with what pleasure he read my dramatic criticisms every Saturday。
I told him； in return； how much he was missed on the stage。 “Ah； yes；” he said； “I never act on the stage nowadays。” He laid some emphasis on the word “stage”； and I asked him where； then； he did act。 “On the platform；” He answered。 “You mean；” said I； “that you recite at concerts？” He smiled。 “This；” he whispered； striking his stick on the ground； “is the platform I mean。” Had his mysterious prosperity unhinged him？ He looked quite sane。 I begged him to be more explicit6。
“I suppose；” he said presently； giving me a light for the cigar which he had offered me； “you have been seeing a friend off？” I assented。 He asked me what I supposed he had been doing。 I said that I had watched him doing the same thing。“No；” he said gravely。 “That lady was not a friend of mine。 I met her for the first time this morning； less than half an hour ago； here。” and again he struck the platform with his stick。
I confessed that I was bewildered。 He smiled。 “You may；” he said； “have heard of the Anglo…American Social Bureau？” I had not。 He explained to me that of the thousands of Americans who annually pass through England there are many hundreds who have no English friends。 In the old days they used to bring letters of introduction。 But the English are so inhospitable that these letters are hardly worth the paper they are written on。 “Thus；” said Le Ros； “the ； and most of them have plenty of money to spend。 The ； alas！ A director。 If I were； I should be a very rich man indeed。 I am only an employee。 But even so I do very well。 I am one of the seers…off。”txt电子书分享平台
送 行（6）
Again I asked for enlightenment。 “Many Americans；” he said； “cannot afford to keep friends in England。 But they can all afford to be seen off。 The fee is only five pounds （twenty…five dollars） for a single traveller； and eight pounds （forty dollars） for a party of two or more。 They send that in to the Bureau； giving the date of their departure； and a description by which the seer…off can identify them on the platform。 And then—well； then they are seen off。”
“But is it worth？” I exclaimed。 “Of course it is worth it；” said Le Ros。 “It prevents them from feeling ‘out of it。’ It earns them the respect of the guard。 It saves them from being despised by their fellow…passengers—the people who are going to be on the boat。 It gives them a footing for the whole voyage。 Besides； it is a great pleasure in itself。 You saw me seeing that young lady off。 Didn’t you think I did it beautifully？”“Beautifully；” I admitted。 “I envied you。 There was I—” “Yes； I can imagine。 There were you； shuffling from head to foot； staring blankly at your friend； trying to make conversation。 I know。 That’s how I used to be myself； before I studied； and went into the thing professionally。 I don’t say I’m perfect yet。 I’m still a martyr to platform fright。 A railway station is the most difficult of all places to act in； as you have discovered for yourself。”“But；” I said with resentment； “I wasn’t trying to act。 I really felt。”“so did I； my boy；” said Le Ros。 “You can’t act without feeling。 What’s…his…name； the Frenchman—Diderot； yes—said you could； but what did he know about it？ Didn’t you see those tears in my eyes when the train started？ I hadn’t forced them。 I tell you I was moved。 So were you； I dare say。 But you couldn’t have pumped up a tear to prove it。 You can’t express your feelings。 In other words； you can’t act。 At any rate；” he added kindly； “not in a railway station。” “Teach me！” I cried。 He looked thoughtfully at me。 “Well；” he said at length； “the seeing…off season is practically over。 Yes； I’ll give you a course。 I have a good many pupils on hand already； but yes；” he said； consulting an ornate notebook； “I could give you an hour on Tuesdays and Fridays。”
His terms； I confess； are rather high。 But I don’t grudge the investment。
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论青年与老年
＇英国＇弗兰西斯·培根
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弗兰西斯·培根（1561—1626），英国著名的唯物主义哲学家和科学家。在文艺复兴时期的巨人中，他被尊称为哲学史和科学史上划时代的人物。马克思称他是“英国唯物主义和整个现代实验科学的真正始祖。”他是第一个提出“知识就是力量”的人。培根是近代哲学史上首先提出经验论原则的哲学家，对近代科学的建立起了积极的推动作用，对人类哲学史、科学史都作出了重大的历史贡献。罗素尊称培根为“给科学研究程序进行逻辑组织化的先驱”。
一个人假使不曾虚度生活，年岁不大也可以表现得成熟老练，只不过这种情况少有发生罢了。深思未必出自风霜，岁月同样可见年轻，可一般的青年毕竟谋划不过长辈，智慧也不及他们少年老成的同龄人。
但青年的创造性更为丰富，想象力也如涌泉一样奔放灵活，这似乎更得益于神助。天性刚烈、心怀热望、情绪敏感的人不历经中年，行事总是青涩，恺撒和塞维拉斯即为例证……
青年擅长创造却缺乏判断，擅长行动却缺乏商讨，擅长革新却缺乏对经验的借鉴。日积月累的经验可以引导他们掌握旧事物，但也会遮盖他们看见新事物的视线。
青年人犯错往往毁坏大局，而老年人的错则是迈步太小或行动太缓。无论谋事还是操行，青年都骛远喜功，基调高，动幅大，好走极端；他们藐视前例，目空一切，革新的勇气绰绰有余，而欠方式和分寸上的考虑，结果反而招致意外的麻烦。他们有如不羁的野马，行事极端而不知自救，一旦开蹄犯错，就泻至千里，不可复回。老年人呢，他们顾忌太多，议论过长，宁求安稳，不愿冒险，总是满足于平平成绩而不向往极至的辉煌。毫无疑问，最好是将两者特点结合。就现在来说，青年和老年可以互相取长补短。就发展来说，老年人是主事者，而青年可以学习取经。最后就社会来说，老年人以权威之姿指引方向，青年人则能振奋民心、鼓舞士气。但如果从政治上讲，老人的阅历是珍贵的，那么，青年人的纯真则在人性中熠熠闪光。
Of Youth and Age
Francis Bacon
A man that is young in years； may be old in hours； if he have lost no time。 But that happened rarely。 Generally； youth is like the first cogitations； not so wise as the second。 For there is a youth in thoughts； as well as in ages。
And yet the invention of young men； is more lively than that of old； and imaginations stream into their minds better； and； as it were； more divinely。 Natures that have much heat； and great and violent desires and perturbations； are not ripe for action； till they have passed the meridian of their years； as it was with Julius Caesar and Septimius Severus。。。
Young men are fitter to invent； than to judge； fitter for execution； than for counsel； and fitter for new projects； than for settled business。 For the experience of age； in things that fall within the pass of it； directeth them； but in new things； abuseth them。
The errors of young men； are the ruin of business； but the errors of aged men； amount but to this； that more might have been done； or sooner。 Young men； in the conduct and manage of actions； embrace more than they can hold； stir more than they can quiet； fly to the end； without consideration of the means and degrees；pursue some few principles； which they have chanced upon absurdly care not to innovate； which draws unknown inconveniences； use extreme remedies at first； and； that which doubleth all errors； will not acknowledge or retract them； like an unready horse； that will neither stop nor turn。 Men of age object too much； consult too long； adventure too little； repent too soon； and seldom drive bus