she wolf

1

Unit1

AnotherSchoolYear—WhatFor

Letmetellyouoneoftheearliestdisastersinmycareeras

anuaryof1940andIwasfreshoutofgraduate

schoolstartingmyfirstmesterattheUniversityofKansas

thestudentbodywasabeanpolewithhairontop

whocameintomyclass,satdown,foldedhisarms,andlooked

atmeasiftosay"Allright,teachmesomething."Twoweeks

eekslaterhecameintomy

officewithhishandsonhiships."Look,"hesaid,"Icamehere

havetoreadthisstuff"Andnot

havingabookofhisowntopointto,hepointedtominewhich

waslyingonthedesk.

NewasIwastothefaculty,Icouldhavetoldthisspecimen

havepointedoutthathehadenrolled,

notinadrugstore-mechanicsschool,butinacollegeandthat

attheendofhiscourmeanttoreachforascrollthatread

dnotread:QualifiedPill-Grinding

dcertifythathehadspecializedin

pharmacy,butitwouldfurthercertifythathehadbeenexpod

tosomeoftheideasmankindhasgeneratedwithinitshistory.

Thatistosay,hehadnotenteredatechnicaltrainingschool

2

butauniversityandinuniversitiesstudentnrollforboth

trainingandeducation.

Icouldhavetoldhimallthis,butitwasfairlyobvioushe

wasn'tgoingtobearoundlongenoughforittomatter.

Nevertheless,IwasyoungandIhadahighnofdutyand

Itriedtoputitthisway:"Fortherestofyourlife,"Isaid,

"yourdaysaregoingtoaverageouttoabouttwenty-fourhours.

Theywillbealittleshorterwhenyouareinlove,andalittle

longerwhenyouareoutoflove,buttheaveragewilltendto

htofthehours,moreorless,youwillbe

asleep."

"Thenforabouteighthoursofeachworkingdayyouwill,Ihope,

youhavegonethroughpharmacy

school—orengineering,orlawschool,orwhatever—during

thoeighthoursyouwillbeusingyourprofessionalskills.

Youwilletoitthatthecyanidestaysoutoftheaspirin,

thatthebulldoesn'tjumpthefence,orthatyourclient

doesn'tgototheelectricchairasaresultofyour

volve

skillverymanmustrespect,andtheycanallbringyoubasic

itheverythingel,theywillprobably

bewhatputsfoodonyourtable,supportsyourwife,andrears

3

llbeyourincome,andmayitalways

suffice."

"Buthavingfinishedtheday'swork,whatdoyoudowiththo

othereighthoursLet'

sortoffamilyareyouraisingWillthechildreneverbeexpod

toareasonablypenetratingideaathomeWillyoubepresiding

overafamilythatmaintainssomecontactwiththegreat

democraticintellectWilltherebeabookinthehouWill

therebeapaintingareasonablynsitivemancanlookat

withoutshudderingWillthekidvergettohearBach"

ThatisaboutwhatIsaid,butthisparticularpestwasnot

interested."Look,"hesaid,"youprofessorsraiyourkids

yourway;I',I'mouttomakemoney."

"Ihopeyoumakealotofit,"Itoldhim,"becauyou'regoing

tobebadlystuckforsomethingtodowhenyou'renotsigning

checks."

FourteenyearslaterIamstillteaching,andIamheretotell

youthatthebusinessofthecollegeisnotonlytotrainyou,

buttoputyouintouchwithwhatthebesthumanmindshave

avenotimeforShakespeare,forabasiclook

atphilosophy,forthecontinuityofthefinearts,forthat

lessonofman'sdevelopmentwecallhistory—thenyouhave

4

onyourwaytobeingthat

newspeciesofmechanizedsavage,thepush-buttonNeanderthal.

Ourcollegesinevitablygraduateanumberofsuchlifeforms,

butitcannotbesaidthattheywenttocollege;ratherthe

collegewentthroughthem—withoutmakingcontact.

snottimeenough

inasinglelifetimetoinventforonelfeverythingoneneeds

toknowinordertobeacivilizedhuman.

Assume,forexample,s

thegreatstonehallsof,say,M.I.T.,andtherecutintothe

ncesarethatfew,

ifany,ofyouwillleaveyournamestobecutintothostones.

Yetanyofyouwhomanagedtostayawakethroughpartofahigh

schoolcourinphysics,knowsmoreaboutphysicsthandidmany

wmorebecauthey

leftyouwhattheyknew,becauyoucanstartfromwhatthe

pastlearnedforyou.

Andasthisistrueofthetechniquesofmankind,soitistrue

ofmankind'theresources,both

technicalandspiritual,reman's

uhavereadabook,youhave

merandyourmind

5

includesapieceofHomer'hbooksyoucanacquire

atleastfragmentsofthemindandexperienceofVirgil,Dante,

Shakespeare—eatbookis

necessarilyagift;itoffersyoualifeyouhavenotthetime

toliveyourlf,andittakesyouintoaworldyouhavenot

izedmindis,in

esnce,onethatcontainsmanysuchlivesandmanysuchworlds.

Ifyouaretoomuchinahurry,ortooarrogantlyproudofyour

ownlimitations,toacceptasagifttoyourhumanitysome

piecesofthemindsofAristotle,orChaucer,orEinstein,you

areneitheradevelopedhumannoraufulcitizenofa

democracy.

IthinkitwasLaRochefoucauldwhosaidthatmostpeoplewould

neverfallinloveiftheyhadn'thave

saidthatnoonewouldevermanagetobecomehumaniftheyhadn't

readaboutit.

Ispeak,I'msure,forthefacultyoftheliberalartscollege

andforthefacultiesofthespecializedschoolsaswell,when

Isaythatauniversityhasnorealexistenceandnorealpurpo

exceptasitsucceedsinputtingyouintouch,bothas

specialistsandashumans,withthohumanmindsyourhuman

ulty,byitsveryexistence,says

6

implicitly:"Wehavebeenaidedbymanypeople,andbymany

books,inourattempttomakeourlvessomesortofstorehou

eretomakeavailabletoyou,as

bestwecan,thatexperti."

Unit2

MaheegunMyBrother

TheyearIfoundMaheegun,y,

IwasspearingfishwithmygrandfatherwhenIheardthefaint

cryingandfoundtheshiveringwolfcub.

AsIbentdown,dhimupand

Maheegungainedstrengthafter

ledand

soonhewasfullandwarm.

Mygrandfatherfinallyagreedtoletmekeephim.

Thatyear,whichwasmy14th,wasthehappiestofmylife.

Notthatwedidn'unwasthemost

okinginto

Grandma'swingbasket—whichheupt,scatteringthread

times,shewouldcha

himoutwithabroomandMaheegunwouldpokehisheadaround

thecorner,waitingforthingstoquietdown.

7

ed

thefall,afterthefirstsnowourgamestookustothenearest

,Maheegunwashalf

lacewasahandsome

blackmantle.

ThewintermonthsthatcamesoonafterwerethehappiestIcould

e

unwouldlayhishead

betweenhisfrontpaws,withhiyesonmeasItoldhimstories.

ItallrvedtofogmymindwithpleasuresothatIforgotmy

Grandpa'srepeatedwarnings,andonenightleftMaheegun

,wild

withanger,whodemandedMaheegunbeshotbecauhehadkilled

tmorning,mygrandpaannouncedthatwewere

goingtotakeMaheeguntothenorthshack.

Bythetimewereachedthelakewherethetrapper'sshackstood,

ewouldsitwith

hisnotothesky,turninghisheadthiswayandthatasif

tocheckthewind.

ething

,andinthe

8

moon-floodedcabinwasmygrandfatherstandingbesideme."Come

ande,son,"whisperedmygrandfather.

Outsidethemoonwasfullandtheworldlookedallwhitewith

tedtoarockthatstoodhighattheedgeofthe

opwastheclearoutlineofagreatwolfsitting

still,earspointed,alert,listening.

"Maheegun,"whisperedmygrandfather.

Slowlythewolfraidhismuzzle."Oooo-oo-wow-wowoo-oooo!"

tera

while,un

stirred,

slippeddowntherockandheadedoutacrosstheice.

"He'sgone,"Isaid.

"Yes,he'sgonetothatyoungshe-wolf."Mygrandfatherslowly

filledhispipe."Hewilltakeherforlife,huntforher,

canchangeit."

Itriedtotellmylfitwasallforthebest,butitwashard

tolomybrother.

ForthenexttwoyearsIwasasbusyasasquirrelstoringnuts

eortwicewhenIheardwolfcriesfrom

distanthills,IwouldstillwonderifMaheegun,inhisbattle

9

forlife,foundtimetorememberme.

ItwasnotlongafterthatIfoundtheanswer.

EastercameearlythatyearandduringtheholidaysIwentto

visitmycousins.

asdetained

idedtocomebackhomeonmy

own.

AmiledowntheroadIslippedintomysnowshoesandturnedinto

tgonefar

beforebigflakesofsnowbegandriftingdown.

notlocatethetallpinethat

edtomy

the

snowhadmadeablanketofwhitedarkness,butIknewonlytoo

wellthereshouldhavebeennocreekthere.

IhadgoneinagreatcircleandIwaslost.

rthenightandhopethat

lymade

abedofboughsandstartedafirewiththebarkofanolddead

nthe

firstgraylightcameIrealizedthatIwasindeeptrouble.

10

hinghadbeensmotheredbythe

fiercewhiteness.

n'trecallwhetherithadbeenstorming

forthreeorfourdays.

whitestillnesshadtakenover

andwithit,lyofwoodwasalmostgone.

Theremustbemore.

Slashingoffgreenbrancheswithmyknife,Icutmyhandand

ometimebeforethe

edmyhandwithapieceofclothItore

ometime,myfingersgrewcoldand

numb,soItookthebandageoffandthrewitaway.

HowlongIsquattedovermydyingfireIdon'n

timberwolf.

Hehadfollowedthebloodspotsonthesnowtotheblood-soaked

bandage.

"Yap...yap...yap...yoooo!"Thehowlemedtofreezethe

worldwithfear.

alling,"Come,brothers,Ihave

foundmeat."AndIwasthemeat!

enow,I

11

thought,theirteethwouldpiercemybones.

rownagainstthe

eatsilence

Iworkedmywayoutofthesnowandraidmy

,about50feetaway,crouchedmytwoattackerswith

eardanoitomyside

Maheegun,andhehaddrivenofftheothers.

"Maheegun...Maheegun...,"Isobbed,asImovedthroughthe

snowtowardhim."Mybrother,mybrother,"Isaid,givinghim

hedoutandlickedatthedriedblood.

Igotmylittlefiregoingagain,andasIsquattedbyit,I

twasrelieforweaknessorboth—I

don'unwhimperedtoo.

Maheegunstayedwithmethroughthelongnight,watchingmewith

dandlossofbloodweretakingtheir

toll.

ThesunwasmidwayacrosstheskywhenInoticedhowrestless

drunawayafewpaces—headup,

listening—ogs.

Itwasthearchingparty!Iputthelastofmybirchbarkon

thefireandfanneditintolife.

12

evoicesofmen.

Suddenly,asifbymagic,thepolicedogteamcameupoutof

thecreekbed,

mygrandfather.

ed

hisrifle."Don'tshoot!"Iscreamedandrantowardhim,falling

throughthesnow."It''tshoot!"

ellforwardonmyface,intothe

snow.

uitesometimebeforemyeyes

cameintofocunoughtoemygrandfathersittingbymybed.

"Youhavesleptthreedays,"hesaidsoftly."Thedocsaysyou

willbeallrightinaweekortwo."

"AndMaheegun"Iaskedweakly.

"thhisownkind."

Unit3

MoreCrimeandLessPunishment

Ifyouarelookingforanexplanationofwhywedon'tgettough

withcriminals,ar

almostathirdofthehouholdsinAmericaarevictimsof

ountstomorethan41millioncrimes,

13

realsotoomany

testimatessuggestthat36millionto40

millionpeople(tion)have

adyhave2.4

millionpeopleundersomeformofcorrectionalsupervision,412,

'thaveroom

foranymore!

