双语 ● The Story of an Orphan 一个孤儿的故事
The Story of an Orphan 一个孤儿的故事
◎ 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世纪末20世纪初，一个非凡人物的非凡故事开始了。这是一个典型的美国故事——有关理想、抱负、成功、爱情和婚姻——它以很多人相信美国是一个一切皆有可能的国家为背景。这个故事开篇叙述了一个平凡的孤儿，通过自己的决心和才能实现了自己的美国梦，以及其他更多的梦想。
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.
这个孤儿来自纽约的奥斯威戈，他的名字叫威拉德·迪克曼·斯特雷特。1897年，17岁的斯特雷特就考入了康奈尔大学。那时就读于康奈尔大学的学生大概有两千个。学生们有的一起住，有的和家人住在城里。斯特雷特加入了“三一九三”社团，所以大学四年里，他就住在位于埃治摩尔大街和斯图尔特大街交叉拐角处的社团公寓里。
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.
斯特雷特就读于康奈尔大学建筑学院并不是因为他想成为一名建筑师，而是因为他拥有绘画方面的才能和兴趣，所以这对他来说是个合理的选择。他参加了许多校园活动，这更能将他性格的其他方面展现出来：艺术鉴赏和想象方面表现突出；感觉敏锐，尤其对有趣的人和事；拥有实现抱负的“野心”。他向《寡妇》漫画期刊投稿，还为严肃的文学刊物《康奈尔时代》撰稿，并担任《康奈尔人》的美术编辑。大二那年，他成了《康奈尔时代》的编辑和主编。他那动人的吉他演奏和高亢的男高音演唱总能让晚会的现场气氛变得活跃起来。为了替退役运动员募集资金，斯特雷特创办了一个类似节目表演的展览会，取名为“春之日”。“建筑学院日”也是他的主意，这个节日后来发展成为深受人们喜欢的“绿龙日”。大学四年级的时候，他被选为野人俱乐部的主席。
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，斯特雷特从康奈尔大学毕业了，之后他便进入了中国南京海关服务公司工作。他很快就学会了讲中文，并认识了各个阶层的中国人、北京的外交官和商人。30岁的时候，斯特雷特被认为是远东地区最具影响力的人物之一，他获得的名望甚至可以与美国总统相媲美。
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年的一场晚宴上，经人介绍，斯特雷特结识了惠特尼家族的财产继承人罗西尼·佩恩·惠特尼。1909年，当罗西尼及一行人访问北京时，这段友谊升华成了一段罗曼史。威拉德不断给罗西尼写情书、送花。他终于在1911年掳获了罗西尼的芳心。
