Unit 2 - The Richest Man In America, Down Home
Does being rich mean you live a completely different life from ordinary people? Not, it seems, if your name is Sam Walton.
THE RICHEST MAN IN AMERICA, DOWN HOME
Art Harris
He put on a dinner jacket to serve as a waiter at the birthday party of The Richest Man in America. He imagined what surely awaited: a mansion, a "Rolls-Royce for every day of the week," dogs with diamond collars, servants everywhere.
Then he was off to the house, wheeling past the sleepy town square in Bentonville, a remote Arkansas town of 9,920, where Sam Walton started with a little dime store that grew into a $ 6 billion discount chain called Wal-Mart. He drove down a country road, turned at a mailbox marked "Sam and Helen Walton," and jumped out at a house in the woods.
It was nice, but no palace. The furniture appeared a little worn. An old pickup truck sat in the garage and a muddy bird dog ran about the yard. He never spotted any servants.
"It was a real disappointment," sighs waiter Jamie Beaulieu.
Only in America can a billionaire carry on like plain folks and get away with it. And the 67-year-old discount king Sam Moore Walton still travels these windy back roads in his 1979 Ford pickup, red and white, bird dogs by his side, and, come shooting season, waits in line like everyone else to buy shells at the local Wal-Mart.
"He doesn't want any special treatment," says night manager Johnny Baker, who struggles to call the boss by his first name as a recent corporate memo commands. Few here think of his billions; they call him "Mr. Sam" and accept his folksy ways. "He's the same man who opened his dime store on the square and worked 18 hours a day for his dream," says Mayor Richard Hoback.
By all accounts, he's friendly, cheerful, a fine neighbor who does his best to blend in, never flashy, never throwing his weight around.
No matter how big a time he had on Saturday night, you can find him in church on Sunday. Surely in a reserved seat, right? "We don't have reserved seats," says Gordon Garlington III, pastor of the local church.
So where does The Richest Man in America sit? Wherever he finds a seat. "Look, he's just not that way. He doesn't have a set place. At a church supper the other night, he and his wife were in back washing dishes."
For 19 years, he's used the same barber. John Mayhall finds him waiting when he opens up at 7 a.m. He chats about the national news, or reads in his chair, perhaps the Benton County Daily Democrat, another Walton property that keeps him off the front page. It buried the Forbes list at the bottom of page.
"He's just not a front-page person," a newspaper employee explains.
But one recent morning, The Richest Man in America did something that would have made headlines any where in the world: He forgot his money. "I said, 'Forget it, take care of it next time,'" says barber Mayhall. "But he said, 'No, I'll get it,' and he went home for his wallet."
Wasn't that, well, a little strange? "No sir," says Mayhall, "the only thing strange about Sam Walton is that he isn't strange."
But just how long Walton can hold firm to his folksy habits with celebrity hunters keeping following him wherever he goes is anyone's guess. Ever since Forbes magazine pronounced him America's richest man, with $ 2.8 billion in Wal-Mart stock, he's been a rich man on the run, steering clear of reporters, dreamers, and schemers.
"He may be the richest by Forbes rankings," says corporate affairs director Jim Von Gremp, "but he doesn't know whether he is or not — and he doesn't care. He doesn't spend much. He owns stock, but he's always left it in the company so it could grow. But the real story in his mind is the success achieved by the 100,000 people who make up the Wal-Mart team."
He's usually back home for Friday sales meetings, or the executive pep rally Saturday morning at 7 a.m., when Walton, as he does at new store openings, is liable to jump up on a chair and lead everyone in the Wal-Mart cheer: "Give me a W! Give me an A! Give me an L! Louder!"
And louder they yell. No one admits to feeling the least bit silly. It's all part of the Wal-Mart way of life as laid down by Sam: loyalty, hard work, long hours; get ideas into the system from the bottom up, Japanese-style; treat your people right; cut prices and margins to the bone and sleep well at night. Employees with one year on board qualify for stock options, and are urged to buy all they can.
After the pep rally, there's bird hunting, or tennis on his backyard court. But his stores are always on his mind. One tennis guest managed to put him off his game by asking why a can of balls cost more in one Wal-Mart than another. It turned out to be untrue, but the move worked. Walton lost four straight games.
Walton set up a college scholarship fund for employees' children, a disaster relief fund to rebuild employee homes damaged by fires, floods, tornadoes, and the like. He believed in cultivating ideas and rewarding success.