Thepainfulfactisthatthemorecrimethereisthelesswe

whythecertaintyandverity

ofpunishmentmustgodownwhenthecrimerategoesup.

CountrieslikeSaudiArabiacanaffordtogiveoutharsh

canweaffordtocutoffthehandsofthowhocommittedmore

than35millionpropertycrimeachyearCanwendthemto

prisonCanweexecutemorethan22,000murderers

Weneedtothinkabouttherelationshipbetweenpunishmentand

eofcarefulrearchhasfailedto

provideclearandconvincingevidencethatthethreatof

kthatpunishmentdeterscrime,

mightbethat

crimedeterspunishment:thatthereissomuchcrimethatit

simplycannotbepunished.

14

the

declineinthenumberofhigh-schoolgraduateshasmadeit

easiertogainadmissiontothecollegeofone'schoice,the

gradualincreainthecriminalpopulationhasmadeitmore

litecollegesand

universitiesstillhavehighstandardsofadmissions,someof

themost"exclusive"prisonsnowrequireaboutfiveprior

riouscrimesbeforeaninmateisacceptedintotheir

rentcropofprisonersisanelite

group,onthewholemuchmoreriousoffendersthanthowho

wereonceimprisonedinAlcatraz.

Thefeaturesshowthatitmakeslittlentoblamethe

police,judgesorcorrectionalpersonnelforbeingsofton

icecan't

findmostcriminalsandthotheydofindaredifficultand

onvictedcan'tallbenttoprison.

Thesocietydemandsthatwedoeverythingwecanagainstcrime.

Thepracticalrealityisthatthereisverylittlethepolice,

minal

justicesystemmustthenbecomeaspowerlessasaparentwho

haschargeofhundredsofteenagechildrenandwhois

nonethelesxpectedtoanswertheTVmessage:"It's10o'clock!

15

Doyouknowwhereyourchildrenare"

AfewstatisticsfromtheJusticeDepartment'srecent"Report

totheNationonCrimeandJustice"

every100riouscrimescommittedinAmerica,only33are

33reported,aboutsix

ixarrested,onlythreeareprocuted

ersarerejectedordismisddueto

evidenceorwitnessproblemsorarentelwhereformedical

hreeconvicted,only

ertwoareallowedtoliveintheir

electfewnttoprison,

averageinmate,however,

prisonersgainearlyreleanotbecauparoleboardsaretoo

easyoncrime,butbecauitismuchcheapertosupervia

,ofcour,prisonofficials

mustmakeroomforthenewprisonersntalmostdailyfromthe

courts.

Wecould,ofcour,gettoughwiththepeoplewealreadyhave

inprisonandkeepthemlockedupforlongerperiodsoftime.

Yetwhenmeasuredagainstthelowercrimeratesthiswould

probablyproduce,longerprisonntencesarenotworththe

16

s,thostatesthat

havetriedtogainvoters'approvalforbondstobuildnew

prisonsoftendiscoverthatthepublicisunwillingtopayfor

prisonconstruction.

Andifitwerewillingtopay,longprisonntencesmaynot

1981,124,000convictswere

dkepttheminjailforan

additionalyear,howmanycrimeswouldhavebeenprevented

Whileitisnotpossibletoknowthetrueamountofcrime

committedbypeoplereleadfromprisoninanygivenyear,we

doknowtheextenttowhichthounderparolearejailedagain

mberisasurprisinglylow

6percent(afterthreeyearsitristoonly11percent).Even

ifreleadprisonerscommitanaverageoftwocrimeach,this

wouldamounttoonly15,000crimesprevented:adropinthe

bucketwhenmeasuredagainstthe41millioncrimescommitted

eachyear.

t

estimatesarethatitcostsanaverageof$13,000tokeepa

daplacetokeepthe

124,000releadprisoners,itwouldhavecostus$billionto

prevent15,rksouttomorethan$100,000per

17

eaveragecostof

prisonconstructionrunningaround$50,000perbed,itwould

costmorethan$

first-yearoperatingcostwouldbe$150,000percrimeprevented,

worthitifthevictimwereyouorme,butmuchtooexpensive

tobefeasibleasanationalpolicy.

Facedwiththerealityofthenumbers,Iwillnotbesofoolish

ribution

tothepublicdebatebeginsandendswiththissimple

obrvation:gettingtoughwithcriminalsisnottheanswer.

Unit4

TheNightingaleandtheRo

"ShesaidthatshewoulddancewithmeifIbroughtherred

ros,"criedtheyoungStudent,"butinallmygardenthere

isnoredro."

FromhernestintheoaktreetheNightingaleheardhimandshe

lookedoutthroughtheleavesandwondered.

"Noredroinallmygarden!"hecried,andhisbeautifuleyes

filledwithtears."Ah,Ihavereadallthatthewimenhave

written,andallthecretsofphilosophyaremine,yetfor

wantofaredromylifeismadewretched."

18

"Hereatlastisatruelover,"saidtheNightingale."Night

afternighthaveIsungofhim,andnowIehim.

"ThePrincegivesaballtomorrownight,"murmuredtheyoung

Student,"ngheraredro

holdherinmyarms,

reisno

redroinmygarden,soIshallsitlonelyandmyheartwill

break."

"Here,indeed,isthetruelover,"

repreciousthanemeralds

andopals.

"Themusicianswillplayupontheirstringedinstruments,"said

theyoungStudent,"andmylovewilldancetothesoundofthe

ldancesolightlythatherfeet

hmeshewillnotdance,for

Ihavenoredrotogiveher,"andheflunghimlfdownon

thegrass,andburiedhisfaceinhishands,andwept.

"Whyisheweeping"askedagreenLizard,asheranpasthim

withhistailintheair.

"Why,indeed"saidaButterfly,whowasflutteringaboutafter

asunbeam.

"Why,indeed"whisperedaDaisytohisneighbor,inasoft,low

19

voice.

"Heisweepingforaredro,"saidtheNightingale.

"Foraredro"theycried,"howveryridiculous!"andthe

littleLizard,whowassomethingofacynic,laughedoutright.

ButtheNightingaleunderstoodtheStudent'ssorrow,andsat

silentintheOak-tree.

Suddenlyshespreadherbrownwingsforflight,andsoaredinto

dthroughthegrovelikeashadowandlike

ashadowshesailedacrossthegarden.

Inthecentreofthegrass-plotstoodabeautifulRo-tree,

andwhenshesawitsheflewovertoit."Givemearedro,"

shecried,"andIwillsingyoumysweetestsong."

ButtheTreeshookitshead.

"Myrosarewhite,"itanswered,"aswhiteasthefoamofthe

a,omy

brotherwhogrowsroundtheoldsun-dial,andperhapshewill

giveyouwhatyouwant."

SotheNightingaleflewovertotheRo-treethatwasgrowing

roundtheoldsun-dial.

"Givemearedro,"shecried,"andIwillsingyoumysweetest

song."ButtheTreeshookitshead.

"Myrosareyellow,"itanswered,"asyellowasthehairof

20

themermaiden,andyellowerthanthedaffodilthatbloomsIn

omybrotherwhogrowsbeneaththeStudent's

window,andperhapshewillgiveyouwhatyouwant."

SotheNightingaleflewovertotheRo-treethatwasgrowing

beneaththeStudent'swindow.

"Givemearedro,"shecried,"andIwillsingyoumysweetest

song."ButtheTreeshookitshead.

"Myrosarered,"itanswered,"asredasthefeetofthedove,

winterhas

chilledmyveins,andthefrosthasnippedmybuds,andthestorm

hasbrokenmybranches,andIshallhavenorosatallthis

year."

"OneredroisallthatIwant,"criedtheNightingale,"only

oneredro!IstherenowaybywhichIcangetit"

"Thereisaway,"answeredtheTree,"butitissoterriblethat

Idarenottellittoyou."

"Tellittome,"saidtheNightingale,"Iamnotafraid."

"Ifyouwantaredro,"saidtheTree,"youmustbuilditout

ofmusicbymoonlight,andstainitwithyourownheart'sblood.

ht

longyoumustsingtome,andthethornmustpierceyourheart,

andyourlife-bloodmustflowintomyveins,andbecomemine."

21

"Deathisagreatpricetopayforaredro,"criedthe

Nightingale,"eisbetter

thanlife,andwhatistheheartofabirdcomparedtotheheart

ofaman"

Soshespreadherbrownwingsforflight,andsoaredintothe

ptoverthegardenlikeashadow,andlikeashadow

shesailedthroughthegrove.

TheyoungStudentwasstilllyingonthegrass,andthetears

werenotyetdryinhisbeautifuleyes."Behappy,"criedthe

Nightingale,"behappy,

builditoutofmusicbymoonlight,andstainitwithmyown

heart'tIaskofyouinreturnisthatyouwill

beatruelover."

TheStudentlookedupfromthegrass,andlistened,buthecould

Oak-treeunderstoodandfeltsad,forhewasveryfondofthe

littleNightingale."Singmeonelastsong,"hewhispered."I

shallfeellonelywhenyouaregone."

SotheNightingalesangtotheOak-tree,andhervoicewaslike

waterbubblingfromasilverjar.

Whenshehadfinishedhersong,theStudentgotup.

"Shehasform,"hesaidtohimlf,ashewalkedaway."That

22

fact,likemostartists,sheisallstylewithoutany

sincerity."Andhewenttohisroom,andlaydownonhisbed,

andafteratime,hefellasleep.

AndwhentheMoonshoneintheheaven,theNightingaleflewto

theRo-tree,ht

longshesangwithherbreastagainstthethorn,andthecold

htlongshesang,

andthethornwentdeeperintoherbreast,andherlife-blood

ebbedawayfromher.

Shesangfirstofthebirthofloveintheheartofaboyand

hetopmostsprayoftheRo-treethere

blossomedamarvelousro,petalfollowingpetal,assong

followedsong.

ButtheTreecriedtotheNightingaletopresscloragainst

thethorn."Pressclor,littleNightingale,"criedtheTree,

"ortheDaywillcomebeforetheroisfinished."

SotheNightingalepresdcloragainstthethorn,andlouder

andloudergrewhersong,forshesangofthebirthofpassion

inthesoulofamanandamaid.

Andadelicateflushofpinkcameintotheleavesofthero,

liketheflushinthefaceofthebridegroomwhenhekissthe

23

thornhadnotyetreachedherheart

sothero'sheartremainedwhite.

AndtheTreecriedtotheNightingaletopresscloragainst

thethorn."Pressclor,littleNightingale,"criedtheTree,

"ortheDaywillcomebeforetheroisfinished."

SotheNightingalepresdcloragainstthethorn,andthe

thorntouchedherheart,andafiercepangofpainshotthrough

,bitterwasthepain,andwilderandwildergrew

hersong,forshesangoftheLovethatisperfectedbyDeath,

oftheLovethatdiesnotinthetomb.

nwasthegirdle

ofpetals,andcrimsonasrubywastheheart.

ButtheNightingale'svoicegrewfainterandafilmcameover

randfaintergrewhersong,andshefelt

somethingchokingherinherthroat.

teMoonheardit,

andsheforgotthedawn,

Roheardit,andtrembledalloverwithecstasy,andopened

itspetalsinthecoldmorningair.

"Look,look!"criedtheTree,"theroisfinishednow."But

theNightingalemadenoanswer,forshewaslyingdeadinthe

longgrass,withthethorninherheart.

24

AndatnoontheStudentopenedhiswindowandlookedout.

"Why,whatawonderfulpieceofluck!"hecried,"hereisthe

reddestroIhaveeveren."Andheleaneddownandplucked

it.

Thenheputonhishat,andranuptotheProfessor'sdaughter

withtheroinhishand.

"YousaidthatyouwoulddancewithmeifIbroughtyouared

ro,"criedtheStudent."Hereisthereddestroinallthe

lwearittonightnextyourheart,andaswedance

togetheritwilltellyouhowIloveyou."

