddomesticcharacterwhichissuitableforthemajorityofgirls;butwhyshouldnotthecurriculumbearrangedinsuchawayastosuitbothsexes?Isitnotgoodforbothtolearnthesamesubjects?Thatwhichisgoodforaboytolearnisitnotequallyadvisableforagirltoknow,andviceversa?

  Willnotsuchapolicycreatemutualsympathybetweenthesexes?

  Theopponentsoftheco-educationpolicyassertthatitmakesthegirlsmasculine,andthatithasatendencytomaketheboysalittlefeminine。Itcannot,however,bedoubtedthatthesystemreducesthecostofeducation,suchastheduplicationoftheteachingstaff,laboratories,libraries,andotherequipment。

  Itisobjectedthatthesystemhasdonemorethananythingelsetorobmarriageofitsattractions,bydivestingmanofmostofhisold-timeglamourandromance。Itisclaimedthatthisearlycontactwiththeothersex,onafootingofequality,andthemannerinwhichthemajorityofthegirlstudentsmorethanmaintaintheirintellectualstandingwiththeboys,hastendedtoproducethatcontemptofthemuch-vauntedsuperiorityofman,that,asarule,isreservedforthosepost-nuptialdiscoverieswhichmakemarriagesuchaninterestingventure。Buttheyforgetthatmarriagesarefrequentlycontractedinplaceswheregirlsandboysaretaughttogether,andwheretheyhavehadampleopportunitiesforknowingeachotherintimately,andthatexperienceprovesthatsuchmarriagesarehappyandlastingunions。

  Itisinterestingtoobserve,however,thatasthenumberofeducationalinstitutionshasincreased,thenumberofunmarriedwomenhasbeencorrespondinglyaugmented。Itiseasytoexplainthisbythefactthatalargenumberofwomenearntheirownlivelihoodbygoingintobusinessandtheprofessions。Astheybecomemoreeducated,andareallowedtoparticipateinmanyofthesameprivilegesasmen,itisonlynaturalthattheyshouldshowtheirindependencebyremainingsingle。Thesamethingwouldoccurinanycountry,andwemayexpectalikestateofthingsinChinaasgreaterfacilitiesforinstructionareaffordedtowomen。Idonotfeelalarmedattheprospect;

  indeed,IwouldwelcomeitifIcouldseemycountry-womenactingasindependentlyandasorderlyastheirAmericansisters。

  Thegamesandsportssanctionedandencouragedinschoolsanduniversitiesareuseful,inthattheyafforddiversionofthepupils\'mindsfromtheirschoolwork。Theyshouldnot,however,beindulgedininsuchawayastointerferewiththeirstudies。Take,asanexample,boatracing;severalmonthsofpreparationarenecessarybeforetheeventtakesplace,andduringagreatportionofthistimethestudentsdonotthinkmuchoftheirstudies;theyareallmadwithexcitement。Thecontestbetweenthetworivalpartiesisverykeen;

  theyhavebutonethought,andthatistowintherace。Inthisway,atleastsoitseemstome,themainobjectofrecreationisentirelylostsightof;itbecomesnolongeranamusement,butlaborandwork。

  Iamtoldthatthecoxswainandtheothermembersoftheboatracegenerallyhavetotakealongrestwhentheraceisover,whichclearlyshowsthattheyhavebeenoverworking。

  Ifavorallinnocentgamesandsportswhichmeanrecreationanddiversion,butifitbethoughtthatwithoutacontestgameswouldlosetheirrelishandtheirfun,thenIwouldsuggestthattheaimshouldbetheexhibitionofaperfectbodyandabsolutehealth。Letthestudents,whentheycometotherecreationground,indulgeinanysporttheyplease,butmakethemfeelthatitis\"badform\"tooverstrain,ordoanythingwhich,eventemporarily,marstheperfectworkingoftheirphysicalorganisms。

