星火英語-15篇文章貫通四級詞匯文本3-4AManandHisCastle

AManandHisCastleLaCuestaEncantada(TheEnchanted[使用魔法迷惑]Castle)isoneofthemostremarkabledisplaysofpowerandpassionintheworld.ThismarveloustouristsitenowknownasHearstSanSimeonStateHistoricalMonumentisbetterknownasHearstCastle.ItislocatedsixhourssouthofSanFranciscoandfivehoursnorthofLosAngeles.ShelteredbythemountainsinnorthernSanLuisObispoCounty,thecomplexof165roomsand127acresofgardens,terraces(露臺)BornonApril29,1863,WilliamRandolphHearstwastheonlychildofGorgeHearstandhiswife,Phoebe.Georgewasamultimillionaire(千萬富翁)whoamassed(積聚)hisfortunethroughpartnerships(合作關(guān)系)inthreeoftheeverlargestminingdiscoveriesofcopper,silver,andgoldores.In1865,Georgebegantoaccumulateparcelsoflandbyobtaining46,000acresofthePiedraBlancoRanchonCalifornia’sCentralCoast.Therehebeganasuccessfulcattleranch(大農(nóng)場)Williamlovedtheranchwherehespenthissummervacationsasayoungsterandayouth,playingintheruggedcanyons(峽谷),descendingthecliffsandcampingincolorfulArab-styletentsinthemountainswithhisfamily.Phoebewasdelightedinexposingherdarlingchildtothebeautiesandwondersoftheworldandsparednoexpensedoingso.Duringoneoftheiradventures,an18-monthtourofthehistoricpalacesandcastlesofEurope,Williambeganalifelongloveofcollecting.Withhisfirstacquisitions,Germanpicturebooks,heembarked(著手,開始工作)ona78-yearsessionofexcessivespending.Heconfessedtoaloveofthefinerthingsinlifeand,ashehadabottomless(不見底的)purse,wouldneverdenyhimselfanythinghewanted.In1887,whileWilliamwasatHarvardUniversity,hedecidedtotakeoverthesmallnewspaper,theSanFranciscoExaminer,whichhisfatherhadacceptedaspaymentforagambling(賭博)debtseveralyearsearlier.Georgewouldhavepreferredthathissonbeinvolvedintheminingandranchinginterests,butWilliamdeclinedthisofferandwasgivenownershipoftheExaminerinMarch1887.Hewasdeterminedtoincreasethepopularity(普遍,流行)ofthepaperandacquirethebestequipmentandwritersavailable.William’sresolvetosucceedinspiredhimtopublishjuicy(有趣的)talesofviceandstoriesfullofdramaandmotivation(積極性,動機).In1895,hepurchasedtheNewYorkMorningJournal,puttinghimindirectcompetitionwiththedistinguished(杰出的)JosephPulitzerandacirculation(傳播,發(fā)行)warbegan.BoththeHearstandPulitzernewspapersstartedtoincludesensational(聳人聽聞的)storiesabouttheCubanInsurrection(起義).ThestoriesgreatlyexaggeratedclaimsofSpanishtroopsplacingCubansinconcentrationcamps,forcingthemtoliveundersubstandardconditions,disease-ridden,starvinganddying.Thisstyleofreportingbecameknownas“YellowJournalism(新聞事件)”.Thenewspapersweretransformedasthescopeofthenewsbroadenedandbecamelessconservative.Circulationsoaredasthepubliccouldgetenoughofthebannerheadlinesandabundantillustrations.Atthetime,manypeoplebelievedWilliamactuallymighthaveinitiated(開始,發(fā)動)theSpanish-AmericanWartoencouragesales.Accordingtoonereport,whenoneofhiscorrespondents,FrederickRemington,requestedtoreturnfromHavana,WilliamrespondedthatifRemingtonwouldfurnishthepictures,Williamwouldfurnishthewar.Hewasoncequotedinaneditorialassaying,“MakethenewsthoroughPrintallthenews.Condenseitifnecessary.Frequentlyitisbetterwhenintelligently(聰明的)condensed.”Anotherclassicexampleofhisinfluenceoccurredwhen;merelymonthsafterheadvocatedpoliticalassassination(暗殺)inaneditorial,AmericanPresidentMcKinleywasassassinated.Asanintelligentanddynamicbusinessman,Williamgeneratedincreasedreadershipbyemployingsomeofthemosttalented(天才的)writersintheUnitedStates,recruitingfiguresfromtheliterarycommunity,likeMarkTwainandStephenCrane,andthepreviouslymentionedillustrator,FrederickRemington.Healsoshowedhisinitiativewhenhecharteredayacht(快艇),equippeditasaminiature(小型的)newspaperheadquarters,anchoredoffthecoastofCuba,andledhisarmyofreportersintothefield.William’sinterestsledhimtofollowinhisfather’sfootsteps,inspiringhimtoenterintopolitics.HewaselectedtotheU.S.CongressasasenatorrepresentingtheStateofNewYorkin1902andserveduntil1907.HewasacandidatefortheofficeofmayorofNewYorkCityandgovernorofNewYorkStateWhilehoneymooninginEuropeafterhismarriagetoMillicentWilsonin1903,heexpandedhispublishingempirewithMotorMagazine.TheHearstCorporationgrewtocompriseatotalof12newspapers,includingtheExaminer,and25magazines,includingCosmopolitan.Notsatisfiedwithjusthispublishingenterprises,heexpandedhisbusinessoperationsintoradio,andlaterproducedmovienewsreels(新聞紀錄片).(ToBeContinued)Thisinfluentialmediagiantwasnotwithouthisfaults.Hisprejudiceswerecommonknowledge.Hiscareerwasblemished(玷污)byhisoffensiveremarksaboutSpaniards,Japanese,Filipinos,andRussians.Heprintedlies,forgeddocuments,falsified(歪曲)storiesofviolence,wroteprovocativeeditorials,andpublishedsensationalcartoonsandphotographstosupporthisopinions.Williamhatedminorities.Hetookadvantageofeveryopportunitytoheightenracialtensions.HisrealmotiveforhishatredofMexicansmayhavebeenthelossof800,000acresofprimetimberlandtotheMexicanoutlaw(逃犯),PanchoVilla.Hispapersdescribedthemasmarijuana-smoking,job-stealing,lazy,wicked,andviolentdegenerates(墮落).SomesuggesthesawtheMexicansasathreattohisempire.Duringthisperiod,Williammetandfellinlovewithayoungactress,MarionDavies.Millicent,hiswifeandthemotherofhisfivesons