Butthegirlfrowned.

"Iamafraiditwillnotgowithmydress,"sheanswered,"and

besides,theChamberlain'snephewhasntmesomejewels,and

everybodyknowsthatjewelscostmorethanflowers."

"Well,uponmyword,youareveryungrateful,"saidtheStudent

angrily;andhethrewtherointothestreet,whereitfell

intothegutter.

"WhatasillythingLoveis!"saidtheStudentashewalkedaway.

"Infactitisquiteunpractical,andasinthisagetobe

practicaliverything,IshallgobacktoPhilosophy."

Sohereturnedtohisroomandpulledoutagreatdustybook,

andbegantoread.

25

Unti5

SayYes

Theyweredoingthedishes,hiswifewashingwhilehedried.

Unlikemostmenheknew,hereallypitchedinonthehouwork.

Afewmontharlierhe'doverheardafriendofhiswife's

congratulateheronhavingsuchaconsideratehusband.

Theytalkedaboutdifferentthingsandsomehowgotonthe

saidthatallthingsconsidered,hethoughtitwasabadidea.

"Why"sheasked.

Sometimeshiswifegotthislookwhereshepinchedherbrows

sawherlikethishe

knewheshouldkeephismouthshut,ly

thatlooknow.

"Why"sheaskedagain,andstoodtherewithherhandinsidea

bowl,justholdingitabovethewater.

"Listen,"hesaid,"Iwenttoschoolwithblacks,andI've

workedwithblacksandwe'vealwaysgottenalongjustfine.I

don'tneedyoucomingalongnowandimplyingthatI'maracist."

"Ididn'timplyanything,"shesaid,"Ijustdon'tewhat's

wrongwithawhitepersonmarryingablackperson,that'sall."

26

"Theydon',theyevenhave

'sokaywithme,Ilikehearingthem

talk.""Butit'nfromtheircultureanda

personfromourculturecouldneverreallyknoweachother."

"Likeyouknowme"hiswifeasked.

"nowyou."

"Butiftheyloveeachother,"shesaid.

Ohboy,,"Don'

thomarriagesbreakup."

"Statistics."Shewaspilingdishesonthedraining-boardat

themwerestillgreasy."Allright,"

shesaid,"whataboutforeignersIsuppoyouthinkthesame

thingabouttwoforeignersgettingmarried."

"Yes,"hesaid,"youunderstand

someonewhocomesfromacompletelydifferentbackground"

"Different,"saidhiswife."Notthesame,likeus."

"Yes,different,"hesnapped,angrywithherforresortingto

thistrickofrepeatinghiswordssothattheysounded

hypocritical."Thearedirty,"hesaid,andthrewallthe

silverwarebackintothesink.

Shestareddownatit,herlipspresdtighttogether,then

plungedherhandsunderthesurface."Oh!"shecried,andjumped

27

thumbwasbleeding.

"Don'tmove,"hesaid."Stayrightthere."Heranupstairsto

thebathroomandrummagedinthemedicinechestforalcohol,

cotton,camebackdownshewasleaning

againsttherefrigeratorwithhereyesclod,stillholding

thehandanddabbedatherthumbwiththe

ezedittoehowdeep

thewoundwas."It'sshallow,"hesaid."Tomorrowyouwon'teven

knowit'sthere."Hehopedthatsheappreciatedhowquicklyhe

'dactedoutofconcernforher,he

thoughtthatitwouldbeanicegestureonherpartnottostart

upthatconversationagain,ashewastiredofit."I'llfinish

uphere,"hesaid."Yougoandrelax."

"That'sokay,"shesaid."I'lldry."

Hebegantowashthesilverwareagain.

"So,"shesaid,"youwouldn'thavemarriedmeifI'dbeen

black."

"ForChrist'ssake,Ann!"

"Well,that'swhatyousaid,didn'tyou"

"No,ad

beenblackweprobablywouldn'yblack

28

girlIeverreallyknewwasmypartnerinthedebatingclub."

"Butifwehadmet,andI'dbeenblack"

"Thenyouprobablywouldhavebeengoingoutwithablackguy."

Hepickeduptherinsingnozzleandsprayedthesilverware.

"Let'ssayIamblackandunattached,"shesaid,"andwemeet

andfallinlove."

watchinghimandhereyeswere

bright."Look,"hesaid,takingareasonabletone,"thisis

ereblackyouwouldn'tbeyou."Ashesaidthis

asnopossibleway

ofarguingwiththefactthatshewouldnotbeherlfifshe

wereblack.

"Iknow,"shesaid,"butlet'sjustsay."

ontheargumentbuthestillfelt

cornered."Saywhat"heasked.

"ThatI'mblack,butstillme,u

marryme"Hethough!aboutit.

"Well"swereevenbrighter."Willyoumarry

me"

"I'mthinking,"hesaid.

"Youwon't,Icantell."

"Let'snotmovetoofastonthis,"hesaid."Therearelotsof

29

'twanttodosomethingwewould

regretfortherestofourlives."

"o."

"Sinceyouputitthatway—"

"Yesorno."

"Jesus,."

Shesaid,"Thankyou,"andwalkedfromthekitchenintothe

tlaterheheardherturningthepagesof

thatshewastooangrytobeactuallyreading

it,butshedidn'tsnapthroughthepagesthewayhewouldhave

nedthemslowly,asifshewerestudyingeveryword.

Shewasdemonstratingherindifferencetohim,andithadthe

him.

Hehadnochoicebuttodemonstratehisindifferencetoher.

Quietly,thoroughly,

dthecountersandthestove.

Whilehewasatit,hedecided,hemightaswellmopthefloor.

Whenhewasdonethekitchenlookednew,thewayitlookedwhen

theywerefirstshownthehou.

htwas

clearandhecouldeafewstarstothewest,wherethelights

ofthetowndidn'minothetrafficwas

30

steadyandlight,ashamedthathe

herthirtyyears

uldallthatstuffmatter

thenHethoughtoftheyearstheyhadspenttogether,andhow

clotheywere,andhowwelltheykneweachother,andhis

throattightenedsothathecouldhardlybreathe.

inthe

doutsidethedoorandcalledhername."Ann,

I'mreallysorry,"hesaid."I'."

"How"shesaid.

ed

againstthedoor."I'llmarryyou,"hewhispered.

"We'lle,"shesaid."Goontobed.I'llbeoutinaminute."

yheheardthe

bathroomdooropenandclo.

"Turnoffthelight,"shesaidfromthehallway.

"What"

"Turnoffthelight."

roomwentdark."Allright,"here,butnothing

happened."Allright,"heardamovement

p,buthecouldn'

31

rtpoundedthewayithadontheirfirst

nighttogether,thewayitstilldidwhenhewokeatanoi

inthedarknessandwaitedtohearitagain—thesoundof

someonemovingthroughthehou,astranger.

Unit6

TheManintheWater

Asdisastersgo,thisonewasterrible,butnotunique,

wastheunusualelementofthebridge,ofcourandthefact

,too,

gton,thecityof

formandrules,turnedchaoticbyablastofrealwinterand

sfromWashington

NationalAirportthatnormallyflyaroundthepresidential

monumentslikehungrygullsare,forthemoment,reprented

rewastheaestheticclashaswell

—blue-and-greenAirFlorida,thenameofaflyinggarden,sunk

twas

worthnoticing,,therewasnothingvery

specialinanyofit,exceptdeath,which,whilealwaysspecial,

doesnotnecessarilybringmillionstotearsortoattention.

32

Why,then,theshockhere

Perhapsbecauthenationsawinthisdisastersomethingmore

sbecaupeoplesawinitno

failureatall,butrathersomethingsuccessfulabout

,afterall,weretwoformsofnaturein

collision:dnesday,

theelements,indifferentaver,

onthatsameafternoon,humannature—gropingandstruggling

—rototheoccasion.

Ofthefouracknowledgedheroesoftheevent,threeareable

UsherandEugeneWindsor,

aparkpolicehelicopterteam,riskedtheirliveverytime

vision,

sidebyside,theydescribedtheircourageasallintheline

kutnik,a28-year-oldemployeeofthe

CongressionalBudgetOffice,said:"It'ssomethingInever

thoughtIwoulddo"—referringtohisjumpingintothewater

kaddedthat"somebody

hadtogointhewater",deliveringeveryhero'slinethatis

,nobodyhadto

mebodyactuallydidsoispartofthe

reasonthisparticulartragedysticksinthemind.

33

Butthepersonmostresponsiblefortheemotionalimpactofthe

disasteristheoneknownatfirstsimplyas"themaninthe

water".Balding,probablyinhis50s,

enclingingwithfiveothersurvivorstothetailctionof

nwasdescribedbyUsherandWindsoras

imetheylowereda

lifelineandflotationringtohim,hepasditontoanother

ofthepasngers."Inamasscasualty,you'llfindpeoplelike

him,"saidWindsor."ButI'veneverenonewiththat

commitment."Whenthehelicoptercamebackforhimthemanhad

flessnesswasonereasonthestoryheld

nationalattention;tthathe

ile

hewasEveryman,andthusproof(asifoneneededit)thatno

manisordinary.

Still,hecouldneverhaveimaginedsuchacapacityinhimlf.

Onlyminutesbeforehischaracterwastested,hewassitting

intheordinaryplaneamongtheordinarypasngers,listening

tothestewardesstellinghimtofastenhisatbeltandsaying

somethingaboutthe"nosmoking"anrelaxedwith

theothers,s

hestartedtoread,ortodoze,ortoregretsomeharshremark

34

ddenlyheknewthatthe

eryotherpersononthat

flight,hewasdesperatetolive,whichmakeshisfinalactso

stunning.

Foratsomemomentinthewaterhemusthaverealizedthathe

wouldnotliveifhecontinuedtohandovertheropeandring

oknowit,nomatterhowslowtheeffectof

ehelicoptertook

offwithwhatwastobethelastsurvivor,hewatchedeverything

intheworldmoveawayfromhim,andheletithappen.

Yettherewassomethingelaboutourmanthatkeptour

thoughtsonhim,

wasthere,intheesntial,

part,naturecarednothing

,ontheotherhand,cared

aslongasthatmancouldlast,theywentateachother,nature

andman;theonemakingnodistinctionsofgoodandevil,acting

onnoprinciples,offeringnolifelines;theotheracting

whollyondistinctions,principlesand,perhaps,onfaith.

Sinceitwashewholostthefight,weoughttocomeagainto

35

reality,webelievetheopposite,andittakestheactofthe

maninthewatertoremindusofourtruefeelingsinthismatter.

Itisnottosaythateveryonewouldhaveactedashedid,or

asUsher,tevermovedthemento

challengedeathonbehalfoftheirfellowsisnotpeculiarto

the

whywewouldnotletgo

aninthewatergavealifelinetothepeople

gaspingforsurvival,hewaslikewigivingalifelinetotho

whowatchedhim.

Theoddthingisthatwedonotevenreallybelievethatthe

maninthewaterlosthisfight."EverythinginNaturecontains

allthepowersofNature,"in

dnotmakeice

storms,

couldhandlifeovertoastranger,andthatisapowerofnature

inthewaterthimlfagainstanimmovable,

impersonalenemy;hefoughtitwithkindness;andheheldit

hebestwecando.

Unit7

TheGreatestInvention

36

"Whatdoyouthinkisgoingtohappen,Jorkens"oneofusasked

onedayattheclub.

"Happen"Jorkenssaid."Thatishardtosay:intheolddays

onehadaroughideaofwhatothercountrieswantedtodoand

salldifferentnow."

"Howisitdifferent"askedtheman.

"Therearesomanyinventions,"Jorkenssaid,"ofwhichweknow

tamancancarryinabagabombthatismore

powerfulthanveralbattleships,itishardtofindoutwhat

iveyouanexample."

Iwasonashipinthetropics(Jorkenstoldus),andweput

redoflookingatthetropicala,soI

wentashoreandwalkedintoataverntoeiftheyhadany

rnedout,theyhadn't.

