the world i live in-海倫·凱勒自傳(英文版)

第6部分 (第3/7頁)

substantial　odour　that　floats　about；　mocking

every　effort　to　identify　it。　It　is　the　will…o'…the…wisp　of　my　olfactive

experience。　Sometimes　I　meet　one　who　lacks　a　distinctive　person…scent；

and　I　seldom　find　such　a　one　lively　or　entertaining。　On　the　other　hand；

one　who　has　a　pungent　odour　often　possesses　great　vitality；　energy；　and

vigour　of　mind。

Masculine　exhalations　are　as　a　rule　stronger；　more　vivid；　more　widely

differentiated　than　those　of　women。　In　the　odour　of　young　men　there　is

something　elemental；　as　of　fire；　storm；　and　salt　sea。　It　pulsates　with

buoyancy　and　desire。　It　suggests　all　things　strong　and　beautiful　and

joyous；　and　gives　me　a　sense　of　physical　happiness。　I　wonder　if　others

observe　that　all　infants　have　the　same　scent……pure；　simple；

undecipherable　as　their　dormant　personality。　It　is　not　until　the　age　of

six　or　seven　that　they　begin　to　have　perceptible　individual　odours。

These　develop　and　mature　along　with　their　mental　and　bodily　powers。

What　I　have　written　about　smell；　especially　person…smell；　will　perhaps

be　regarded　as　the　abnormal　sentiment　of　one　who　can　have　no　idea　of　the

〃world　of　reality　and　beauty　which　the　eye　perceives。〃　There　are　people

who　are　colour…blind；　people　who　are　tone…deaf。　Most　people　are

smell…blind…and…deaf。　We　should　not　condemn　a　musical　position　on　the

testimony　of　an　ear　which　cannot　distinguish　one　chord　from　another；　or

judge　a　picture　by　the　verdict　of　a　colour…blind　critic。　The　sensations

of　smell　which　cheer；　inform；　and　broaden　my　life　are　not　less　pleasant

merely　because　some　critic　who　treads　the　wide；　bright　pathway　of　the

eye　has　not　cultivated　his　o