"He'd say, 'That fellow worked hard, let's give him a little extra,'" recalls retired president Ferold F. Arend, who was stunned at such generosity after the stingy employer he left to join Wal-Mart. "I had to change my way of thinking when I came aboard."
"The reason for our success," says Walton, in a company handout, "is our people and the way they're treated and the way they feel about their company. They believe things are different here, but they deserve the credit."
Adds company lawyer Jim Hendren: "I've never seen anyone yet who worked for him or was around him for any length of time who wasn't better off. And I don't mean just financially, although a lot of people are. It's just something about him — coming into contact with Sam Walton just makes you a better person."
参考译文——美国“乡巴佬”首富
有钱是否意味着过一种完全不同于普通人的生活？看来未必，如果你的名字叫萨姆·沃尔顿。
美国“乡巴佬”首富
阿特·哈里斯
他穿上餐服准备到美国首富的生日聚会上去担任侍者。在他的想象里，他定然会看到：豪宅，主人天天要坐的罗尔斯—罗伊斯轿车，戴着钻石颈圈的家犬，到处可见的仆人。
他动身前往那所宅邸，开着车穿过本顿维尔镇冷冷清清的市政广场。本顿维尔镇是阿肯色州一个人口仅有9,920的偏远小镇，萨姆·沃尔顿就在该镇从一个专卖廉价商品的小店起家，逐渐发展成为价值60亿美金资产的廉价连锁店沃尔玛公司。侍者上了一条乡间车道，转过一个标着“萨姆和海伦·沃尔顿”的信箱，在一幢林间住宅前跳下了车。
房子还不错，但绝对不是宫殿。家具略显陈旧，一辆旧的轻便货车停在车库里，一条土褐色的捕禽猎犬在院子里窜来窜去。根本没看见任何仆人的身影。
“太令人失望了，”侍者杰米·鲍尤叹道。
只有在美国，一个亿万富翁才能像普通百姓一样，安稳地过着普普通通的日子。67岁的廉价店大王萨姆·穆尔·沃尔顿仍然开着他那辆红白两色的1979年出厂的福特牌轻型货车穿行在弯弯曲曲的乡间小道上，身边坐着他的捕禽猎犬。当狩猎季节来临时，他跟别人一样在当地的沃尔玛商店排队购买猎枪子弹。
“他不要任何特殊待遇，”夜班经理乔尼·贝克说，他费了好大的劲才如公司最近一份备忘录所规定的那样对自己的老板以名相称。这里几乎没人去想他的亿万身价，他们称他为萨姆先生，丝毫不以他的平民作风为怪。“他还是那个在市政广场开廉价店，为了自己的梦想每天工作18个小时的人，一点没变，”市长理查德·霍巴克说。
人人都说他为人友善，性情开朗，是个好邻居；他尽力与人们融洽相处，从不炫耀，也从不盛气凌人。
无论他星期六晚上的夜生活过得多晚，星期日你还是能在教堂见到他。当然是坐在他的包座上，对吗？“我们不设包座，”当地教堂牧师戈登·加林顿第三说。
那美国首富坐哪儿呢？哪儿有空位子就坐哪儿。“知道吗，他根本就不是那种人。他没有包座。前几天晚上教堂举行晚餐会，他和太太一起在后面洗盘子。”
19年来，为他理发的总是同一个师傅。约翰·梅霍早上七点开门会见到他等在门外。他跟人闲聊国内新闻，或是坐在椅子里看报，没准是《本顿民主日报》，这是沃尔顿的又一宗产业。这份报纸从来不让有关他的消息出现在头版上。它将《福布斯》的富人排行榜塞在第二版的报尾。
“他压根儿不是那种爱上头版新闻的人，”一位报社雇员解释说。
但最近有天早上，美国首富做了件在任何其他地方准会成为头条新闻的事：他忘了带钱。“我说，‘没事，下次一起付吧，’”理发师梅霍说，“可他说，‘不行，我得回去拿，’就回家去取钱包了。”
这一切，嗯，是不是有点怪？“一点也不，先生，”梅霍说，“萨姆·沃尔顿惟一不同寻常的就是，他平平常常。”
然而，沃尔顿所到之处名人追星族紧跟不舍，他的平民习惯能保持多久，就很难说了。自从《福布斯》杂志宣布他拥有价值28亿的沃尔玛股票成为美国首富以后，他就成了一个东躲西藏的富人，他得甩开记者、寻梦者，还有图谋不轨者。
“他或许是《福布斯》排行榜的首富，”公司事务主管吉姆·冯·格雷姆普说，“但他并不知道自己是不是首富——而且他也不在乎。他不怎么花钱。他是拥有股票，但他一直把股票留在公司里好让公司发展。而他脑子里真正想着的是沃尔玛十万员工共同取得的成功。”
他通常回来参加星期五的销售会议，或是星期六早晨7点的行政人员鼓劲会，届时沃尔顿会像分店新开张时那样，跳上椅子，带领大家呼喊沃尔玛公司口号：“给我一个W！给我一个A！给我一个L！大声点！”
于是大家越喊越响。没有谁说这样做有点傻。这都是萨姆定下来的沃尔玛生活方式的一部分：忠诚，勤勉，加班加点；从公司最底层起大家集思广益，日本管理方式；善待员工；尽可能降低价格、减少利润，一夜安睡到天亮。员工进公司一年就有资格获得优先认股权，并一再鼓励他们尽能力购买。
鼓劲会之后，大家一起去打野禽，或在他家后院打网球。但他的那些商店总搁在他的心上。一位来打网球的客人为了分散他打球的注意力，故意问了一句为什么一筒网球在一家沃尔玛商店卖得比别的一家沃尔玛商店贵。此话并非实情，但这一招却真管用。沃尔顿连输四局。
沃尔顿为员工子女设立了大学奖学基金，为房屋遭受火灾、洪水、龙卷风等破坏的员工重建家园设立了灾难救助基金。他信奉广开思路、褒奖成功。