Buttherewasamantherewithablackmustacheandacertain

lookinhiyesthatmademewonderifhemightnothave

edhimifImightoffer

,hewasgoodenoughtoaccept,and

ebottle

hadbeenuncorkedandthewinepouredout,likeliquidtropical

sunlight,

whenacertainamounthadgonedown,hebegantotalk.

37

"WeaimedatthemasteryofthewholeCaribbean,"hesaid,"and

don'tthinkthatbecauwearealittlecountrywecouldnot

olongeramatterofarmies;itdepends

adascientistwho,

asIhavesinceenproved,hadnorivalwestoftheAtlantic."

"Youprovedit"Icouldnothelpsaying.

"Yes,"hesaid."Youshallhear."

Ihadanotherbottleofwinetbeforehim,andIdidhear.

"Youmaynothavethoughtit,"hesaid,"butIwasinour

MinistryofWarfare."

AndIhadnotthoughtit,forhewasnotatallwhatonewould

fare,asheexplained

tome,hasaltered.

"OurMinister,"hesaid,"wasacavalryofficerandcouldnot

ghtofwarsimplyas

anopportunityforcavalrychargesandfineuniformsandglory.

Wehadtogetridofhiminordertofulfillourjust

aspirations."

"Andwhatarethey"Iasked.

"Why,thedominationofthewholeCaribbean,"hesaid."Andit

hepeoplewhohavebeen

borntoit."

38

"Ofcour,"Isaidsoothingly,thoughIdidnotknowforwhich

countryhespoke.

"OncetheMinisterofWarfarewasgone,"hewenton,"weturned

ourmindstomodernwarfare,andwebegantomakegreatprogress.

Modernwarfaregivesgrandopportunitiestolittlecountries.

Once,ifanationhadtwelvebattleshipsitwasaGreatPower,

tifweknowhowtoletloo

aplaguecapableofdestroyingwholenationsMustwebesilent

lspeak."

"Certainly,"Isaid.

"Othernationsknowsomethingofgermwarfare,"thestranger

said."adthe

manwhocouldnotonlygiveusthat,butamoreeffectiveway

tospreadit—that

wehadmarvelouspowerswithinourgrasp,ifonlyCarasierra

couldbekeptathiswork."

"Idle,washe"Isaid,forIthoughtitverylikelyinahot

countrylikethat.

"No,"saidthestranger."spurredonbya

ylifewasdevotedtomakinginventions.

Yes,heworkedandhewasworkingforusonsomethingwonderful.

Ah,ed,andrightly,onthatman'swisdom;butwe

39

forgothisfolly."

Themanwassilent.

"WhatdidCarasierrado"Iasked.

"Thatambitionwasdrivinghimallthetime,"hesaid."Heknew

thathewasthegreatestscientistintheworld,andhewas

asthegermonwhichhewas

workingemedthemostwonderfulthingeverinvented,hewas

orehehadcompletedit,another

everything:

threats,appealstohimtothinkofourancientglory,even

splendorofhisnewinspirationgrippedhim,andhewaslike

amandrugged."

"

sonearlyoneoftheGreatPowersbutforafancythatcameto

thisman'smind."

"WhatwasCarasierra'sfancy"Iasked.

"Iwilltellyou,"hesaid."DayafterdayIwenttohis

laboratoryandappealedtohim,almostintears,toreturnto

,imevery

himthatifhewouldnotreturntohisproperworkhewouldhave

40

rewasaqueerlightinhiyesthatday,

donlysay,'I

havedoneit,havedoneit.'"

"'Donewhat'Iaskedhim,"thestrangercontinued.

"'Themostwonderfulinvention,'hesaid,'themostwonderful

inventioneverachievedbyman.'"

"'Youwillbeshot,'Irepeated,'ifyoudon'tgetonwithyour

work.'"

"'Thisismorewonderful,'hesaid."

"'Well,showittome,'meouttohislawn.

lyasquareyardofgrass,marked

offwithastripofwhitetape.'Whatisit'Iasked."

"Hetookuphistapeandmarkedoffasmallerarea,oneofonly

afewinches.'Doyoueanythingwonderfulthere'heasked.

'Lookclo.'"

"AndIlookedcloandsaid,'No.'"

"'Thatiswhatiswonderful,'hesaid.'Youenoblade

differentfromtherest'"

"'No,'Isaidagain."

'"Thenyouhaveenthemostwonderfulinventionofallthat

manhasmade,'herepliedwithawildlookinhiyes.'For

oneofthobladesofgrassImademylf.'"

41

"'Butwhatistheuofthat'Iasked."

"'U!U!'herepeated,andlaughed.'Idonotworkforu,

butforwonder.'"

"'Itwillbewonderful,'Isaid,'whenwedominatethe

Caribbean.'"

"'Itisfarmorewonderful,'hesaid,'tohavemadeabladeof

grass.'"

"ded,'Youwillreturntoyourwork

now.'"

"Andatthathelaughedmorewildly."

"'No,nowthatIcandothis,'heexclaimed.'Iamgoingonto

makeflowers.'"

"Iexaminedhisbladeofgrass,andhegavemeeveryfacility,

dewas

perfectandwasclearlyalive,buthesatisfiedmethatitwas

esponsible

threatenedhimwithdeath,andhehadtobeexecuted,..."

"Whetheritwasthatthestranger'stalewastold,"Jorkens

concluded,puttingdownhisglass,"orthattheinfluenceof

thestrangewinewasover,hefellthentosilentbrooding,

gazing,asitemed,intothepastatthegripthathiscountry

42

hadlostontheCaribbean,perhapsontheworld."

Unit8

PsychologicallySpeaking

:(sternly)Oh,stopthat,Thelma!Ideclare,youmake

menervous,itI

knowyouwantsomething,oryouwouldn'

withit.

Thelma:(Embarrasd,smiles,twistsherapronandwrigglesher

shoulders.)Well,ma'am;I,well,it''sadance

upatCrosby'sbarntonight,andBillFox,youknowhim,ma'am,

heworksinPaxley'sgaragehe'saskedmetogo.

:(Stopswing,looksatThelma,speaksslowly.)

We-ll,Idon'tknow.(Pau.)AboutthisBillFox,Thelma,are

yousurehe'sgenteel

Thelma:(shocked)Genteel,ma'amWhy,he'sthatdelicate-like

—

:Howso,Thelma

Thelma:(shyly)Well,hegavehismotheranewcoatlast

Christmas—buthewouldn'tthinkofgivingmeanythingso

personal-like.

:dhegiveyou

43

Thelma:(proudly)HegavemeatofbookscalledGreekMyth

—mythic—mythiologgio,that'sit!It'sallaboutatribe

ofpeoplewholivedinmostpeculiarplaces—likeintheair,

andunderthea—(Shakesherhead.)Oh,I'dneverbelieve

awordofitifBillhadn'tgivenittome!

:(Laughs.)Thatmakeshimperfectlyrespectable,

Thelma,doesit

Thelma:(enthusiastically)Oh,yes,ma'am!Iwouldn'tgoout

withhim,unlesshewas—notwhenI'mworkingforyou.(Puts

handovermouthtostiflelaugh.)

:Ok,(airily)Goalongtothedancethen,buteyou

behaveyourlfproperly!

Thelma:Oh,yes,ma'ou,ma'am.

(Startstowarddoor,stops,

stares,pretendstopickupthreadsfromfloor,straightens

chairs,etc.,inordertoremain.)

Eve:(Rushesinimpulsively,throwsoffherhat,sitsdown.)

Oh,Mother,I'mgladyou'rehere!I'vebeentothemost

'ssimplytoo,

toodivine!

:Indeed,dearInwhatway

Eve:(breathless)Oh,Mother,you'venoideahowprimitivewe

44

are—howsimple,howbourgeois!Yououghttohearhowpeople

inhercountrylive—sohappy,sofree!Noneofoursilly

conventionsandridiculousstandardsoflife!Why,hermother

wouldn'thavedreamedofmarryingherfather,itwouldsimply

haveemedchildishtoher!Andhereweare,livinglikeour

colonialancestors—PuritansorQuakers,'stoo

absurd!

:Mydearchild—stuffandnonn!

Eve：Nowit'snouyoursayinganything，Mother—I'vemade

nandIhavedecidedonanexperimental

'releavingtonightonthe12:15forNewYork!If

itworksout,ifwedecideonapermanentmarriage,we'llcome

ot,we'redeterminedto

goourparateways,andeachekourowncareerinNewYork!

:(Dazed,ris,wingdropsfromherlaptofloor.)

Why,Eve,youdon'tknowwhatyou'resaying—youcan'tmean

'rejoking,Iknowyouare!(Thelmacomesforward,picks

upwing,,whomannerchangestoone

ofsharpreprimand.)What,Thelma,youherestill!Howmany

timeshaveItoldyounottosnoop!Listeningtothingsthat

don'tconcernyou!Leavetheroomatonce!

Thelma:(obediently)Yes,ma'am,(Exitshastily.)

45

:,comehereandtellmewhatyouare

talkingabout.(Sitsdownonsofa.)

Eve:(sittingbesideher)Oh,youheardme,'s

perfectlysimple,andyouneedn'thaventThelmaout—it's

'sthewholetrouble,ourstupid,

small-townwayofdoingthings,'ve

nothingtohideorbeashamedof—why,Stepheniscomingover

herefortea,'llbehereinalittle

while!

:Eve,youjustwaituntilyourfather—

Eve:Ofcourwe'.

Wedon'texpectyoutobesochildishastolockmeupinmy

room,callthepolice,oranythingsonaiveasthat!

:(Weeps.)Isuppothere'snothing-nothingIcan

sayordotostopyou,llbesorrysomeday.

Eve:WhywillIbesorryIdon'tthinkyouandDadaresoideally

happy-Ibethe'snoteveninlovewithyouanymore!Heprobably

wouldn'w.

Mother,confess—wouldhe

:(shocked)Eve!Howcanyousaysuchthingstome

Eve:(laughing)Why,Idon''snopointin

notsayingthem,ifthey'retrue!

46

:This—thisMadameTergehova,shemaylivelikethat

inherowncountry,butit'snotthewayoflifeinAmerica!

Eve:—rrow,

conventionalwayoflivingcantgoonforever!StephenandI,

wellbepioneersinthisgreatcrusadetowardanewandfree

civilization!

:(sadly)Butatwhatacost,child—atwhatacost!

Eve:Oh,it',you'llneverunderstand!Illgo

andpackmybagnow.(Ris.)I'mnotgoingtoleadthissilly,

uncivilizedlifeanylonger,that'sall.

(tscrushed;Thelmaenters.)

Thelma:Pardonme,ma'am,butthere'sagentlemantoeyou.

Here'shiscard,ma'am.(ard.)

:(startled)!Strange—thesame

name!ButIneverheardofhim.(Shrugs.)Showhimin,Thelma.

(urns,

Thelma.)

ProfessorWaring:(Comesforwardsmiling,takesherhand.)I'm

CharlesWaring,andyou'reBessieKent—youwereBessieWaring

once,wifeofmybrotherClifford,That'salongtimeago.I've

alwayswantedtoknowyou,butrightafterClifford'sdeathI

spentsomeyearsinEurope,thenwanderedovervariousother

47

partsoftheglobesothatIneverdidgetachancetoeyou.

:Why,yes—rdspokeof

havingabrother,butit'sallsolongago.I'

dositdown,I'mgladtoknowyou,Charles,(Bothsitdown.)

Youmusthavehadamostinterestinglifetravelingaroundas

,wasitsolelyforpleasure

ProfessorWaring:No,Iwascontinuallyworking,investigating

andstudying,collectingmaterialformynewbookon

lmeaboutyourlf,Bessie—

IalwaynviedCliffordhisbriefhappiness.

:(Sighs.)Oh,Iwashappythen!Butitendedsoquickly,

nlyafewshortmonths

eWorldWarcame,andin1917Cliffordwas

revenfoundwherehisgravewasfor

certain.

