美麗英文:推開生活之門

第5部分 (第2/6頁)

uld　have　had　not　only　his　mission；　but　probably　the　rank　of　captain。　But　here　he　was；　still　a　private　first…class—because　despite　the　military　emphasis　on　education；　efficiency；　loyalty；　and　all　other　criteria　for　determining　promotion；　accident　plays　a　most　important　part。　Every　time　this　Pfc。　had　been　remended　for　promotion；　except　once；　he　had　been　transferred　or　e　up　against　tablel　of　organization　limitatious；　or　a　new　change　in　regulations；　or　a　superior　officer　who　had　filled　out　the　forms　incorrectly　or　forgotten　them　in　his　third　right…hand　drawer。　And　so　he　had　remained　a　Pfc；　and　had　taken　his　reward　in　reading。　The　amount　he　did　in　the　army　was　prodigious。

I　was　curious　about　his　method。　And　one　day；　before　I　asked　him。　I　found　a　partial　answer。　Every　day　the　enlisted　men　put　in　an　hour　of　drill　and　formations。　During　that　time　at　least　one　fairly　long　period　of　rest　was　called。　Imagine　my　surprise　on　my　first　visit　to　the　drill　field　when；　at　the　mand　“rest！”　I　saw　one　man　in　the　whole　long　line　pull　out　a　paper　pocket　book　and　begin　to　read；　standing　up。

When　I　talked　with　him；　I　found　that　from　boyhood　he　had　developed　the　habit　of　carrying　a　little　book　in　his　pocket　from　which　he　read　every　minute　he　was　not　doing　something　else。　He　found　a　book　especially　useful　and　relaxing　during　the　periods　of　waiting　which　all　of　us　experience　daily—waiting　for　meals；　buses；　doctors；　hair　cuts；　telephone　calls；　dates；　performances　to　begin；　or　something　to　happen。　There　were　his　15　minutes　a　day；　or　more。　There　were　his　20　books　a　year—1；000　in　a　lifetime。

No　universal　formula　can　be　prescribed。　Each　of　us　must　find　our　own　15…minute　period　each　day。　It　is　better　if　it　is　regular。　Then　all　additional　spare　minutes　are　so　many　bonuses。　And；　belie