选择大城市(Select large cities)

详细内容

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‘avoidtherush-hour’mustbethesloganoflargecitiestheworldover.ifitis,it’saslogannonoetakestheleastnoticeof.twiceaday,withpredictableregularity,thepotboilsover.whereveryoulookit’speople,people,people.thetrainswhichleaveorarriveeveryfewminutesarepacked:anendlessprocessionofhumansardiins.thestreetsaresocrowded,thereishardlyroomtomoveonthepavements.thequeuesforbusesreachstaggeringproportions.ittakesagesforabustogettoyoubecausethetrafficontheroadshasvirtuallyetostandstill.evenwhenabusdoesatlastarrive,it’ssofull,itcan’ttakeanymorepassengers.thiswholecrazysystemofmutingstretchesman’sresourcestotheutmost.thesmallestunforeseeneventcanbringaboutconditionsofutterchaos.apower-cut,forinstance,andexceptionallyheavysnowfalloraminorderailmentmustalwaysmakecity-dwellersrealizehowprecariousthebalanceis.theextraordinarythingisnotthatpeopleputupwiththeseconditions,butthattheyactuallychoosetheminpreferencetoanythingelse.

largemoderncitiesaretoobigtocontrol.theyimposetheirownlivingconditionsonthepeoplewhoinhabitthem.citydwellersareobligedbytheirenvironmenttoadoptawhollyunnaturalwayoflife.theylosttouchwiththelandandrhythmofnature.itispossibletolivesuchanair-conditionedexistenceinalargecitythatyouarebarelyconsciousoftheseasons.afewflowersinapublicpark(ifyouhavethetimetovisitit)mayremindyouthatitisspringorsummer.afewleavesclingingtothepavementmayremindyouthatitisautumn.beyondthat,whatisgoingoninnatureseemstotallyirrelevant.allthesimple,goodthingsoflifelikesunshineandfreshairareatapremium.tallbuildingsblotoutthesun.trafficfumespollutelost.theflowoftrafficgoesonunceasinglyandthenoiseneverstops.thefunnythingaboutitallisthatyoupaydearlyforthe‘privilege’oflivinginacity.thedemandforaommodationissogreatthatitisoftenimpossibleforordinarypeopletobuyahouseoftheirown.exorbitantrentsmustbepaidfortinyflatswhichevencountryhenswoulddisdaintolivein.aommodationapart,thecostoflivingisveryhigh.justabouteverythingyoubuyislikelytobemoreexpensivethanitwouldbeinthecountry.

inadditiontoallthis,city-dwellersliveunderconstantthreat.thecrimerateinmostcitisisveryhigh.houseareburgleswithalarmingfrequency.citiesbreedcrimeandviolenceandarefullofplacesyouwouldbeafraidtovisitatnight.ifyouthinkaboutit,they’renotreallyfittoliveinatall.cananyonereallydoubtthatthecountryiswhatmanwasbornforandwherehetrulybelongs