ProfessorWaring:Ihaveheard,erwardIknew

youremarriedandIhavealwayshopedthatyouhadinsome

measurefoundanewhappiness.

:(Weepingasshetalks,dabshereyescontinuallywith

herhandkerchief.)Oh,Charles,youaresokind!Yes,Ithought,

Iwashappy,ideallyso—but,oh,Charles,itwasafool's

paradi!Ifoundthatoutjustbeforeyoucame!

48

ProfessorWaring:(sympathetically)Tellmeallaboutit,

Bessie.

:Eve,mylittlegirl—she'ighteennow—hasjust

decidedtorunoffwiththeboynextdoor,andtryan

gIcansayordocanstopher.

Andshehasopenedmyeyestomyownlife,too—hasmademe

ethatTomonlystayswithmeforconventionalreasonsand

hewouldn'tevencareifIranoffwithanotherman!Oh,Charles,

Iamverymirable,butIhavenorighttotroubleyouwith

asortof

relativetome,aren'tyou

ProfessorWaring:Oh,yesindeed,Bessie,Iwantyoutofeel

thatway,mee.(Rubs

foreheadspeculatively,paus.)Willyourhusbandand

daughterbeheresoon

:Oh,yes,they'llbothbedownforteainafewminutes.

AndStephentoo—he'stheboyEveisrunningoffwith.(Starts

weeping.)Oh,Charles,whatshallIdo

ProfessorWaring:Oh,yesindeed,whatyouwant,Bessie,isthis:

topreventthisfoolishnessonEve'spart,andtoknowifyour

ht

:Oh,Charles,yes,that'sit!

49

ProfessorWaring:WellsooneifTomwouldcarewhetheryou

tentome,

ofcourknowsthecircumstancesofyourearlymarriageand

ofClifford'sdeathHowatfirstwehopedhemightbealive

somewhereAndthefinaluncertaintyastojustwherehewas

buried

:(puzzled)Yes—oh,wsallthat.

ProfessorWaring:Wellthen,Bessie,fortherestoftheevening

IamCliffordWaring,notCharles!

:YouClifford-whatdoyoumean

ProfessorWaring：Justthis:I'11pretendI'myourfirsthusband.

(excited,dramatic)IwasnotkilledinactioninFrance,as

wassuppod,but,woundedandshell-shocked,Ilayhelpless

llyrecovering,Iwanderedall

overtheworld,huntingsomecluetomyidentity—hopingto

y,onenight,I

hadashock,itallcameback—myformerlife—andIamhere

toclaimyou,Bessie!

:(thrilled)Oh,Charles,thewayyousayit,items

bsolutelywicked.(delighted)(Goes

uptomirror,pullsherhairoutinasofterfashion,readjusts

herdress.)But,Charles,whyshouldyoudosuchathingfor

50

meWhy,forallyouknow,aftertonightyoumayhavemehanging

aroundyourneckfortherestofyourlife!

ProfessorWaring:Icanthinkofworthingsthanthat,Bessie.

(ughsgirlishly.)ButI'mafraiditwon'tturnout

,tomeitwilljustbeaveryinterestinglittle

rearchinpsychology.

:Shh—IhearTomandEvecoming

downstairsnow!Ohdear,Idon'tehowIcangothroughwith

this,Charles!(changedinto

'sinalow

,still

standing,speaksdramatically.)Tom,I—Imustprepareyou

forashock.

:(StandswitharmstillaboutEve.)IfyoumeanEve

here,I—

:(hastily)No,no,,youremember—years

ago—Iwasmarriedoncebefore—wethoughtmyhusbandwas

alwayshadastrangefeeling—Oh,

Tom,there'ntlemanhere

—letmeprenthim—!Clifford,this

,myhusband—atleastIthoughthewasmyhusband!

:Waring!Bessie,whatdoyoumean

51

ProfessorWaring:,shemeansjustthis:Iwasnot

killedinactioninFrance,butcircumstancesoverwhichIhad

asIwasfree

todoso,IcamestraighttoBessie,andIshouldlikenothing

otake

heroutofthefalpositionshehasbeeninalltheyears,

andthesoonerthebetter.

Unit9

QuickFixSociety

MyhusbandandIjustgotbackfromaweek'svacationinWest

,wecouldn'twaittogetthere,sowetook

thePennsylvaniaTurnpikeandacoupleofinterstates."Look

atthogorgeousfarms!"myhusbandexclaimedaspastoral

sceneryslidbyusat55mph."Didyouethocows"Butat

55mph,it'sdifficulttoeanything;thegorgeousfarmslook

likemovinggreencheckerboards,andtheherdofcowsisreduced

rhours,ouronly

realamumentconsistedofcountingexitsignsandwondering

gthere

certainlydidn'temlikehalfthefun;infact,gettingthere

wasn'tanyfunatall.

52

So,whenitwastimetoreturntoourhomeoutsideof

Philadelphia,Iinsistedthatwetakeadifferentroute."Let's

explorethatcountryside,"daysittook

ustomakethereturntripwerefilledwithnewexperiences.

WetouredaCivilWarbattlefieldandstoodonthelittlehill

thatfifteenthousandConfederatesoldiershadtriedtotake

onanotherhotJulyafternoon,onehundredandtwenty-five

yearsago,notknowingthathalfofthemwouldgetkilledin

eslowlythroughmainstreetsofsleepy

PennsylvaniaDutchtowns,slowingtotwentymilesanhourso

asnottocrowdthehorsandhorcarriagesontheirwayto

redtoytrainsandantiquecarsincountymuums

fedourlves

withspicysaladsandhomemadebreadinan"all-you-can-eat"

farmhourestaurant,thenwanderedoutsidetoenjoythe

sunshineandtheherdsofcows—nolittledotsthistime—

eturnedhomerefreshed,revitalized,and

me,gettingtherehadbeenthefun.

Whyisitthatthefeaturelessturnpikesandinterstatesare

theroutesofchoiceforsomanyofusWhydoesn'teverybody

tryslowingdownandexploringthecountrysideButmoreandmore,

,

53

mostAmericansareconstantlyinahurry—andnotjusttoget

ntryhasbecomeanationin

archofthequickfix—inmorewaysthanone.

Nowinsteadoflater:Onceuponatime,Americansunderstood

littleofeach

paycheckaway"forarainyday".Ifwewantedanewsofaora

weekatalakesidecabin,wesavedupforit,andthebanks

helpedusoutbyprovidingspecialChristmasClubandVacation

vedintherightpartofthecountry,

weplantedcornandbeansandwaitedpatientlyfortheharvest.

Ifwewantedtobethinner,wesimplyatelessofourfavorite

foodsandwaitedpatientlyforthescaletodrop,apoundat

aywearen'outloansinstead

ofmakingdeposits,orweuourcreditcardtogetthat

furnitureorvacationtrip—relaxnow,ur

food,likeourclothing,

we'reinahurrytoloweight,wetrythelatestmiraclediet,

guaranteedtotakeawaytenpoundsintendays...unlesswe're

richenoughtoaffordliposuction.

Fasterinsteadofslower:Notonlydowewantitnow;wedon't

neralimpatience,

the"I-hate-to-wait"attitude,hasinfectedeverylevelofour

54

dofstandinginlineatthebank,wewithdraw

twentydollarsinasmanycondsfromanautomaticteller

takeourfastmoneytoafastconveniencestore

(whywaitinlineatthesupermarket),wherewebuyafrozen

dinnerallwrappedupandreadytobeputintothemicrowave...

unlesswedon'tcaretowaiteventhatlongandpickupsome

urfastmealdoesn'tagreewithus,

wehurrytothemedicinecabinetfor—youguesdit—some

fastpictures,sowebuyPolaroidcameras.

Welikefastentertainment,sowerecordourfavoriteTVshow

ourinformationfast,too:messagesflashed

onacomputerscreen,documentsfaxedfromyourtelephoneto

mine,currenteventsin90-condburstsonEyewitnessNews,

historyreducedto"BicentennialMinutes".Symbolically,the

eanyonekeep

Americawaitinglongerthanovernight

Superficiallyinsteadofthoroughly:What'smore,wedon'teven

,welingeredovereverywordofaclassic

,sincefasterisbetter,

wereadthecondendversionorputatapeofthebookinto

ourcar'

buytheCliff'sNotes,especiallyifwearestudents,sowe

55

don',welistenedto

everynoteofBeethoven',wedon'thave

thetime;instead,wecanenjoy26condsofthatfamous

"da-da-da-DUM"theme—and99othermusicalexcerptsalmost

asfamous—onour"GreatestMomentsoftheClassics"

all,whywaste45minuteslisteningtothewholethingwhen

someoneelhassavedusthetroubleofpickingoutthebest

partsOurmagazinearticlescometouspre-digestedinReader's

sbriefings,thankstoUSAToday,aremorebrief

rpersonalrelationshipshavebecome

dofdevotinglargepartsofourdaystoour

lovedones,wereplacethemwithsomethingcalled"quality

time",which,moreoftenthannot,sh

frombooktomusictonewsitemtorelationship,wedonot

realizethatwearelivingourlivesbytheicebergprinciple

—payingattentiononlytothetopandignoringthe8/9that

liesjustbelowthesurface.

Whendiditallbegin,thisurgetodoitnow,togetitover

with,toskimthesurfaceoflifeWhyareweinsuchahurry

tosavetimeAndwhatarewegoingtodowithallthetimewe

savebesides,ofcour,rushingouttosavesomemoreThesad

truthisthatwedon'tknowhowtouthetimewesave,becau

56

allwe'regoodatissavingtime...notspendingtime.

Don'tgetmewrong.I'mnotsayingweshouldgobacktogrowing

ourownvegetablesormakingourownclothes.I'mnoteven

advocatingamassmovementtocutallourcreditcardsinto

sayingthatallofusneedtothinkmore

riouslyaboutputtingthebrakesonour

"we-want-it-all-and-we-want-it-now"lifestylebeforewespeed

'stakethetimetoreadevery

wordofthatstory,heareverynoteofthatmusic,andenjoy

'srediscoverlife

intheslowlane.

Unit10

TheRicher,thePoorer

OvertheyearsLottiehadurgedhersisterBesstopreparefor

eyearsBesshadlivedeachdayasifthere

hadabank

dtheclothesonher

back,andtherestofherworldlyposssionsinanoldsuitca.

Lottiehadhatedbeingachild,eingherparentsconstantly

worryingaboutmoney,

rnedtoskated

57

couldn'twaittogrowupandbuyherlfthebestofeverything.

Assoonasanyonewouldhireher,Lottieputherlftowork.

Shelookedafterbabies,sheranerrandsfortheold.

Shenevertouchedapennyofhermoney,thoughherchild'smouth

edimesbegantoadd

uptodollars,shelosthertasteforsweets.

Bythetimeshewastwelve,shewasclerkingafterschoolin

ayssheworkedaslongasshewas

e

enteredhighschool,shewouldwearawardrobethatnooneel

wouldbeabletomatch.

Butherfreshmanyearfoundherunabletoindulgethisfantasy,

particularlywhenheradmiringinstructorsadvidhertothink

nherfamilyhadevergoneto

ldshowthemallwhatshecoulddo,ifsheput

hermindtoit.

Shebegantobankhermoney,andherbankbookbecamehermost

preciousposssion.

Inherthirdyearofhighschool,shefoundajobinasmall

butexpandingrestaurant,whereshecashieredfromthebusy

astyearofhighschool,the

58

businessincreadsorapidlythatLottiewasfacedwiththe

choiceofstayinginschoolorworkingfulltime.

handwasworthtwointhe

future.

Besshadaboy-friendintheschoolband,whohadnoother

expectedtobettled

withahomeandfamilywhileBesswasstillwaitingforHarry

toearnenoughtobuyamarriagelicen.

ThatBessmarriedHarrystraightoutofhighschoolwasnot

ttienevermarriedatallwasnotreally

hreetimesshewashalfwaypersuaded,

buttogiveupajobthatpaidwellforahomemakingjobthat

paidnothingwasariskshewasincapableoftaking.