“他会说，‘那人工作努力，奖励一下吧，’”退休的前任总裁费罗尔德·F·阿伦德回忆道。他原先供职的雇主非常吝啬，所以离开那里加入沃尔玛公司之后，他对这种慷慨行为深感震惊。“我加盟沃尔玛后，不得不改变自己的思维方式。”
我们之所以成功，”沃尔顿在公司宣传册上写道，“是由于我们的员工，是由于他们所受到的待遇以及他们对公司的感情。他们认为这里与众不同，但是这种荣誉他们受之无愧。”
公司律师吉姆· 亨德伦补充说，“我从没见过有谁为他工作或和他接触一段时间后而不受益的。我不仅仅是指钱财方面，当然许多人是更富有了。我是说他的某种内在的东西——与萨姆·沃尔顿交往会使你成为一个更健全的人。”
New Words and Expressions:
mansion
n. a large house, usu. belonging to a rich person （豪华的）宅邸，大厦
remote
a. far away in space or time 遥远的
dime
n. （美国、加拿大的）十分（一角）硬币
billion
num.（美、法）十亿；（英、德）万亿
discount
n. amount of money which may be taken off the full price 折扣
pickup
n. a light van having an open body with low sides 小卡车，轻型货车
muddy
a. covered in mud 沾满泥的；泥泞的
sigh
vi. 叹气，叹息
billionaire
n. 亿万富翁；大富翁
carry on
behave in a wild or improper way; conduct; continue 举止随便；进行；继续做
folk
n. (usu.pl) people in general 人们；人民
get away with
do (sth.) without being caught or punished 做（某事）而未被发觉或未受惩罚
shell
n. (AmE) 猎枪弹；炮弹；壳
local
a. of a particular place 地方的，当地的
treatment
n. 对待；待遇
corporate
a. 公司的
memo
n. a note of sth. to be remembered 备忘录
folksy
a. simple and friendly 友好的，坦率的
mayor
n. 市长
by/from all accounts
according to what everyone says 人人都说
cheerful
a. (of a person) happy in a lively way; (of sth.) making one feel happy 愉快的；令人愉快的
blend
v. mix together thoroughly （将…）混合
blend in
mix harmoniously 融洽，十分协调
flashy
a. attracting attention by being too smart and decorated 浮华的，华而不实的
throw one's weight around
(infml) 盛气凌人
reserve
vt. keep for a special use; book (a seat, room, table, etc.) 将…留作专用；预定
pastor
n. 牧师
barber
n. 理发师
open up
(infml) 开门；打开
democrat
n. 民主党人；民主主义者
employee
n. 雇员，受雇者
headline
n. （报纸上的）标题
wallet
n. 皮夹子
hold to
keep to 遵守，不改变
celebrity
n. famous person 名人
stock
n. 资本；股票，证券
on the run
in flight; continuously active 奔逃，逃避；忙个不停
steer
v. 驾驶
steer clear of
keep away from 避开，避免
reporter
n. 记者
schemer
n. 阴谋家
scheme
n. 阴谋；计划
ranking
n. 地位；等级
rank
v. （将…）列为（某等级）
make up
form, constitute 构成，组成
executive
n., a. 经营管理方面的（人员）；行政方面的（人员）
pep
n. (infml) keen activity and energy 劲头，活力
rally
n., v. 集会
pep rally
a gathering intended to encourage the listeners 鼓舞士气的会议
opening
n. the act of becoming or making open, esp. officially （正式的）开张，开幕
liable
a. likely (to do sht.) 有可能做…的
yell
v. shout loudly 喊叫
lay down
establish 制定；设立
loyalty
n. being true and faithful (to) 忠诚
system
n. 系统
qualify
v. （使）具有资格
option
n. 期权，购买（或出售）权；选择自由
stock option
优先认股权
court
n. 球场
scholarship
n. 奖学金
tornado
n. 龙卷风
cultivate
vt. improve by care, training or study; develop 培养，陶冶
reward
v. give (sth.) to sb. in return for work or services 奖赏
retired
a. (of a person) having stopped working, usu. because of age 退休了的
retire
v. （使）退休
stun
vt. make (sb.) very surprised 使惊吓
