雙語 ● The Story of an Orphan　一個(gè)孤兒的故事

The Story of an Orphan　一個(gè)孤兒的故事

◎ Cofer, R. H

This extraordinary story about extraordinary people begins at the turn of the century. It is a very American story—about ideals, ambition, success, love, and marriage—that has its roots at a time when many believed anything was possible in America. The story starts with an orphan boy of ordinary means who used his determination and talent to realize the American Dream and more.

19世紀(jì)末20世紀(jì)初，一個(gè)非凡人物的非凡故事開始了。這是一個(gè)典型的美國(guó)故事——有關(guān)理想、抱負(fù)、成功、愛情和婚姻——它以很多人相信美國(guó)是一個(gè)一切皆有可能的國(guó)家為背景。這個(gè)故事開篇敘述了一個(gè)平凡的孤兒，通過自己的決心和才能實(shí)現(xiàn)了自己的美國(guó)夢(mèng)，以及其他更多的夢(mèng)想。

The orphan boy was Willard Dickerman Straight from Oswego, New York. He was seventeen when he entered Cornell University in 1897. There were about two thousand students at Cornell then. They lived in fraternity houses or boarded with families in town. Straight joined Delta Tau Delta, and lived in the chapter house on the corner of Edgemoor and Stewart avenues during his four years at Cornell.

這個(gè)孤兒來自紐約的奧斯威戈，他的名字叫威拉德·迪克曼·斯特雷特。1897年，17歲的斯特雷特就考入了康奈爾大學(xué)。那時(shí)就讀于康奈爾大學(xué)的學(xué)生大概有兩千個(gè)。學(xué)生們有的一起住，有的和家人住在城里。斯特雷特加入了“三一九三”社團(tuán)，所以大學(xué)四年里，他就住在位于埃治摩爾大街和斯圖爾特大街交叉拐角處的社團(tuán)公寓里。

Straight entered the College of Architecture at Cornell, not because he had his heart set on becoming an architect, but because, with his talent and interest in drawing, it seemed a logical choice. His activities on campus reflected the different aspects of his personality, as artistic, imaginative bent with a keen sense on fun and the ambition to get things done. He contributed sketches to the comic periodical the Widow; wrote articles for the Cornell Era, a more sober literary publication; became art editor of the Cornellian; and by his senior year was editor and chief of the Cornell Era. He enlivened the party scene with his guitar and good tenor voice. Straight organized the first Spring Day, a circus like fair with sideshows, to make money for the depleted athletic fund. It was his idea to start a distinctive College of Architecture event, which evolved into the popular Green Dragon Day. During his senior year he was president of the Savage Club.

斯特雷特就讀于康奈爾大學(xué)建筑學(xué)院并不是因?yàn)樗氤蔀橐幻ㄖ煟且驗(yàn)樗麚碛欣L畫方面的才能和興趣，所以這對(duì)他來說是個(gè)合理的選擇。他參加了許多校園活動(dòng)，這更能將他性格的其他方面展現(xiàn)出來：藝術(shù)鑒賞和想象方面表現(xiàn)突出；感覺敏銳，尤其對(duì)有趣的人和事；擁有實(shí)現(xiàn)抱負(fù)的“野心”。他向《寡婦》漫畫期刊投稿，還為嚴(yán)肅的文學(xué)刊物《康奈爾時(shí)代》撰稿，并擔(dān)任《康奈爾人》的美術(shù)編輯。大二那年，他成了《康奈爾時(shí)代》的編輯和主編。他那動(dòng)人的吉他演奏和高亢的男高音演唱總能讓晚會(huì)的現(xiàn)場(chǎng)氣氛變得活躍起來。為了替退役運(yùn)動(dòng)員募集資金，斯特雷特創(chuàng)辦了一個(gè)類似節(jié)目表演的展覽會(huì)，取名為“春之日”?！敖ㄖW(xué)院日”也是他的主意，這個(gè)節(jié)日后來發(fā)展成為深受人們喜歡的“綠龍日”。大學(xué)四年級(jí)的時(shí)候，他被選為野人俱樂部的主席。

After Straight graduated from Cornell in 1901, he took a job with the Maritime Customs Service in Nanking. He learned the language quickly and became familiar with Chinese people of all ranks and with the diplomats and businessmen in Peking. By the age of 30, Straight was believed to be one of the most powerful men in the Far East, earning as much as the President of the United States.

1901年，斯特雷特從康奈爾大學(xué)畢業(yè)了，之后他便進(jìn)入了中國(guó)南京海關(guān)服務(wù)公司工作。他很快就學(xué)會(huì)了講中文，并認(rèn)識(shí)了各個(gè)階層的中國(guó)人、北京的外交官和商人。30歲的時(shí)候，斯特雷特被認(rèn)為是遠(yuǎn)東地區(qū)最具影響力的人物之一，他獲得的名望甚至可以與美國(guó)總統(tǒng)相媲美。

At a dinner party in 1906, Straight was introduced to Dorothy Payne Whitney, heiress to the Whitney fortune. When Dorothy and her party visited Peking in 1909, friendship turned to romance. Willard pursued Dorothy relentlessly with letters and flowers. He finally won her in 1911.

1906年的一場(chǎng)晚宴上，經(jīng)人介紹，斯特雷特結(jié)識(shí)了惠特尼家族的財(cái)產(chǎn)繼承人羅西尼·佩恩·惠特尼。1909年，當(dāng)羅西尼及一行人訪問北京時(shí)，這段友誼升華成了一段羅曼史。威拉德不斷給羅西尼寫情書、送花。他終于在1911年擄獲了羅西尼的芳心。

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