Bess'

Harrylivedlikegypsies,withHarryplayingincond-rate

bandsalloverthecountry,evengettinghimlfandBess

reofteninragsandneverinriches.

Bessgrievedbecaushehadnochild,nothavingnenough

kelyshewould

havedumpedthemonLottie'sdoorstep.

ThatLottiehadadoorstepwasonlybecauherboss,having

boughtacondhou,offeredLottiehisfirsthouataprice

59

solowandtermssoreasonablethatitwouldhavebeenlike

losingmoneytorefu.

Sheshutofftheroomsshedidn'tu,lettingthemgotoruin.

Sincesheatehermealsout,shehadnofoodathome,anddid

notencouragecallers,whoalwayxpectedacupoftea.

Herwayoflifewasmeanandmirly,butshedidnotknowit.

Shethoughtshelivedfrugallyinhermiddleyearssothatshe

couldliveincomfortwhenshemostneededpeaceofmind.

Theyears,afterforty,lyLottiewassixty,

andmadetoretirebyherboss'sson,whohadnontimental

feelingaboutkeepingheronuntilshewasreadytoquit.

Shemadeveralattemptstofindotheremployment,butnobody

firsttimeinherlifeLottiewould

gladlyhaveworkedfornothing,tohavesomeplacetogo,

somethingtodowithherday.

Harrydiedabroad,inathird-ratehotel,withBessweepingas

eftnothingbut

asn'tevenmoneyforherpassagehome.

Lottie,trappedbythebloodtie,knewshewouldhavetond

Bessmoneytobringherhome.

IttookLottieaweektogetabedroomready,aweekofhard

averythingtodo,everythingto

60

ewasthroughtheroomlookedsofresh

andnewthatLottiefeltshederveditmorethanBess.

ShewouldletBesshaveherroom,butthemattresswassolumpy,

thecarpetsoworn,thecurtainssothreadbarethatLottie's

wshewouldhavetoredothat

room,too,andwentaboutdoingiteagerly.

Whenshewasthroughupstairs,shewasshockedtoehowdismal

edtoignoreit,but

withnowheretogotoescapeit,thecontrastgrewmore

intolerable.

Sheworkedherwayfromkitchentoparlor,persuadingherlf

shewasonlyimprovingtheroomstogiveherlfsomethingto

tshesleptlikeachildafteralongandhappyday

havingmorefunthanshehadeverhad

livingeachhourforitlf.

gher

gleamingmirrors,atfirstwithvagueawareness,thenwith

painfulclarity,Lottiesawherlfasotherssawher,andcould

notstandthesight.

Shewentonaspendingspreefromthespecialtyshopstobeauty

salon,emergingtransformedintoawomanwhobelievedin

miracles.

61

ShewasinthekitchencookingaturkeywhenBessrangthebell.

Herheartraced,andshewonderediftheheatfromtheovenwas

responsible.

Shewenttothedoor,yshe

sufferedBess'mbrace,herheartracingharder,hereyes

suddenlysmartingfromtheonrushofcoldair.

"Oh,Lottie,it'sgoodtoeyou,"Besssaid,butsaying

nothingaboutLottie'rsBess,

puttingdownhershabbysuitca,said,"I'llsleeplikearock

tonight,"

lavishtable,top-heavywithturkey,Besssaid,"I'lltake

lightanddarkboth,"withnomarvelingatthesizeofthebird,

orthattherewasturkeyfortwoelderlywomen,oneofthemtoo

poortobuyherownbread.

Withtheglowofgoodfoodinherstomach,Bessbegantotell

rerichwithplacesandpeople,mostofthem

lowly,ereflectedthejoysand

sorrowsofherremembering,andaboveall,theloveshelived

bythatenhancedthepoorestplace,thehumblestperson.

ThenitwasthatLottieknewwhyBesshadmadenomentionof

herfinery,ortheshiningroom,orthetwelve-poundturkey.

owshewouldetheroomas

62

itreallylooked,andLottieasshereallylooked,andthe

tshesaw

onlywhatshehadcomeeking,aplaceinhersister'shome

andheart.

Shesaid,"That'etheyearsudyou"

"Itwasmewhodidn'tuthem,"saidLottiewithregret."I

tthebestofthemwouldgowithoutmy

'smylife

story,'stooneartheendtotry."

Besssaid,"Toknowhowmuchthereistoknowisthebeginning

'tcounttheyearsthatareleftus.

Atourtimeoflifeit''vetoomuch

catchinguptodotowasteaminuteofawakinghourfeeling

sorryforyourlf."Lottiegrinned,arealwideopengrin,

"Well,fIhad

anynI'dfeelsorryformylf,'mtoo

oldtokickupmyheels,butI'mgoingtoletyoushowmehow.

IfIlandonmyhead,Iguessitwon'iddy

already,andIlikeit."

Unit11

YouHavetoGetMeOutofHere

63

TheskiesabovetheoldColoradominingtownofTelluridewere

abrightRockyMountainbluethatSaturday,May27,

wasaperfectdayforrockclimberstotesttheirskills.

KatieKemble,a34-year-oldnurandownerofaclimbingschool,

sheleft,

Katieandahalf-dozenothershadgottentogetheratherhome,

whereshechattedwithRicHatch,a34-year-oldsalesmanfrom

heardKatiewasastrong,disciplined

climber,ered

howawomansosmallandsoft-spokencouldhavesuchstrength

andendurance.

WhentheyarrivedinTelluride,thegroupdiscusdplansfor

aclimbupOphirWall,er

granitefacejutsuphundredsoffeet,withonlyafewhandholds

tobearaclimber'dalwaysbeenthepartof

kfast,Katiewaspaired

climbedupanddownthewallthatmorning,

sherealizedshewasbeginningtolikehergood-naturednew

friend.

By2:30thatafternoon,

onhislastclimb.

Foramoment,Katieallowedthepeaceofthegorgeousspring

64

gcross-leggedandshelteredbythe

cliff,shewasunawareofthe54-mphgustssweepingoverthe

topofthewall.

"Rock!"Ric'hesize

ofgarbagecanswerecrashingdownthecliffandexploding

aroundher.

,withaloudcrack,arockbumped

offOphir'sfaceandhitthebackofKatie'ce

oftheblowthrewherfive-feetintotheair.

Katielandedonsharpstonesandfeltburningpainsinherleft

ngdown,shecouldeonlytwobrokenbones

rlegwasmissing!

RicquicklycamedownwhileKatielookedaroundherfortherest

nditlyingclototheleftsideofher

tillattachedtoherkneebyaninch-bandofskin

andmuscle.

Asanur,Katieknewshecouldbleedtodeathinamatterof

limbingschool,Katie

hyearsof

guidingdifficultjourneys,shehaddisciplinedherlfto

controlheremotions."Facethefear,knowwhatyouhavetodo

anddoit"gpainofffromhermind,Katie

65

carefullyliftedthealmostveredlegandstraighteneditout.

Itfeltodd-softandwarm,withoutthensationofbelonging

toherbody.

Ricwasnowbesideher,alookofhorrorinhiyes.

"Weneedtostopthebleeding,"sheyelled.

Scramblingoverthestones,Ricbroughtsomenylonropeheud

inclimbing.

Pale-facedandtrembling,Rictoldher,"I'dbettergoget

help."

"There'snotime,"shesaidfirmly."Youhavetogetmeoutof

here!"

At160pounds,ldhecarryherahalf-mile

onthesteep,roughslopeRicpickedKatieupandcarriedher

inhisarms.

"Don'tworry,"hesaid."Iwon'tleaveyou.I'lleyouthrough

thisalltheway."

AsRicstruggleddownthetrail,hetriedtoignorethegruesome

sightofKatie'sleg,clutchedinherlefthand,onlyeight

lowedhardandchokedbackthe

naua.

Katiesawfearcrosshisface."Ric,ifIpassout,thisiswhat

youneedtodo."Shegavehimdetailedinstructions,hopingto

66

distracthimfromthoughtsofherdyinginhisarms.

Theycametoaslope,asteepquarter-milefieldofrocks.

oakedhisshirtand

mixedwithKatie'rtwasracing,andbreathcame

hehardestphysical

nhethoughtofthewoman

inhisarms,hewasabletopushhimlfharder.

Itwasabout3:30bythetimeRicstaggeredoffthetrail.

Anotherclimberwhohadwitnesdtherock-slidewastherewith

histruck,speddown

theroad,bumpsntlightningboltsofpainthroughKatie's

body.

Katiewasamazedthatshehadn'

sheknewwhy.I'mtheonlyonewithamedicalbackground.I've

gottostayconscious.

ThenurondutyattheTellurideMedicalCenterheardpounding

onthebackdoorandopenedittofindtwopoliceofficersand

dmet

Katie'helpedRicandthe

othersputKatieonthetable.

Someofthevolunteerswerenewlytrainedandhadneveren

tiesawtheirashenfaces,shetook

67

command:"I''regoingtohaveto

."Shethrustoutbotharms,fistsclenchedto

expotheveins,andgavethemprecitechnicaldetailsof

whattheymustdo.

Katie'

eededadvancedmedicaltreatment,andsoon,Dr.

Ingalls''s,

torputacuff

aroundtheleftthigh;ifthearteriesrelaxed,Katiecoulddie

inminutes.

Withinthehour,nitialshock

begantowearoff,thenerveendingsbecamemorensitive,

causingevengreaterpain.

elicopter

arrived,Katieknewthatherdesperateneedtodirectherown

ldnowgiveherlftothecareoftho

sheknewandtrusted.

.

DavidFisherarrived,Katielookedhimintheeye:"Canyousave

myleg"

"No,"hesaid.

wassurpridtofindthelowerleg

68

ctionsofleghadreparablearteries."Thisisone

luckyyounglady,"hetoldhisstaff."Shehasachanceofusing

thelegagainafterall."

dn't

believethisfrail,unconsciouspatientwasthesamewomanwho

haddirectedherownrescueandemergencycare.

WhenKatieawoke,hourslater,shecouldn'trememberatfirst

epainstruck,andtheawfulmemory

hiver,

weretenofthem!"Look!"east

shehadafightingchance.

aily

e

's,sheenduredhalfadozen

astaken

fromherrightlegtofashionanarteryforherleft.

Katiewouldhavetowearametalframeremblingalegbrace.

Eachdayshewouldhavetoturnscrewstolengthenthebrace

byonemillimeter,stretchingthesofttissue,nerves,arteries,

veinsandskinasthebonegrew.

Therewouldbenoguarantees,butshealreadyhadnsationin

herlegandfoot,andtherewashope.

69

Determinedtoremainstrong,Katieheldinheremotionsfor

stuck

inahospitalbed,inpainandwithanuncertainfuture.

Suddenly,edforallshe'dlost,forthe

hetearsstopped,she

admittedshehadgainedoneinestimablething—Ric.

Throughitall,Ric,amanshehardlyknew,hadremainedbyher

firstfourweeksofherfour-monthhospitalstay,

asalwaysone

ndedherofhiswords

onthetrail:"I'lleyouthroughthisalltheway."

Katieknewthatshehadcometocareforhimasmuchashe

mthatmomenton,their

relationshipblossomedintolove.

Unit12

ConfessionsofaMiducatedMan

e

confessionofamiducatedman.

Ihavebecomemostawareofmylackofapropereducation

t

isasimpleone:amIpreparedtoliveandcomprehendaworld

70

inwhichthereare3billionpeopleNottheworldasitwasin

1850or1900,forwhichmyeducationmighthavebeenadequate,

bestplacetoapplythattestis

outsidethecountry—especiallyAsiaorAfrica.

aredme

verywellforabird'htmehow

torecognizeeasilyandinstantlythethingsthatmakeoneplace

phyhadinstructed

meindifferencesofterrain,resources,andproductivity.