,includingasetoftwins,refusedtodissolvethemarriage,whichobligedWilliamto“l(fā)iveinsin”withthewomanwhomthetourguidesrefertoashis“friend”or“companion”.Withthedeathofhismotherin1919,Williaminheritedthebelovedquarter-million-acreranch.Atfirst,heplannedtobuildmodestranchhouseonhisfavoritecampsite(野營的)butashebecamemoreinvolvedintheproject,hisvisionofamonumenttodisplayhiscollectionsgainedmomentum(動力).Workingcloselywithfamilyarchitect,JuliaMorgan,Williamcreatedagloriousandextraordinarycastle-likestructure,blendingSpanish,European,andCalifornianarchitecturalstyles.Hugewarehouses(倉庫)werebuiltinSanSimeontostoretheshiploadsofsplendidantiques,includingentirecarvedceilingsandwallshungwithenormoustapestries(掛毯).Theycouldbeinstalledinthecompletedrooms.Landscapingintegratedexotic(外來的,奇異的)plants,hedges,andtreeswithnativeflora(植物群落).AsWilliamwasinhis60’s,hehadtheinsighttoknowhecouldn’Withthousandsofacresoflandcoveredwithgrassland,trees,naturalponds,andman-madereservoirsavailableforuse,Williamstockedtheestatewithherdsofrareoxenanddeer,andflocksofsheepandlambs.Theseanimalsflourishedastheywereallowedtowanderfreely.Larger,moredangerousbeasts,includingtigers,ostriches,buffalo,yaks,emus,kangaroos,llamas,zebrasandgiraffeswereenclosedinthelargestprivatezoointheworld.The“complex”wasreadyforoccupancy(占有)in1927,butadditionscontinueduntil1947.Eventuallyitcomprisedthemainhouseandthreecottages,allofwhicharefurnishedwithavarietyofvaluableantiques.Eventhelavatorieswerespeciallyequipped.William’sfavoriteroomwassaidtobethelibrarywithitscollectionsofmorethan5,000books,ancientGreekvases,andanantiqueSpanishceilingsuspended(懸掛的)bycablessoitwillswayintheeventofanearthquake(alltheantiquefurnishingsandtreasuresareanchoredasaprecautionasthisisearthquakecountry).Inthe‘20s,‘30s,and‘40s,Williamlovedpart-timeattheestatewithhismistress,MarionDavies.Theyentertainedtoanexcessiveextent.Tobeinvitedtothecastlewasaprivilege.Moviestars,politicians,businessmen,andevenroyalty(皇室成員)werefrequentguests.Manyoftheseguests,includingaBritishlord,SirCharlesKingsford-Smith,AmeliaEarhart,andCharlesLindbergh,flewtotheranch,landingontheprivate(私人的)airstrip(飛機跑道).Lifeonthe“hill”wasneverdull.Thevisitorsstayedinthemainhouseorthecottages,dependingontheirprominence(重要)ortheirintimacy(親密)withthefamilyandwerefreetoroam(漫游)thegrounds,goridingontheirchoiceofhorsesontheproperty.Companywasexpected,however,tomeetinthemaindrawingroomat7:30p.m.sharp,principally(主要地)toamusetheirhost.Dinnerwasaformalaffairbeginningat9:00p.m.thismealwasheldintheimmensediningroom,thewallsofwhicharelinedwithpricelesspanelsfromancientEuropeancathedrals(大教堂).Followingdinner,movieswereshownintheprivatetheater,startingat11:00.Therewere,however,threerulesguestshadtofollow:donotgetdrunk;donotswearortelloff-colorjokes;sleepinseparatebedroomsifanunmarriedcouple.Foodwasnotallowedintherooms.Ifyouwantedtoeat,youcouldvisitthekitchen…ifyoucouldfindit.AlthoughWilliamwascloselyinvolvedinallaspectsoftheconstructionanddecorationofthemansion(大廈,宅邸),hecontinuedhisbusinessandsocialinterest.Nostrangertoscandal,inNovember1924,hefoundhimselfinthetopicofheadlines.Themostenduringrumorwasthat,duringapartyonhisyacht,hehadfoundMarionkissingCharlieChaplin.InafitofjealousyhetookashotatChaplin,missed,andaccidentallyhisThomasInce,killinghim.However,eventhoughthemorningpaperscarriedthestory,theeveningpaperandsuccessiveeditionsprintedthatIncehaddiedofacuteindigestion(消化不良).In1945,WilliaminitiatedtheHearstFoundationandcreatedtheCaliforniaCharitiesFoundationin1948(thenamewaschangedtotheWilliamRandolphHearstFoundationsoonafterhisdeathin1951).TheGreatDepressiontookitstolloneventhewealthiestandWilliamRandolphHearstwasnoexception.Hisfantastically(荒誕的)decadentlifestylecouldn’tlastforever,andgraduallyhisfinancesbegantosuffer,beginningthenextchapterinthesaga(傳奇)ofexcesses.HecameclosetobeingbankruptbutMarionrescuedhimfromdebt,unselfishlysellingherjewelsandsomeotherpropertytoraiseoveramilliondollars.In1947,duetohispoorhealth,hewasforcedtomovepermanentlytoBeverlyHills.Marionlookedafterhimduringthistime,seldomleavinghisside.Whenhediedin1951attheageof88,shewasshunned(避開)byhisfamilyandforbiddentoattendhisfuneral.Thecastle,itsfurnishings,theartworksinthegallery,and127acresoflandweregiventothestateofCaliforniain1957.Sincethattime,theCaliforniaDepartmentofParksandRecreationhaskeptthecastleopentotourists.Todayavisittotheestatebeginsnearthesiteoftheoldairstrip.Guestsaretransportedtothetopofthehillviabus.Onecanstillseethesignsgivingwanderinganimalsthe“right-of-way”onthelanes.Deer,cattle,andsheepoftenhaltthebuses’progressupordownthemountainastheymeander(漫游)tothesaltlicks.Dependingonthetouronechooses,guidesescort(護送,陪同)thepublicthroughavarietyofrooms,gardens,cottages,andpools.Theluxuryofabygone(過去的)eraisevidentateveryturn.FromthemomentyouarriveatthestairwaytotheNeptunePooluntilyoubidfarewelltoyourguidesatthemagnificent,goldenandblueRomanPool,youareremindedthatamanhadadream.Hehadpowerandinfluence.Furthermore,hewasprosperousenoughtoachievehisobjectivesandimplementhisdream.一個大人物和他的城堡魔幻城堡是世界上最著名的展示才能與激情的名勝之一。