  Leteachstudentsotrainhimselfastobecomehealthyandstrongbothphysicallyandmentally,andtheonewho,throughreasonableandwholesomeexercises,isabletopresenthimselfinthemostperfecthealthshouldbeawardedthehighestprize。

  Chapter6。AmericanBusinessMethodsIfIshouldbeaskedwhatismostessentialforthesuccessfulcarryingonofbusinessinAmericaIwouldsayadvertising。AbusinessmaninAmericawhointendstosucceedmustadvertiseinthedaily,weekly,andmonthlypapers,andalsohavebigpostersinthestreets。

  Idonotbelieveanyup-to-datemerchantinAmericafailstodothis。

  Everybookandmagazinecontainsmanyadvertisements;sometimesfullyhalfofabigmagazineiscoveredwithnoticesorpicturesofarticlesforsale。

  Whereveryougotheinevitableposterconfrontsyou;andevenwhenyoulookoutofthewindowofthetrainyouseelargesign-boardsannouncingsomearticleoftrade。Thenewerthebrandthebiggerthepicture。

  Ifwhenyougetintoastreet-caryoulookaroundyouwillseenothingbutadvertisementsofallkindsandsorts,andifyouansweranadvertisementyouwillkeeponreceivingnoticesofthematteraboutwhichyouinquired。

  EvennowIreceivelettersurgingmetobuysomethingorotheraboutwhichIsentaletterofinquirywhenIwasinAmerica。

  Atnight,ifyoustrollroundthetownyouwillbeamazedbytheingeniousandcleversignswhichthealertmindsofthetradespeoplehaveinvented,suchasrevolvingelectriclightsformingthenameoftheadvertiserwithdifferentcolors,orafigureorshapeofsomesortillustratinghiswares。Buteventhisisnotthoughtsufficient。

  Circularsareoftensenttoeveryone,makingspecialoffers,settingforthforcefulreasonswhythecommodityadvertisedisindispensable。

  Certainstoresmakeitapointtoannouncecheapsalesonceortwiceayear,withfrom10to25percent。reduction。Itshouldbenotedthatnotradesmanvoluntarilysellshisgoodsataloss,sothatifduringasalehecangiveasmuchas25percent。discountwecaneasilycalculatethepercentageofprofithegenerallymakes。

  Therearecaseswheremenwhostartedaspettydealershave,afterafewyears,becomemillionaires。

  ToshowtheimportanceofadvertisingIcitethewell-knownsanitarydrinkwhichisasubstituteforteaandcoffee,andwhichbyextensiveadvertisinginalmosteverypaperpublishedineverycountryhasnowbecomeafavoritebeverage。Theproprietorisnowamulti-millionaireandIamtoldthathespendsmorethanamilliondollarsayearinadvertising。

  AnotherthinginseparablefromAmericanbusinessisthetelephone。

  Atelephoneisapartofeverywell-appointedhouse,everypartner\'sdeskisprovidedwithatelephone,throughwhichhetalkstohisclientsandtransactsbusinesswiththem。InallofficialdepartmentsinWashingtonscoresoftelephonesareprovided;eventhesecretaryofthedepartmentandthechiefofthebureaugiveordersbytelephone。

  Itgoeswithoutsayingthatthismeansofcommunicationisalsofoundinthehomeofalmosteverywell-to-dofamily。

  Theinventionofatelephoneisagreatblessingtomankind;

  itenablesfriendstotalktoeachotheratadistancewithoutthetroubleofcalling。*Sweetheartscanexchangetheirsweetnothings,andevenproposalsofmarriagehavebeenmadeandacceptedthroughthetelephone。However,oneissubjectedtofrequentannoyancesfromwrongconnectionsattheCentralOffice,andsometimesgraveerrorsaremade。Once,throughaseriousblunder,oramischievousjoke,IlostadinnerinmyLegationinWashington。

  Myvaletreceivedatelephonemessagefromaladyfriendinvitingmetodineatherhouse。Igladlyacceptedtheinvitation,andattheappointedtimedrovetoherhome,onlytofindthattherewasnodinner-partyon,andthatIshouldhavetogohungry——