Comparativeculturehadinstructedmeinthedifferencesof

pologyhadinstructedme

inthedifferencesoffacialbonestructure,skincolorand

t,myeducationprotectedme

tsurpridatthefactthatsome

peoplelivedinmudhutsandothersinbamboocottages;orthat

someudwoodforfuelandothersdung;orthatsomeenjoyed

musicwithafive-notescaleandotherswithtwelve;orthat

somepeoplewerevegetarianbyreligionandothersby

preference.

whatmyeducationfailedtodowastoteachmethattheprincipal

significanceofsuchdifferenceswasthattheywerelargely

71

ferenceswereallbutwipedout

ationhadby-pasdthe

ailedtograspanddefinethefactthat

beyondthedifferencesarerealitiesscarcelycomprehended

simplestrealityof

allwasthatthehumancommunitywasone—greaterthanany

ofitsparts,greaterthantheparatenessimpodbythe

nations,greaterthanthedifferentfaithsandloyaltiesorthe

rgerunitywasthe

mostimportantcentralfactofourtime—somethingonwhich

peoplecouldbuildatatimewhenhopeemedmisty,almost

unreal.

AsIwritethis,Ihavethefeelingthatmywordsfailtogive

,theideaitlf

isatruthwhichallpeoplesreadilyaccepteveniftheydonot

utitdifferently,rtobeat

homeanywhereintheworldIhadtoforgetthethingsIhadbeen

edoutthatmyabilitytogetalong

withotherpeoplesdependednotsomuchuponmycomprehension

oftheuniquenessoftheirwayoflifeasmycomprehensionof

mportanttorespectthe

differences,certainly,buttostoptherewaslikeclearingthe

72

u

gotthroughcomparingnotes,youdiscoveredthatyouwereboth

talkingaboutthesameneighborhood,.,thisplanet,andthe

conditionsthatmadeitpleasantorhostiletohumanlife.

Onlyafewyearsagoaneducationindifferencesofreferences

satatimewhen

wethoughtofotherplacesandpeopleslargelyoutofcuriosity

hemarkofarounded

mantobewelltraveledandtoknowabouttheamazingvariations

asn'tthetypeof

knowledgeyouhadtolivebyandbuildon.

-flungareas

whichhadbeencureintheirremotenesssuddenlybecame

atonceanewtype

ofeducationbecamenecessary,aneducationinliberationfrom

balismhadpersistedfromearliesttimes,

educationhadto

teachmanthemostdifficultlessonofall:tolookatsomeone

anywhereintheworldandbeabletorecognizetheimageof

emphasisuponsuperficialdifferenceshadtogivewayto

educationformutualityandforcitizenshipinthehuman

73

community.

Insuchaneducationwebeginwiththefactthattheuniver

arareoccurrence

amongthemillionsofgalaxiesandsolarsystemsthatoccupy

hisparticularsolarsystemlifeoccursononly

hatoneplanetlifetakesmillionsofforms.

Ofallthecountlessformsoflife,onlyone,thehuman

species,possscertainfacultiesincombinationthatgive

ho

facultiesorgiftsisacreativeintelligencethatenablesman

toreflectandforee,totakeinpastexperience,andalso

reendlessotherwonderful

faculties,theworkingsofwhicharenotyetwithinour

understanding—thefacultiesofhope,conscience,

appreciationofbeauty,kinship,love,faith.

Viewedinglobalperspective,whatcountsisnotthatthe

thoughtsofpeopleleadthemindifferentdirectionsbutthat

allmenposssthecapacitytothink;notthattheypursue

differentfaithsbutthattheyarecapableofspiritualbelief;

notthattheywriteandreaddifferentbooksbutthattheyare

capableofcreatingprintandcommunicatinginitacrosstime

andspace;notthattheyenjoydifferentartandmusicbutthat

74

somethinginthemenablesthemtoresponddeeplytoformsand

colorsandorderedsounds.

Thebasiclessons,then,wouldektoprovideaproper

orderwouldbe

rfriendlythe

univermaybe,ithaslefttheconditionsofhumanexistence

pleneedoxygen,water,land,

warmth,anyoneoftheandtheunityofhuman

tlesson

wouldconcernthehumansituationitlf—howtou

lf-understandinginthecauofhumanwelfare;howto

controltheengineswehavecreatedthatthreatentoalterthe

precariousbalanceonwhichlifedepends;howtocreatea

peacefulsocietyofthewhole.

Withsuchaneducation,itispossiblethatsomenationor

peoplemaycomeforwardnotonlywithvitalunderstandingbut

withthevitalinspirationthatpeopleneednolessthanfood.

Leadershiponthishigherleveldoesnotrequiremountainsof

ncernedwithhuman

destiny;humandestinyistheissue;peoplewillrespond.

Unit13

75

BlueprintforSuccess

Hegaveawayhisfortuneforahammer,asaw—andadream.

Asaboy,knack

forturningaprofitthewayotherkidshadaknackforbaball.

Startingwithapighisfathergavehim,Millardbecamea

livestocktraderduringhisteens,nettingenoughtopayhis

waythroughAuburnUniversity.

ThenheenteredtheUniversityofAlabamalawschoolin1957.

29,Fullerwasalmost

amillionaire,withaluxurioushome,avacationretreat,two

speedboats,aLincolnContinentalandsharesinthreecattle

ranches.

hadmarriedLindaCaldwell,and

forMillardFuller,lifewasfull.

ThenonedayLindastunnedMillardbyannouncingthatshedidn't

thinkshelovedhimanylonger."IfeelasifIdon'thavea

husband,"shetoldhim."Youarealwaysworking,"shesaid."I'm

goingawayforawhile."ThenextdaysheleftforNewYorkto

talktoaministertheyknew.

HowcouldIhavemiscalculatedsobadlyMillardwondered.

Surelymyfamilymattersmorethanmoney.

Forthenextfewdayshetriedtowork,butcouldn'tconcentrate.

76

Thebusinesshehadhelpedbuildwasthriving—butwhathad

itcostHismarriageHishealthMillard'sneckbotheredhim

lately,andhesometimeshadtroublebreathing,asifaweight

werepressingonhischest.

WhenLindacalledandagreedtohispleastomeethiminNew

Yorkthefollowingweek,Millardaskedhisparentstostaywith

ningbeforehewenttoNewYork,hebegan

nthefilmjoltedhim:"A

plannedlifecanonlybeendured."

Aplannedlife!n

wastomakeafortune,

herealizednowthathehadleftouteverythingthatcounted;

hecouldnolongerendureit.

Thenandtherehevowedtogivehismoneyawayandfindamore

erhettledon,hisnew

lifewouldhavetomeansomething,tohaveapositiveeffect

onothers.

WhenhereachedNewYork,Lindatoldhimshewantedtokeepthe

ening,astheyweredrinkingorange

juiceatRadioCityMusicHall,Lindabrokedownandbegan

sobbing.

Theyleftthetheaterclutchingeachotherandwentforawalk.

77

Finally,theybegantotalk,d

spokeofhisideatogohome,giveeverythingawayandstart

dshethinkLindanoddedyesandembracedhim.

Whatevercomesnext,shethought,we'llfaceittogether.

TheFullersreturnedtoAlabamaandsoldMillard'sshareofthe

ttheirhousonthemarket,soldtheboats

anddistributedtheproceedsamongchurches,collegesand

dwasfeelingbetter—breathingcameeasier,

hischestpainwasgone—pgap

measure,hebecameaNewYork-badfund-rairforasmall

collegeinMississippi.

TheFullersmovedintoanapartmentoveragasstationinNew

ight

budgetwasmadeeventighterbythebirthoftheirthirdchild.

Buttheydidn'y

wereateam.

Millardfoundhisworksatisfying,buthestillyearnedfora

e

funddriveendedayearlater,hewrotetohisministerfriend

,replied

tedMillardtoGeorgia.

Jordanhadbeenthinkingaboutthedilapidatedshacksthat

78

tenlacked

heatandplumbing,andthepoorfamilieswholivedinthem

couldn'ouldn'tgivethemmortgages,

retrapped.

"Thepeopledon'tneedcharity;theyneedawaytohelp

themlves,"ertheydecidedtot

italwouldgofor

porationwoulderectsimple,

erswouldmakea

minimaldownpaymentandmonthlyinterest-freemortgage

paymentsthatwouldgobackintothefundformorehous.

Thebuyersthemlveswouldbeencouragedtoputhundredsof

hoursofsweatequityintotheirownhousandtoinvesttime

intheconstructionofaneighbor'shou.

Excitedbytheidea,MillardandLindagatheredupthechildren

andmovedtoJordan'ngwouldstartat

thefarm,dlaidout42half

acrelotsandbegantouringtoraimoneyandrecruit

stoKoinoniaFarmsupportersaroundthe

countrybroughtinthousandsofdollars.

Millardhiredcontractorstolaythefoundationsandinstall

ceofthefirsthou,which

79

includedthreebedroomsandamodernkitchen,wasabout$6,000.

ThebuyerswereBonandEmmaJohnson,wholivedwiththeir

childreninanearbyshack.

the

familieshadneverlivedinawarmhouwithindoorplumbing.

MillardwonderediftheideablossominginGeorgiamightflower

ceptedathree-yearassignmentfromthe

ChristianChurchtolaunchthebuildingof114housinZaire,

ndthechildrenaccompaniedhim.

WhentheyreturnedtoAmericusin1976,Millardhadamental

calleditHabitatforHumanity.

LiketheKoinoniaproject,Habitatwouldbefinancedby

donationsandbuyers'monthlypaymentswithoutapennyof

governmentfunds.

HabitatbeganbuildinghousinAmericusforneedypeoplewho

couldhandleasmalldownpaymentplusabout$

elderlycouplenamedLillieMaeandJonasBowneswatchedfrom

.

Bownesfrequentlygotupaftermidnightandpeekedtomakesure

theunfinishedfive-roomdwellingwasstillthere."Inever

80

dreamedI'dhaveaplacelikethis,"says."Itmakes

usfeellikepeople."

1981therewere15projects

intheUnitedStates,arthenumbers

balloonedto241inNorthAmericaand50in25countriesabroad.

By1996,ifthingsgoasplanned,Habitatwillbeoperatingin

2,and60countries.

t's

generousphilosophyemstotaparervoirofgoodwill."I

waslookingforawaytomeasuremylfintermsotherthan

money,"saysastafferwhogaveupanengineeringcareerto

directfundraisingatHabitat.

Itisteno'clockonascorchingJulymorninginCharlotte,.

MillardFullerispoundingnailsintoaroofononeof14hous

him,350volunteerbuilders,

manyofthemveteranHabitatworkersbudinfromoutoftown,

arehammering,drilling,fittingwindows—buildinga

neighborhood.

"Who'spayingforallthis"apasr-byasks.

"Nobody,"Millardreplies.

Themanlooksdubious."Folksdon'tdothissortofthingfor

nothing."

81

"It'sworthanthat,"Millardsayscheerfully."Theypaidto

come."

"Yougetanofjoyinthisword,"saysMillardafteralong

dayontheroof."ThemostdynamicpeopleIknowareconcerned

'redoingsomethingthat

'tfadeawaynextweekornext

ouisapermanentblessing—forbuilderand

buyerboth."

Unit14

SpaceShuttleChallenger

IwitnesdthelaunchfromtheKennedySpaceCenterpresssite

y19thshuttlelaunchbutmy

firstwithoutthecomfortingprenceofUPIScienceEditorAl

RossiterJr.,aspaceveteranwithalloftheexperienceI

lacked.

IarrivedattheUPItraileraround11:night,Jan.

scametoworkbeforethestartoffuelingonthe

theorythatanytimeanyoneloadedahalf-milliongallonsof

liquidoxygenandliquidhydrogenintoanythingitwasanevent

worthstaffing.

berturningonthe

82

draftyUPItrailer'sheatersinafutileattempttowarmup

itingforafternoon

newspapersthatwouldhitthestreetsthefollowingafternoon.

