1.Heenjoysthelibertieshardwonovercenturiesbytheallianceofphilosophicgeniusandpoliticalheroism,consecratedbythebloodofmartyrs(烈士);heisprovidedwithcomportandleisurebythemostproductiveeconomyeverknowntomankind;sciencehaspenetratedthesecretsofnatureinordertoprovidehimwiththemarvellous,lifelikeelectronicsoundandimagereproductionsheisenjoying.
2.Eachhighbrowdidanddoescongratulatehimselfonbeinguniqueinhisunlikenesstoothermen;andconverselyeachlowbrownowcongratulatehimselfonbeinginsomemysticalwayuniqueinhislikeness―onbeing,sotosay,outstandinglyaverageandextraordinarilyordinary.
3.Asforthelowbrows’claimtobespecially“human”,Iforonehaveneverbeenabletounderstandwhyitshouldbe“inhuman”tousethefacultiesthatdistinguishusfrompigsandgeeseand“human”tousethosewhichwesharewiththeloweranimals.
4.Thereisnodisputing,saystheproverb,abouttaste―though,infact,humanbeingsspendatleasthalftheirleisuredoingnothingelse―andifhighbrowismandlowbrowismwereexclusively(asitiscertainthattheyareingreatpart)mattersofindividualtaste,therewouldbenomoretosayaboutthemthanwhatIhavesaidintheprecedinglines.
5.ThusIdesireagreatdeallesspleasurefromjazzandthrillersthanfromthemusic,letussay,ofBeethoven(贝多芬)orthenovels,forexample,ofDostoievsky;andthesexappealofthegirlsonthecoversofmagazinesseemstomelessthrillingthanthemorecomplicatedappealtoagreatvarietyoffeelingsmadebyaRubens,anEIGreco,aConstable,aSeurat.
6.Oneneedonlyaskfirst-yearuniversitystudentswhatmusictheylistento,howmuchofitandwhatitmeanstothem,inordertodiscoverthatthephenomenonisuniversalinAmerica,thatitbeginsinadolescenceorabitbeforeandcontinuesthroughthecollegeyears.
7.Theystart,likethephariseeintheparable,bythankingGodthatthearenotasothermenare,andproceedtopaintapictureofthoseothermen,hardlymoreflatteringthanthatwhichSwiftpaintedoftheYahoos.
8.Eachtimethedreamwasapromiseoutofourancientarticlesoffaith,phrasesfromtheconstitution,linesfromthegreatanthemofthenation,guaranteesfromtheBillofRights,allendingwithavisionthattheymightonedayallcometrue
9.Formanythedayseemedanadventure,alongoutinginthelatesummersun―partliberationfromhome,partSundayschoolpicnic,partpoliticalconvention,andpartfishfry.
10.Itmaynot“looktoit”atonce,sinceitislookingtosomanythings,butitwillbealongtimebeforeitforgetsthemelodious(悦耳的)andmelancholy(忧郁的)voiceoftheRev.Dr.MartinLutherJr.,cryingouthisdreamstothemultitude(大众).