  *\"Tocall\"inthesenseof\"tovisit\"——A。R。L。,1996——

  Withsometrades,inordertocreateanewmarket,commercialtravellersor\"drummers\"givetheirgoodsawayfornothing。

  Experiencehasprovedthatwhattheyloseatthestarttheyrecoverinthecourseoftime,receivinginadditiontripleortenfoldmorebusinessthanthecostoftheoriginaloutlay。Thesecommercialagentstravelthroughallsectionsofthecountrytosolicitbusiness;

  theycalluponthosewhocangivethemorders;theylookupthosewhoareengagedinsimilarbusinessestotheirown,and,iftheyareretailers,theyinvitetheirorders,oraskthemtobecomesub-agents。Thesegentlemenpracticallyliveonthetrains:

  theyeat,sleep,anddotheirbusinesswhiletravelling。

  Oneofthemtoldmethatinonemonthhehadcovered38,000miles,andthathehadnotbeenbacktohisfirmforthreemonths。

  ThereisnodoubtthattheAmericanpeopleareactive,strenuousworkers。

  Theywillwillinglygoanydistance,andundertakeanyjourney,howeverarduous,ifitpromisesbusiness;theyseemtobealwaysonthego,andtheyarepreparedtostartanywhereatamoment\'snotice。

  AnAmericanwhocalledonmeashorttimeagoinShanghaitoldmethatwhenhelefthishouseonemorningatNewYork,hehadnottheslightestnotionhewasgoingtoundertakealongjourneythatday;butthatwhenhegottohisofficehisbossaskedhimifhewouldgotoChinaonacertaincommission。

  Heacceptedtheresponsibilityatonceandtelephonedtohiswifetopackuphisthings。TwohourslaterhewasonatrainboundforSanFranciscowhereheboardedasteamerforChina。

  ThesamegentlemantoldmethatthistripwashissecondvisittoChinawithinafewmonths。

  Americansalesmenarecleverandcapable,andwellknowhowtorecommendwhatevertheyhavetosell。Youwalkintoastorejusttolookaround;

  theremaybenothingthatyouwant,buttheadroitmannerinwhichthesalesmantalks,andthewayinwhichheexplainsthegoodpointsofeveryarticleatwhichyoulook,makesitextremelydifficultforyoutoleavethestorewithoutmakingsomepurchases。SalesmenandcommercialtravellersintheUnitedStateshavecertainlylearnedtheartofspeaking。

  Ionce,however,metaremarkableexceptiontothisruleinthepersonofanAmericangentlemanwhowassingularlylackingintact;

  hewasinChinawiththeintentionofobtainingaconcession,andhehadnearlyaccomplishedhisobjectwhenhespoilteverythingbyhisbluntspeech。HesaidhehadnotcometoChinaforanyphilanthropicpurposes,butthathewasinthecountrytomakemoney。

  WeallknowthattheaveragebusinessmanisneitheraPeabodynoraCarnegie,butitwasquiteunnecessaryforthisgentlemantoannouncethathissoleobjectwastomakemoneyoutoftheChinese。

  UptoafewyearsagobusinessmeninAmerica,especiallycapitalists,hadscarcelyanyideaoftransactingbusinessinChina。

  IwellrememberthedifficultyIhadinraisingarailwayloaninAmerica。

  Itwasin1897。IhadreceivedpositiveinstructionsfrommygovernmenttoobtainabigloanforthepurposeofconstructingtheproposedrailwayfromHankowtoCanton。Iendeavoredtointerestwell-knownbankersandcapitalistsinNewYorkCitybutnoneofthemwouldconsidertheproposals。

  Theyinvariablysaidthattheirmoneycouldbejustaseasily,andjustasprofitably,investedintheirowncountry,andwithbettersecurity,thanwasobtainableinChina。

