第一章[第1页/共4页]

我把这幅佳构拿给大人们看，我问他们我的画是否让他们感到惊骇。

In the course of this life I have had a great many encounters with a great many people who have been concerned with matters of consequence. I have lived a great deal among grown-ups. I have seen them intimately, close at hand. And that hasn't much improved my opinion of them.

So then I chose another profession, and learned to pilot airplanes. I have flown a little over all parts of the world; and it is true that geography has been very useful to me. At a glance I can distinguish China from Arizona. If one gets lost in the night, such knowledge is valuable.

Chapter 1

在如许的糊口轨道中，我相逢过许很多多一向在体贴首要事情的人。我有充足多的在大人们中间糊口的经历。我近间隔密切地察看过他们。这些都没有明显进步我对他们的评价。

我想了很多热带丛林的冒险，几经思考，我拿起彩色铅笔终究胜利地完成了我人生中的第一幅绘画。我的第一号作品，它是如许的：

每当碰到一个在我看来脑筋略微清楚的大人时，我就拿出随身带着的我那第一号作品来测试他。我想晓得他是否真的有了解才气。但是，不管我测试的人是谁，他或者她都会说：“这是顶帽子。”是以，我也就反面他们谈大蟒蛇啊、原始丛林啊，或者星星之类的事。我会把本身降落到他们的程度，和他们谈些桥牌啊、高尔夫球啊、政治啊、领带啊这些。因而大人们就非常欢畅能熟谙我如许一个通情达理的人。

这本书上说：“大蟒蛇把它们的猎物不加咀嚼地全部吞下去，以后，就再也不动了，然后通太长达六个月的就寝来消化掉这些食品。”

Whenever I met one of them who seemed to me at all clear-sighted, I tried the experiment of showing him my Drawing Number One, which I have always kept. I would try to find out, so, if this was a person of true understanding. But, whoever it was, he, or she, would always say:"That is a hat."Then I would never talk to that person about boa constrictors, or primeval forests, or stars. I would bring myself down to his level. I would talk to him about bridge, and golf, and politics, and neckties. And the grown-up would be greatly pleased to have met such a sensible man.