generosity
n. the quality of being willing to give money, help, etc. 慷慨，大方
stingy
a. unwilling to spend money 吝啬的
employer
n. 雇佣者，雇主
aboard
adv., prep. on or into (a ship, train, aircraft, bus, etc.) 在（船、车、飞机等）上
come aboard
(fig) become a new member of an organization 入伙，加盟
handout
n. information given out in the form of a printed sheet, leaflet 印刷品，宣传品
deserve
vt. be worthy of 应受，值得
Proper Names
Art Harris
阿特·哈里斯
Rolls-Royce
罗尔斯-罗伊斯汽车
Bentonville
本顿维尔（美国地名）
Arkansas
（美国）阿肯色州
Sam Moore Walton
萨姆·穆尔·沃尔顿
Wal-Mart
沃尔玛公司
Jamie Beaulieu
杰米·鲍尤
Ford
福特汽车
Johnny Baker
乔尼·贝克
Richard Hoback
理查德·霍巴克
Gordon Garlington III
戈登·加林顿第三
Mayhall
梅霍
Benton County
本顿县（美国地名）
Forbes
福布斯（杂志名）
Jim Von Gremp
吉姆·冯·格雷姆普
Ferold F·Arend
费罗尔德·F·阿伦德
Jim Hendren
吉姆·亨德伦
Language Sense Enhancement
. Read aloud paragraphs - and learn them by heart.
. Read aloud the following poem:
I'm nobody! Who are you?
Emily Dickinson
I'm nobody! Who are you?
Are you nobody, too?
Then there's a pair of us — don't tell!
They'd advertise — you Know!
How dreary to be somebody!
How public like a frog
To tell one's name the livelong June
To an admiring bog!
我是无名之辈！你是谁？
你，也是无名之辈吗？
那么我们便是一对！可是别声张！
你知道，他们会大肆宣扬！
多无聊，做个显要人物！
多招摇，像个青蛙，
整个六月，面对仰慕的泥沼
把自己的名字，一再聒噪！
. Read the following quotations. Learn them by heart if you can. You might need to look up new words in a dictionary.
One should eat to live, not live to eat.
—— Benjamin Franklin
人吃饭是为了活着，但不是为了吃饭而活着。——本杰明·富兰克林
That man is the richest whose pleasures are the cheapest.
—— Henry David Thoreau
能处处发现乐趣的人才是最富有的人。——梭罗
If money is your hope for independence you will never have it. The only real security that a man will have in this world is a reserve of knowledge, experience, and ability.
—— Henry Ford
金钱不会让你独立，这个世界上真正能给你安全感的是你所拥有的知识、经验和能力。——亨利·福特
To travel hopefully is a better thing than to arrive, and the true success is to labor.
—— Robert Louis Stevenson
怀著希望去旅行比抵达目的地更愉快，而真正的成功在于勤劳。——罗伯特·路易斯·史蒂文森
. Read the following humorous story for fun. You might need to look up new words in a dictionary.
The elderly gamekeeper of a Scottish estate suffered from fading eyesight, and the lord of the manor offered to send him to London to see an eye specialist. Before he left, however, he was given strict instructions to spend his money thriftily and to live as he would at home.
When the keeper returned a week later, he presented the lord with a bill for more than £10. Shocked, the lord asked what he had been living on in London.
"Oh, the usual, sir," came the reply. "Pheasant, salmon, grouse and venison."
参考资料：
1735
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