  Itwasonlyafternearlytwelvemonthsofhardwork,ofcarefulexplanationandmuchpersuasion,thatIsucceededinfindingacapitalistwhowaspreparedtodiscussthematterandmaketheloan。

  Conditionshavenowchanged。AmericanbankersandothershavefoundthatinvestmentsinChinaarequitesafe。TheyhavesentagentstoChinatorepresenttheminthematterofabiginternationalloan,andtheyarenowjustasreadytolendmoneyinChinaasinEurope,andonthesameterms。InconjunctionwiththerepresentativesofsomelargeEuropeancapitaliststheyevenformedapowerfulsyndicateinChina,forthepurposeofarrangingloanstoresponsibleChineseinvestors。

  Inthespringof1913,however,theywithdrewfromthesyndicate。

  TheopportunitiestomakemoneyinAmericaaregreatandayoungmanwithonlyfairability,butanhonestpurpose,willalwaysgetsomethingtodo;andifheisindustriousandreadyforhardwork,ifhepossesscourageandperseverance,hewillmostsurelygoforwardandprobablyintimebecomeindependent。

  Therearehundredsofmillionairesandmulti-millionairesinAmericawho,intheiryoungerdays,wereaspoorassparrowsinasnowstorm,butthroughperseverance,combinedwithindustriousandeconomicalhabitstheyhaveprosperedfarbeyondtheirownexpectations。

  Theclevermethodstheyadoptinthecarryingonoftheirbusinesscannotbutarouseouradmiration,andChinesemerchantswoulddowelltosendsomeoftheirsonstoAmericatostudythevarioussystemspractisedthere。Butnonationoranyclassofpeopleisperfect,andthereisonemoney-makingdevicewhichseemstomenotquitesoundinprinciple。Toincreasethecapitalofacorporationnewsharesaresometimesissued,withoutacorrespondingincreaseintheactualcapital。Thesenewsharesmayrepresenthalf,orasmuchoftheactualcapitalashasbeenalreadysubscribed。

  Suchacourseisusuallydefendedbytheclaimthatasthepropertyandfranchiseshaveincreasedinvaluesincetheformationofthecorporationtheincreaseofthestockisnecessaryinordertofairlyrepresenttheexistingcapital。Itissaidthatsomerailwaystockhasbeen\"watered\"inthiswaytoanalarmingextent,sothatagreatdealofitisfictitious,yetthoughitexistsonlyonpaperitranksastheequalofthegenuinestockwhenthedividendsarepaid。

  Whetherornotsuchanactionreallyisjustifiable,orevenmoral,IleavetotheChristianclergyandtheirfollowerstodecide。

  Thepromotersanddirectorsofsuchconcernshaveatleasthituponaveryclevermethodforbecomingrich,andifthesecuritiesoftheoriginalshareholdersarenotinjured,andtheholdersofthegenuineandthewateredstockcanshareequallywithoutendangeringtheinterestsofall,perhapssuchanactionmaybelessblamable,butitisanewkindofproceedingtoOrientals。

  Imustnotomittomention,however,theconfidencewhichisplacedinthehonestyofthepeopleingeneral;forexample,youenteranomnibus,youwillfindthedriver,butnoconductortocollectthefare。

  \"Itisuptoyou\"toputthefareintoabox,andifyoudonotpaynoonewillaskforit。Yeteveryfareispaid。Ihaveneverseenadishonestmanwhoomittedtopay。ThisisaremarkablefactwhichIhavenoticednowherebutinAmerica。Isupposeitisbecausethepeoplearenotpoor,andastheyarealwaysabletopaythefaretheydoso。Theyaretoohonesttocheat。Itiscertainlyagoodwaytoencouragepeopletobehonest,toputthemontheirhonorandthenrelyontheirownsenseofuprightness。

  ThemostcurioussightIhaveeverseenwastheStockExchangeinNewYork。

  Itisusedasamarketforthepurchaseandsaleofvariousarticles,buttherewerenogoodsexposedforsale。Isawagoodmanypeoplerunningabouttalking,yellingandhowling,andhadInotbeeninformedbeforehandwhattoexpectIshouldhavethoughtthatthemenweregettingready,intheirexcitement,forageneralallroundfight。