這個奇跡般的游覽地，就是現(xiàn)在著名的赫斯特圣西蒙國家歷史博物館，它作為赫斯特城堡，則更為有名。它位于舊金山以南6小時、洛杉磯以北5小時車程的地方。這座隱蔽在圣路易斯·奧比斯波郡北部群山之中的綜合建筑有165個房間，占地127英畝，有花園、游廊、水池、噴泉和小徑，每年吸引大約80萬名游客來到這里。要了解這座城堡，你就得了解建造它的那個人——威廉·倫道夫·赫斯特，而要了解這個人，你就得了解他把夢想建在其上的這塊土地。威廉·倫道夫·赫斯特，生于1863年4月29日，是喬治·赫斯特和他的妻子菲比唯一的孩子。喬治是一個千萬富翁，他通過合伙參與三個曾經(jīng)是最大的銅礦、銀礦和金礦的發(fā)現(xiàn)和開采，積聚起大量財富。1865年，喬治得到了在加利福尼亞海岸的46000英畝的皮亞得拉布蘭可牧場，開始積聚大片土地。在那里，他開始了對養(yǎng)牛場的成功經(jīng)營，并最終將它擴大到沿著50英里海岸的250，000英畝。威廉熱愛這個青年時期渡過暑假的牧場。在崎嶇不平的溪谷里游玩，攀登懸崖，和家人一起在山里華美的阿拉伯式的帳篷里野營。菲比很喜歡讓她心愛的孩子去認識這個美麗而奇妙的世界，花費多少都無所謂。在一次冒險活動期間，他們用18個月游覽了歐洲歷史上著名的宮殿和城堡，從那時起威廉開始養(yǎng)成收集的終身愛好。他從最初收集德國的圖畫書開始，進行了長達78年的超級消費。他承認一生中對精美物品的癡迷和熱愛，而且因為有一個用不完的錢包，他對想要的任何東西從不吝惜金錢。1887年，當威廉在哈佛大學讀書時，他決定接管一家小報紙《舊金山問詢報》，幾年前他的父親將其作為一筆賭債接收了下來。喬治更希望他的兒子把興趣放在采礦和經(jīng)營牧場上，但威廉拒絕了這個建議并于1887年3月接手成為《問詢報》的主人。他決定購置最好的設備，邀請最好的作者撰稿，提升報紙的聲望。威廉渴望成功的決心，促使他出版有趣的下流傳聞和充滿戲劇性、引人入勝的故事。1895年，他買下《紐約晨報》，與著名的約瑟夫·普利策展開直接的競爭，開始了一場擴大發(fā)行量的商戰(zhàn)。赫斯特和普利策的報紙都開始刊登有關(guān)古巴起義的聳人聽聞的故事。這些故事極大地夸大了西班牙部隊的行為：他們把古巴人關(guān)進集中營，迫使他們在惡劣的條件下生活，飽受疾病、饑餓和死亡的折磨。這種報道形式成了有名的“黃色新聞”。報紙在向擴大新聞范圍方面轉(zhuǎn)變，并變得不那么保守了。因為能夠使公眾獲得足夠的頭條新聞和豐富的插圖，發(fā)行量激增。那時，很多人相信威廉實際上可能會發(fā)動西班牙——美國戰(zhàn)爭以增加發(fā)行量。據(jù)一篇報道說，當他的一個通訊記者弗雷德里克雷明頓請求從哈瓦那回來時，威廉回答說如果雷明頓能提供圖片，他就可以發(fā)起這場戰(zhàn)爭。曾有一篇社論引用過他的格言：“跟蹤新聞到底。報道所有新聞。必要時濃縮新聞。濃縮后的新聞常常更出色。”關(guān)于受他影響的另一個典型例子是，他在一篇社論中鼓吹政治暗殺，僅僅幾個月后，麥金利總統(tǒng)就遇刺身亡。作為一個聰明能干的商人，威廉通過雇傭美國最有才華的作者，從文學團體中聘用大人物，像馬克·吐溫和斯蒂芬·克萊恩，以及前面提到過的插圖畫家弗雷德里克·雷明頓，造就了不斷增長的讀者群。他還顯示了他的創(chuàng)新能力。當時，他包租了一條游艇，把裝備成一個小型的報社總部，停在古巴海岸邊，讓他的采訪隊伍進入戰(zhàn)場。威廉的興趣愛好引領(lǐng)他、激勵他繼承父業(yè)進入政界。1902年作為紐約州的代表，他以參議員的身份被選進美國國會，一起任職到1907年。他還是紐約市市長和紐約州州長職位的候選人，但這兩次努力都失敗了。1903年與米莉森特·威爾遜結(jié)婚。在歐洲渡蜜月期間，他以《汽車雜志》擴張他出版帝國的疆土。赫斯特公司迅速成長以來，總共有包括《問詢報》在內(nèi)的12種報紙，和包括《大都會》在內(nèi)的25種雜志。他并不滿足于出版行業(yè)，還把他的事業(yè)擴展到電臺，后來還生產(chǎn)新聞記錄片。（待續(xù)）這個有巨大影響的媒體巨人也不是沒有缺點。他的偏見是眾所周知的。他對西班牙人、日本人、菲律賓人和俄羅斯人的攻擊性評論是對他職業(yè)的玷污。為支持自己的觀點，他刊載謊言，偽造文獻，編選暴力故事，寫煽動性的社論，出版蠱惑人心的卡通和照片。威廉憎恨少數(shù)民族。他利用一切機會加劇種族間的緊張關(guān)系。他憎恨墨西哥人的真正原因，可能是由于那個墨西哥逃犯PanchoVilla讓他損失了800,000英畝的原始樹林。他的報紙把他們描繪成抽大麻、磨洋工、懶惰、邪惡和喜歡暴力的墮落者。有人說他認為墨西哥人對他的帝國是一個威脅。在這個時期，威廉遇見了年輕的女演員馬里恩戴維斯并愛上了她。他的妻子，他5個兒子其中有一對雙胞胎的母親米莉森特，拒絕解除婚姻，迫使威廉與那個女人過著姘居的生活，導游提到她時就說是他的“朋友”或“同伴”。1919年，他母親去世，威廉繼承了那個他深愛著的25萬英畝的牧場。起初，他計劃在他最喜歡的宿營地建一所普通的低矮平房，但當他更多地介入這個工程時，建一個紀念館來展示他的收藏品的想法占了上風。威廉與家庭建筑師朱莉亞·摩根進一步密切協(xié)作，創(chuàng)造了一種氣派顯赫的像城堡一樣的結(jié)構(gòu)，整合了西班牙、歐洲和加利福尼亞的建筑風格。在圣西蒙創(chuàng)造了巨大的倉庫存放成船的貴重古董，全部雕花的天花板以及用巨大掛毯裝飾的墻壁。它們可以安置到已完工的房間里來。把外來的植物、灌木和樹木結(jié)合進當?shù)氐闹参锓N群，進一步美化景觀。威廉已經(jīng)60多歲了，他清楚地知道他可能等不到它們長大，但他是樂觀的。他定購了成噸肥沃的表層土，覆蓋地面達5英尺深，把這些植物長好的樣品用卡車運到山上種植。在可以利用的數(shù)千英畝的土地上，有草地、樹林、天然水池