BecauChallenger'slaunchwasscheduledforthatmorning,the

PMcyclewastheclostthingto"live"reportingthatprint

journalistverexperience...Ihadwrittenmylaunchcopythe

daybeforeand,asusual,Ispentmostoftheearlymorninghours

improvingthestory,checkinginperiodicallywithNASApublic

affairsandmonitoringthechatteronthebureau'sradio

occasionallyglancetowardthelaunchpad

whereChallengerstoodbathedinhighpowerspotlights,clearly

heside,abrilliant

tongueoforangeflameperiodicallyflaredinthenightas

excesshydrogenwasletoutharmlesslyintotheatmosphere.

Asnightgavewaytoday,thelaunchteamwasstrugglingtokeep

mshaddelayedfuelingandlaunch,

originallyscheduledfor9:38.,fortwohours,tomakesure

nodangerousaccumulationsoficehadbuiltuponChallenger's

y,allsystemswere"go"andthe

countdownresumedattheTminusnine-minutemarkforaliftoff

at11:ngmyusualpre-launchnervousness,Icalled

UPInationaldeskeditorBillTrottinWashingtonaboutthree

83

readyfiledthePMlaunchstory

toUPI'

dedhimnottopushtheSENDbuttonuntil

Iconfirmedverticalmotion;twopreviouslauncheswereaborted

atthelastcondandwedidn'twanttoaccidentally"launch"

ashuttleonthewirewhenitwasstillfirmlyontheground.

nger'sthreemain

enginesthunderedtolifeonschedule,shootingoutblue-white

anvencondslater,

theshuttle'stwinboostersignitedwithaground-shakingroar

andthespacecraftroskyward.

"Andliftoff...liftoffofthe25thspaceshuttlemission,and

ithasclearedthetower!"saidNASAcommentatorHughHarris.

"OK,letitgo,"

pushedtheSENDbuttonandmystorywingedawayontheA-wire.

ngerwasclimbingmajesticallyintoa

dnotetheinitialpuffsofsmoke

condslater,the

cracklingroarofthoboosterssweptoverthepresssiteand

theUPItrailerstartedshakingandrattlingasthegroundshock

ledattheview,describingittoTrottin

yskeptthelineopenforthefull

84

eight-and-a-halfminutesittookforashuttletoreachorbit;

shoulddisasterstrike,theplanwent,Iwouldstartdictating

andTrottwouldstartfilingrawcopytothewire.

Butforthefirstfewconds,

roarwassoloudwecouldn'

soundquicklyfadedtoadullrumbleasChallengerwheeledabout

andarcedoverbehinditsboosterexhaustplume,disappearing

levision,ofcour,carriedthenow-familiar

cloupsoftheorbiter,butIwasn'twatchingtelevision.I

waslookingoutthewindowattheexhaustcloudtoweringinto

themorningsky.

"Incredible,"Imurmured.

Andthen,intheblinkofaneye,theexhaustplumeemedto

balloonoutward,lafleeting

impressionoffragments,ofdebrisflyingabout,sparklingin

n,inthatpregnantinstantbefore

theknowledgethatsomethingterriblehashappenedttledin,

asingleboosteremergedfromthecloud,corkscrewingmadly

throughthesky.

n'tunderstandwhatIwaseing.

"Waitaminute...something'shappened..."ItoldTrott.A

boosterFlyingonitsownOhmyGod."They'reintrouble,"I

85

said,myheartpounding."Lemmedictatesomething!"

"OK,OK,hangon,"klystartedpunchingin

theheadermaterialofaone-paragraph"story"thatwould

interruptthenormalflowofcopyoverthewireandalert

editorstobreakingnews.

Istilldidn'trealizeChallengerhadactuallyexploded.I

didn'wheartbeats,I

desperatelyreviewedthecrew'soptions:Couldtheshuttle

somehowhavepulledfreeCouldthecrewsomehowstillbealive

HadIbeenwatchingtelevision,Iwouldhaveknownthetruth

immediately.

ButIwasn'twatchingtelevision.

"Ready,"Trottsaid.

Theleadwentsomethinglikethis:"Thespaceshuttle

Challengerapparentlyexplodedabouttwominutesafterlaunch

eofthecrew

isnotknown."

"Gotit..."Trottsaid,entoff

condslaterasthestorystartingclatteringoutonthe

bureau'sA-wireprinterbehindme.

TrottandIquicklycorrectedthetimeoftheaccidentand

clarifiedthatChallengerhad,infact,sufferedacatastrophic

86

edidnotyetknowwhathadhappenedtothecrew,

weallknewthechancesforsurvivalwerevirtuallyzero.

Forthenexthalfhourorso,Isimplydictatedmyimpressions

andbackgroundtoTrott,whowouldfilethreeorfourparagraphs

of"runningcopy"oint,Iremember

yelling"Obits!Tellsomebodytorefiletheobits!"Before

everyshuttlemission,Iwrotedetailedprofilesofeachcrew

ctuallyprintedthestories;theywere

writtentorveasinstantobitsintheeventofadisaster.

Now,Iwantedtorefilemyprofilesforclientswhohadnotsaved

point—Ihavenoideawhen—Iputthe

phonedownandstartedtypingagain,filingthecopyto

WashingtonwhereTrottasmbledallthepiecesintoamoreor

lesscoherentnarrative.

ForthenexttwohoursorsoIdon'trememberanythingbutthe

sciously,Iheldtheenormityof

thedisasteratbay;IknewifIrelaxedmyguardforaninstant

yingonsomekindofmental

n,,Irecallamomentarylull.

MyfingersdroppedtothekeyboardandIstaredblanklyoutthe

ovenastronauts.I

sawthemwavingtothephotographersastheyheadedforthe

87

beredChristaMcAuliffe'ssmileandJudy

Resnik'myhead,

blinkedrapidlyandturnedbacktomycomputer.I'llthinkabout

italllater,aboutitevery

launch.

Unit15

TheRiddleofTime

Werunourlivesbyclocksandcalendars...butwhatistime

"Wephysicistsworkwithtimeeveryday,"saidNobelPrize

n,"butdon''s

justtoodifficulttothinkabout."

Throughoutmuchofhistorytimewaslookeduponasaflowlike

rSirIsaacNewton,theflowoftimewasuniform.

ButwithAlbertEinstein'stheoryofrelativity,timewasen

asadimension—likeheightandwidth—givingaunified

pictureofeventsintimeandspace."Wehavegivenmore

attentiontomeasuringtimethantoanyothervariablein

nature,"brvatoryin

Washington,."Buttimeremainsariddlethatexistsonlyin

ourminds."

Devisingaccuratecalendarsandclockstomeasuretheflowof

88

timehas,throughhistory,provedtobeanelusive,lengthy

eriansdividedtheyearinto360

days,ptians

hangesbytheRomans,

plusrefinementsbyPopeGregoryXIIIin1582,gaveustoday's

Gregoriancalendar,accuratetoadayinevery3323years.

,

arcingoverheaddaily,wasundoubtedlythefirsttimepiece,

followedperhapsbytheshadowofastickstuckintheground

—acrudesundial.

Inthe11thcenturyaChinescholarnamedSuSunginvented

ahugedevicethatwasamongthefirstmechanicalwaterclocks.

Morethan30feethigh,poweredbyawaterwheel,hisclock

signaledthehourswithgongs,bellsanddrums.

ItwasintheWest,however,thatthemechanicalclockachieved

heearliestwasbuiltforanEnglish

monasteryinthe13thcentury.

In16th-centuryItaly,ayoungmedicalstudentnamedGalileo

Galileiissaidtohavespiedanewlylightedlampswingingin

itwithhispul,hefoundthat

eachswingtookthesameamountoftime,regardlessofthe

en

89

decadespasdbeforeaDutchscientistbuiltthefirst

pendulumclock,startingtheeraofprecisiontimekeeping.

TheWesternideathatpast,prentandfuturearearrangedin

astraightline—thattimedoesnotrepeat—emstohave

grownoutoftheChristiantraditioninwhichChrist'sbirth

tookonspecialmeaningbecauitwasuniqueandtherefore

unrepeatable.

Inhumanterms,evenasyouwatchacondtickaway,it'sgone.

ator

ataorintheair,plottinglocationbysatellite,relies

onatimesignalaccuratetowithinasinglemillionthofa

raftlikeVoyager2areguidedbyradiocommands

siciststrackingmotion

insideanatomreckonintrillionthsofacond.

Atomicclocksatsome50timekeepingstationsaroundtheworld

fromWashingtontoParistoMoscowallowthisremarkable

he1940s,scientistshaveknown

thattheelectronsofatomsoscillatewitharhythmsoregular

that—likeapendulum—

builtin1948,theclocksgenerallyuatomsofcesium,a

silverywhitemetal,andareaccuratetowithinafew

nanocondsaday.

90

ButdoesthisgiveusacluetowhattimeisNotreally,says

DavidAllan,atimetheorist."Clocksareverylimited

devices."Hepointsoutthatthepastdoesnotexistexceptin

ourmemory."Northefuture,exceptinourexpectationsofit,"

hesays."Themostaclockgivesisthetimeaninstantago.

Timeisourowninvention."

Nature,too,1947AmericanchemistWillard

Libbyfoundanaturaltimekeeperineverythingthatlived

duringthepast50,000years:thecarbonatom,whichdecaysat

rminingitslevelofcarbon-14,scientists

cantelltheageofanEgyptianmummyorofcharcoalfroman

ancientIndianhome.

ing

atlightfromafarawaygalaxy,theyareactuallyeingthe

eatwhichthe

galaxiesareflyingawayfromoneanothertellsscientiststhe

datewhenallthematterintheunivertoutonitsjourney.

"Wewereabletoshowthatthematterintheunivermusthave

beeninfinitelycompresdabout15billionyearsago,"says

theoreticalphysicistStephenHawkingoftheUniversityof

orethat"Timeaswemeasureit

simplydidnotexist."

91

Buthumantime—theperceptionofourbodiesandminds—has

originsdeepinaprimordialpastlongbeforeatofgears

y'sdominanttimecycleis

calledthecircadianrhythm,thecontrolforwhichisbelieved

tolieinthebrain,tof

usanormalcircadiancycleis25hours,giveortake15minutes.

Whynot24"Beingslightlyoutofstepwithnaturemayhave

createdakindoftensionnecessaryforsurvival,"suggests

CharlesEhret,presidentofGeneralChronobionicsnearChicago.

Afewbody-clockwatchersbelievewemayalsoticktoanarray

ethoughttoregulatechangesinbody

chemicals,theresponoftheimmunesystem,andacyclicri

ythms,some

scientistsbelieve,mayhelpexplaintheven-dayweekasa

unitoftime—theonlycalendarmeasurethatdoesnottrace

itsoriginstoastronomy.

Ehretiscertainthatifyouabuyourpowerfulinternal

rhythms,-morningblues,sleep

disordersandevendepressioncanresultfromthemismatch

betweentheclockonthewallandtheonesinthebody.

Sothehumanbodyisasmuchapartoftheclockworkuniver

toftheotherquestions

92

weallhaveabouttime:canwetravelthroughit,orcanitbe

reverdWhohasnotwishedtoturnbackclockorcalendar—

toeramistakes,toreturnasachildwithadultwisdom,and

tochatwithShakespeareButscientistssaythatthoughthelaws

ofphysicsmaynotforbidtimetravel,allobrvedarrowsof

timegoinonlyonedirection.

Whatevertimeis,wehumanshaveinternalizeditsopowerfully

urlives

bynumbersonclocksandcalendarsthatweourlveshave

becomeslavestotheclock

DavidLandes,ahistorianoftimekeepingatHarvardUniversity,

thinksnot."Theclockletindividualsknowwhattimebelonged

sarenow

ttheclock,andnowthe

watch,edifferencebetween

acomplex,intricatelycoordinatedsocietyandaprimitiveone

onlyvaguelyawareoftime'spossibilities."

"Weultimatelyarestillincontrolofhowweutimeandhow

itaffectsus."Morethananythingeltimeiswhatwemake

ofit.