  However,Ididnotseeanyexchangeofblows,andIdidnothearthatanybloodwasshed。

  AnotherremarkablefeatureofthescenewasthatIdidnotseeasinglewomanthere;shewasconspicuousbyherabsence。

  WhetherornottherulesoftheExchangeallowhertobecomeamemberIdonotknow;thatisaquestionforthewomansuffragiststoinvestigate,butIlearnedthatitisawealthyassociationconsistingof1,100members,andthattobecomeamemberonemustbeacitizenoftheUnitedStatesof21yearsofageormore。Thenumberofmembersislimited。

  Personsobtainmembershipbyelection,orbythetransferofthemembershipofamemberwhohasresignedordied。

  Anewmemberwhoisadmittedbytransferpaysaninitiationfeeof2,000golddollars,inadditiontoalargefeetothetransferrer,forhis\"seatintheHouse\"。Amembermaytransferhisseattohisson,iftheCommitteeoftheExchangeapprove,withoutchargingforit;

  butinallcasesthetransferreepaystheabove-mentionedinitiationfeeof2,000golddollars。

  Thepricesfortheseseatsvary,thefluctuationsbeingduetotheupwardordownwardtrendofthestockmarket。Withinrecentyearsthepricehasrisenconsiderably,andasmuchas95,000golddollarshasbeenpaidtothetransferrer。ThisismuchhigherthanthepriceusuallypaidbynewmembersinStockExchangesinEurope,yetwhenaseatbecomesvacantthereisnolackofpurchasers。

  Itisclearthataseatinthe\"House\"isveryvaluabletotheholder。

  Inthebuildingeachmemberhasastallallottedtohimwherehehasatelephoneforhisexclusiveuse;thisenableshimtocommunicateeverytransactiondoneintheExchangetohisbusinesshouse,andtokeepupconnectionswithhisconstituentsinothercities。

  Whenoneofhisconstituents,sayinWashington,D。C。,desirestobuyacertainsecuritytheorderisconveyedtohimdirect,andexecutedwithoutdelay。Ihaveseenatransactionofthiskindexecutedintenminutes,thoughtherewasadistanceofseveralhundredmilesbetweenclientandbroker。Theamountofbusinesstransactedinthe\"House\"everydayisenormous,aggregatingmanymillionsofdollars。

  NewYorkalsohasotherExchanges,wheredifferentarticlesofmerchandisearepurchasedandsold,suchascorn,coffee,cotton,etc。,andthevolumeofbusinesstransacteddailyinthat\"EmpireCity\"

  mustbeimmense,andalmostbeyondcalculation。

  OfcoursethereareExchangesinChicago,Boston,Cincinnati,St。Louis,Philadelphia,Baltimore,Washingtonandothercities,allconductedonsimilarlines,butthepricesarealwaysgovernedbythequotationsfromNewYork。Thisskilfulandsystematicwayofdoingbusinessisremarkable,andIaminclinedtobelievethatNewYorkisaheadofmanycitiesinSouthAmericaandinEurope。

  NowonderthattheservicesofAmericansarerequiredbyothercountriesinindustrialandtechnicalconcerns。Someyearsago,whenIwasinMadrid,Inoticedthatthestreettram-carwasrunningaccordingtotheAmericansystem,anduponinquiryIwastolditwascontrolledbyanAmericansyndicate。

  ThepursuitofwealthinAmericaisintense;itisapparenteverywhereandseemstobethechiefaimoftheAmericanpeople。

  Becauseoftheireagernesstobecomerichassoonaspossibletheyareallinaconstanthurry。Youmayseepeopleinthestreetsalmostrunningtotheiroffices,atluncheontheydonotmasticatetheirfood,theyboltit,andinlessthantenminutesareontheirwaybacktotheirofficeagain。Everyoneisurgedonbythisspiritofhaste,andyoufrequentlyhearofsuddendeathswhichdoctorsattributetoheartfailure,orsomeothermalady,butwhichIsuspectarecausedbythecontinualrestlesshurryandworry。

