If George Washington CouldVisit the United States Now
If George Washington were able to travel back and forth in time，he would feel much more at home in ancient Babylon，3，700years before his time，than in our modern age，200years after he lived．
Torches，chariots，and rough streets，like those of Babylon in 2060B．C．，would not surprise him．He read by candlelight and rode in carriages on unpaved roads．He never saw a building more than four stories high．Electric lights，autos，highways，and skyscrapers would amaze him．
When Washington was ill，he might have expected to be cut and bled to let out the“bad blood”that was making him sick．He would not know what a modern doctor meant by serums，germs，and allergies．
If the Father of His Country could visit the United States now，he might think that he had landed on another planet！
假如乔治·华盛顿能参观今日的美国
假如华盛顿能在历史的长河中来回遨游的话，他会觉得，待在他的时代之前3700年的古巴比伦，要比生活在他身后200年的现代自在得多。
像公元前2060年的巴比伦所拥有的那些火炬、战车和凸凹不平的街道，不会使他感到惊讶。他借烛光读书，乘马车在未铺砌的路上旅行。他从未见过高于4层的楼房。电灯、汽车、公路和摩天大楼都会使他惊奇不已。
如果华盛顿生病了，他也许会盼望切开身体放血，让致病的“坏血”流出来。他会对现代医生讲的什么血清、微生物和过敏症感到不知所云。
如果这位国父能参观今日的美国，他也许会以为自己已来到另一个星球。
How Americans ShowedTheir Respect for Edison
Thomas Alva Edison was awarded more patents on inventions than any other American．When he died in 1931，Americans wondered how they could best show their respect for him．
One suggestion was that the nation observe a minute or two of total blackout．All electric power would be shut off in homes，streets，and factories．
Perhaps this suggested plan made Americans realize fully what Edison and his inventions meant to them．Electric power was too important to the country．Shutting if off for even a short time would have led to complete confusion．A blackout was out of me question．
On the day of Edison’s funeral，many people silently dimmed their lights．In this way they honored the man who had done more than anyone else to put the great force of electricity at his countrymen’s fingertips．
美国人怎样表达他们对爱迪生的敬意
托马斯·阿尔瓦·爱迪生获得的发明专利，超过了任何一位美国人。当他1931年离世时，美国人简直不知道究竟怎样才能最充分地表达对他的敬意。
一项建议是，全国熄灯一两分钟，让家庭、街道及工厂的供电全部中断。
这项建议也许会使美国人充分认识到爱迪生及其发明的价值。然而，电对于这个国家来说是太重要了，即使是短暂的停电也会导致全面的混乱。熄灯会造成一片黑暗，这样做不堪设想。
在爱迪生安葬的那一天，许多人默默地扭暗了灯光。他们以这种方式，向这位把巨大电力送到全国同胞的手边，从而做出了无与伦比的贡献的人，表示了崇敬之情。
The Paintings and BronzeStatues of Charles Marion Russel
The men who write TV westerns would be hard put to create a character as fabulous as Charles Marion Russell．He was a painter，sculptor，and professional cowboy．He lived the life of a cowhand in the old west during the feverish days of fast horses and faster guns．At the same time he created realistic images of the West in bronze and on canvas．
Russell was born in St．Louis，Missouri，in 1864．He may have inherited his artistic galant from his mother，who was an accomplished amateur painter．When Russell was fifteen，his parents finally yielded to his craving for the West and allowed him to go to a ranch in Montana．
When Russell arrived there，the few white men in Montana were mostly miners and cattlemen．The IndiansSioux and Cheyenne—still had vivid memories of the Sioux victory over Custer in 1876．
Russell sketched what he saw：cow hands，Indians，homesteaders，horses，buffaloes，grizzlies，and wolves．From on—the spot sketches came most of his famous paintings and magnificent bronze statues．
查理·马里恩·罗素的画和铜像
编写西部电视作品的人，要塑造一个像查理·马里恩·罗素这样传奇式的人物，是会感到困难的。他既是画家、雕刻家，又是一名职业牛仔。在马快枪更快的疯狂年代里，他在古老的西部地区过着一名牧场工人的生活。与此同时，他在青铜雕刻和油画上塑造了西部地区的一些真实形象。
罗素于1864年生于密苏里州的圣路易市。他母亲是位颇有造诣的业余画家，他也许从母亲身上继承了艺术才能。罗素15岁时，父母在他渴望奔赴西部地区这一问题上，最终作了让步，允许他去蒙大拿的一个大牧场。
罗素抵达那儿时，蒙大拿为数不多的白人大多是矿工和牧牛人。印第安人——苏族和晒延族，仍然对1876年苏族战胜卡斯特记忆犹新。
罗素将其所见的一切——牛仔、印第安人、定居移民、马、水牛、灰熊和狼，画成速写。他的大多数著名画幅和精美的铜像就是从这些实地速写中诞生的。
Henry the NavigatorThat Never Went to Sea
The modern sailing ship was developed by a man who never went to sea．He was Prince Henry of Portugal，the younger son of the Portuguese king and an English princess．
Prince Henry lived in the fifteenth century．As a boy he became devoted to the sea，and he dedicated himself to improving the design of ships and the methods of sailing them．In 1416，when he was twentytwo，Henry founded a school for mariners，to which he invited everyone who could help him-Jewish astronomers，Italian and Spanish sailors，and Arab mathematicians and map makers who knew how to use the crude compass of the day and could improve it．
Henry’s goal was to design and equip vessels that would be capable of making long ocean voyages without having to hug the shore．The caravel carried more sails and was longer and slimmer than any ship then made，yet was tough enough to withstand gales atsea．He also developed the carrack，which was a slower ship，but one that was capable of carrying more cargo．