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第22章 这就是纽约 1（第1页）

第22章这就是纽约（1）

HereIsNewYork

埃尔文·布鲁克斯·怀特ElwynBrooksWhite

Onanypersonwhodesiressuchqueerprizes，NewYorkwillbestowthegiftoflohegiftofprivacy。Itisthislargessthatatsforthepresehecity’swallsofasiderableseofthepopulatiosofManhattaeextentstrangersulledupstakessomewhereaown，seekingsanctuaryorfulf？illmeerrail。ThecapaakesuchdubiousgiftsisamysteriousqualityofNewYork。Itdestroyanindividual，oritfulf？illhim，dependingagooddealonlueshouldetooliveunlessheiswillingtobelucky。

NewYorkisthetrateofartanderdspioandf？inangingtoasiareor，theevahepromoter，theactor，thetrader，a。Ititslapeltheunexpungeableodorofthelongpast，sothatnomatterwhereyousitinNewYorkyoufeelthevibratioimesandtalldeeds，ofqueerpeopleasaakings。Iamsittiinastif？linghotelroomi，halfwaydownanairshaft，inmidtown。Noairmovesinoroutoftheroom，yetIamcuriouslyaffectedbyemanationsfromtheimmediatesurroundings。Iamtwenty-twoblowhereRudolphValentinolayiblowhereNathanHalewasexecuted，f？iveblothepublisher’soff？icewhereErHemingwayhitMaxEastmanonthenose，fourmilefromhitmaeditorialsfortheBrooklyy-fourblothestreetWillaCatherlivedioowritebooksaboutNebraska，onebloareusedtotheboardsoftheHippodrome，thirty-sixblothespotwherethehistouldkickedaradiotopiefullviewofthepublic，thirteenblowhereHarryThawshotStanfordWhites，f？iveblowhereIusedtousherattheMetropolitanOperaandonly112blothespotwhereceDaytheElderwasWashedofhissinsintheChurchoftheEpiphany（Itihislistiely）；andforthatmatterIamprobablyogtheveryroomthatanynumberofexaltedandsomewisememorablecharacterssatihemohlessafternoons，lonelyandprivateandfulloftheirownseionsfromwithout。

&downtoluesagoIhemansittiome（abouteighteeninchesawayalongthewall）wasFredStoeeniheaionthatNewYorkprovidesforitsinhabitants。MyohFredStoIsawhiminTheWizardofOzaroundthebeginniury。ButourwaiterfeltthesamestimulusfrombeioamanfromOz，aoheroomthewaitertoldmethatwheer）wasayoungmanjustarrivedinthisdbeforehederstandawlish，hehadtakenhisgirlfortheirf？irsttheaterdatetoTheWizardofOz。Itwasawonderfulshow，thewaiterrecalled—amanofstraw，amanoftin。Wonderful！（Andstilloeeninchesaway。）“Mr。Stoyeater，”saidthewaiterthoughtfully，twiththisfragilepartiihislinkwithOz。

NewYorkbleofprivacywiththeextofparti；ahanmostdeiesitsuinsulatingtheindividual（ifhewantsit，andalmosteverybodywa）againstallenormousaandwohataretakingplaceeveryminute。Sitinginthismiasmicairshaft，agoodmanyrathersplashyeventshaveotown。Amanshotandkilledhiswifeinaf？itofjealousy。Itostiroutsidehisbloallmentioninthepapers。Ididnotattend。Sincemyarrival，thegreatestairshediookpla。Ididn’tatteherdidmostoftheeightmillioants，althoughtheysaytherewasquiteacrowd。Ididn’tevenhearaacoupleofwestboundercialairlihabituallyusethisairshafttof？lygestogshipsolanticarrivedaed。IdidhemaherdidmostotherNewYorkers。Iamtoldthisisthegreatestseaportintheworld，with650milesofwaterfront，andshipsgherefrommaids，buttheonlyboatI’vehappeicemyarrivaltagoutoftheEastRiveroiealkingacrosstheBre。IheardtheQueenMaryblowo，though，andthesouhewholehistoryofdepartureandlongingandloss。TheLionshavebeeion。I'veseennotoneLion。Afrieoldmeabouthim。（Hewaslame，andwasweariheballgroundsahegreatestspspectacleshavebeeed。Isalayer，hegoverowhesirehatwasalltherewastothat—aeen-inagain。Amanwaskilledbyafallingice。Iartytedy，andagaintheiedheavily。