首页 >出版文学> America Through the Spectacles>第4章
  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。