  Peoplewhoaresounnaturallyeagertogetrichnaturallysufferforit。

  ItisthegeneralbeliefthatAmericansdonotliveaslongasEuropeans。

  Theymakemoneyeasilyandtheirexpectationsarehigh。

  IhaveknownmanyAmericanswho,inmyopinion,werewealthypeople,buttheythemselvesdidnotthinkso;infact,theysaidtheywerepoor。

  OnceIaskedagentleman,whowasknowntobeworthhalfamillionofgolddollars,whetheritwasnottimeforhimtoretire。

  Hepooh-poohedtheideaandsaidthathecouldnotaffordtogiveuphiswork。

  Inreplytomyinquiriesheinformedmethathewouldnotcallamanwealthyunlessheshouldbepossessedofoneortwomillionsofdollars。

  Withsuchextravagantideas,itisnowonderthatAmericansworksohard。

  Igrantthataman\'smissioninthisworldistoattainhappiness。

  AccordingtoWebster,happinessis\"thatstateofbeingwhichisattendedwithenjoyment,\"butitiscurioustoobservewhatdifferentnotionspeoplehaveastowhathappinessis。

  IknowanEnglishmaninChinawhobyhisskilfulbusinessmanagement,combinedwithgoodluck,hasamassedimmensewealth;infact,heisconsideredtherichestmanintheportwhereheresides。

  Heisabachelor,overseventyyearsold,andleadsaverysimplelife。

  Buthestillgoestohisofficeeveryday,andtoilsasifhehadtoworkforaliving。Beingtoldthatheshoulddiscontinuehisdrudgery,asathisdeathhewouldhavetoleavehislargefortunetorelativeswhowouldprobablysquanderit,hegaveananswerwhichischaracteristicoftheman。\"Ilove,\"hesaid,\"accumulatingdollarsandbanknotes,andmyenjoymentisincountingthem;ifmyrelativeswhowillinheritmyfortune,takeasmuchpleasureinspendingitasIhavehadinmakingit,theywillbequitewelcometotheirjoy。\"

  Notmanypeople,Ifancy,willagreewiththeoldbachelor\'sviewoflife。

  Ioncesuggestedtoamulti-millionaireofNewYorkthatitwastimeforhimtoretirefromactivework,leavinghissonstocarryonhisbusiness。

  Hetoldmethathewouldbeunhappywithoutworkandthatheenjoyedthedemandshisbusinessmadeonhimeachday。

  Manyaman\'slifehasbeenshortenedbyhisretiringfrombusiness。

  Itisthemindratherthanthebodythatlives,andapartfromtheirbusinessthesemenhavenothoughtsandthereforenolife。Aman\'sideaofhappinessisgreatlygovernedbyhispersonaltastes,andisinfluencedbyhisenvironment,hiseducationandtheclimate。

  Theformwhichitistoassumemayvarywithpersonsofdifferenttastesandpositions,butitshouldnotbecarriedoutforhisownbenefitsolelyanditshouldnotbeinjurioustohishealthortohisintellectualandspiritualimprovement,norshoulditbedetrimentaltotheinterestsofotherpeople。

  Chapter7。AmericanFreedomandEqualityWhenanOriental,who,throughouthislife,haslivedinhisowncountrywherethewillofhisSovereignissupreme,andthepersonallibertyofthesubjectunknown,firstsetsfootonthesoiloftheUnitedStates,hebreathesanatmosphereunlikeanythinghehaseverknown,andexperiencescurioussensationswhichareabsolutelynew。

  Forthefirsttimeinhislifehefeelsthathecandowhateverhepleaseswithoutrestraint,andthathecantalkfreelytopeoplewithoutfear。

点击下载App,搜索"America Through the Spectacles",免费读到尾