Teach the stranger how to walk properly

Many years since in a small territory, there was not one of the inhabitants who did not stutter when he spoke, and halt in walking; both these defects, moreover, were considered accomplishments. A stranger saw the evil, and thinking how they would admire his walking, went about without halting, after the usual manner of our race. Everyone stopped to look at him and all these who looked, laughed, and holding their sides to express their merriment, shouted, “Teach the stranger how to walk properly”

The stranger considered it his duty to cast the reproach from himself. “You halt.” He cried, “It is not I, you must accustom yourselves to leave off so awkward a habit!” this only increased the uproar, when they heard him speak; he did not even stammer, this was sufficient to disgrace him and he was laughed at throughout the country.

Habit will render faults which we have been accustomed to regard from youth, beautiful. In vain will a stranger attempt to convince us that we are in error.

教教新人怎样走路

很多年前，一个小小地区里的居民说起话来没有一个不口吃，走起路来没有一个不瘸腿；更奇怪的是，这两种缺点竟被是为才能。一个外地人看到了这种弊端，一心以为这儿的居民肯定会羡慕他的走路方法。于是他按照人类通常的走路方式，不瘸不拐，走来走去。当地人都停下脚步来看他，谁看了谁都笑起来。他们捧腹大笑地喊道；“教教这个外地人这样走路吧。”

这位外地人认为有责任驳斥他们。“是你们又瘸又拐，不是我。”他高呼；“你们必须戒除这种不雅的习惯！”当地人一听到他这样说话，就更加起哄；因为他说话竟然不口吃，这就够他丢脸了。他走遍这地区，到处受嘲笑。

习惯会使我们从小看惯了的缺陷变成美好的事情，外地人欲使我们承认自己犯错只会枉费心思。

Teach the stranger how to walk properly
教教新人怎样走路

Many years since in a small territory, there was not one of the inhabitants who did not stutter when he spoke, and halt in walking; both these defects, moreover, were considered accomplishments. A stranger saw the evil, and thinking how they would admire his walking, went about without halting, after the usual manner of our race. Everyone stopped to look at him and all these who looked, laughed, and holding their sides to express their merriment, shouted, “Teach the stranger how to walk properly”
很多年前，一个小小地区里的居民说起话来没有一个不口吃，走起路来没有一个不瘸腿；更奇怪的是，这两种缺点竟被是为才能。一个外地人看到了这种弊端，一心以为这儿的居民肯定会羡慕他的走路方法。于是他按照人类通常的走路方式，不瘸不拐，走来走去。当地人都停下脚步来看他，谁看了谁都笑起来。他们捧腹大笑地喊道；“教教这个外地人这样走路吧。”

The stranger considered it his duty to cast the reproach from himself. “You halt.” He cried, “It is not I, you must accustom yourselves to leave off so awkward a habit!” this only increased the uproar, when they heard him speak; he did not even stammer, this was sufficient to disgrace him and he was laughed at throughout the country.
这位外地人认为有责任驳斥他们。“是你们又瘸又拐，不是我。”他高呼；“你们必须戒除这种不雅的习惯！”当地人一听到他这样说话，就更加起哄；因为他说话竟然不口吃，这就够他丢脸了。他走遍这地区，到处受嘲笑。

Habit will render faults which we have been accustomed to regard from youth, beautiful. In vain will a stranger attempt to convince us that we are in error.
习惯会使我们从小看惯了的缺陷变成美好的事情，外地人欲使我们承认自己犯错只会枉费心思。