读《小人物日记》所瞥见的当时英国社会种种

【摘要】本文是作者阅读英国喜剧演员George Grosssmith与其弟Weedon Grosssmith作品The Diary of Nobody（《小人物日记》）的读后感。阅读这本日记体作品，作者感受到了当时英国社会某一社会群体的生活质地。本文列举了印象深刻的某些细节描写，并做归类，对这部作品折射出来的英国社会的主要方面做了一次回顾与总结。

【关键词】 《小人物日记》；英国社会；文化

《小人物日记》（The Diary of a Nobody, 1891）最早连载于1888年5月至1889年5月间的《笨拙》（Punch）杂志上，后来集结成书。此书作者是英国多才多艺的喜剧演员乔治・格罗史密斯（George Grosssmith, 1848-1912）和他的弟弟威登（Weedon Grosssmith, 1852-1919）。据说，这本书是钱钟书先生生前最喜爱的书之一。当我终于静心展卷品读，确感越品越有味，越读越喜"阅"。粗读此书，吸引我的主要是字里行间的平民气息；细读品味，则深为此双语版本的翻译艺术、原著本身的英文语言魅力所折服；闭卷深思，主人公Pooter的日常琐事、内心情感及其周遭人物的嬉笑怒骂，则让我感受到了一个多世纪以前英国社会某一群体的生活质地。关于双语版本翻译艺术、原著语言魅力，本文作者都有专文探讨分析。下文将致力探讨该书所反映出的英国社会的方方面面，归类举例讨论如下：

一、家庭聚会活动

Chapter 9 November 15

A red-letter day. Our first important party since we have been in this house. I got home early from the City. Lupin insisted on having a hired waiter, and stood a half-dozen of champagne....The supper-room looked so nice, and Carrie truly said:"We need not be ashamed of its being seen by Mr. Perkupp, should he honour us by coming."（P144）

喜庆的日子。这是我们搬进新家之后的第一次重要聚会。我很早就从市里回到家。卢品坚持雇了一名侍者，还要了几瓶香槟。……晚餐的屋子很漂亮，卡丽说得对："就算帕卡普先生给面子，我们也没有必要觉得丢脸。"

Chapter 19 April 27

In the evening, to my surprise, he called with a very nice letter from Mr. Finsworth, saying if we (including Carrie) would dine with them tomorrow (Sunday), at two o'clock, he would be delighted. (P282)

出乎意料的是，晚上他竟然拿着一封他叔叔的亲笔信上门拜访了。信写得十分客气，说如果我们（包括卡丽）能在明天（礼拜日）两点钟和他们共进晚餐，他将十分高兴。

Chapter 20 May 10

...Franching said he was sorry he had no lady for me to take in to dinner. I replied that I preferred it, which I afterwards thought was a very uncomplimentary observation to make. (P298)

……弗兰清说他很抱歉没有女士陪我入席。我回答说我情愿这样。后来我觉得这句话说得很不给面子。

点评：从以上例子，我们可以看到当时宴会的某些习惯：雇请侍者（体面的象征），喝香槟酒，写亲笔信邀请，由女士陪伴男士入席，等等。其实，朋友间的互相吃饭宴请在此书出现的频率很高，由此也能对当时生活在郊区的某些中产阶层人们的生活状态略窥一斑。

二、 晚上读书习惯

We all three sat reading in silence until ten, while Carrie and I rose to go to bed. (P160)

我们三人静静地坐着看书，一直到晚上十点，卡丽和我起身去睡觉。

点评：在没有电灯的年代，一家人围坐煤气灯，安安静静看书，这是不是现代生活久违了的美好生活画面？

三、 周日礼拜习惯

Chapter 11 November 26

Sunday--The curate preached a very good sermon today--ery good indeed. (P176)

礼拜日。今天牧师布道很成功。的确很好。

Chapter 19 April 28

...He evidently did not see my little joke, although I repeated it twice with a little laugh. I suddenly remembered it was Sunday, and Mr. Short was perhaps VERY PARITCULAR. In this I was mistaken, for he was not at all particular in several of his remarks after dinner....

...

...Went to church in the evening, and could scarcely keep awake....(P288)

……显然，他没有听懂我说的这句小俏皮话，尽管我重复了两遍，自己还笑了两声。我突然想起来今天是礼拜天，也许肖特先生很讲究。但在这点上，我错了。因为他在餐后说的几句话一点都不讲究。……

……晚上去了教堂，差点睡着。……

点评：以上列举的两个生活细节，可以折射出周日上教堂在当时人们生活中还是蛮重要的一部分，而对一部分人来讲还是很严肃的事情。对于没有如此文化习惯的读者来说，由此可体会到异域文化的一大特色。

四、法语、拉丁语在当时生活中的应用情况

这点可从178页Chapter 11 November 26 Mr. Burwin-Fosselton写给Mr. Pooter的那封信里看出来。这封信一页半不长的信里，共有两处使用了法语，三处使用了拉丁文。这多多少少反映出当时文化人的某些语言修养与习惯。

五、 迎接新年的习惯

Chapter 13 December 31

A most terrible fog came on, and Lupin would go out in it, but promised to be back to drink out the Old Year -- a custom we have always observed. （P208）

起了浓雾，可卢品还要出去，不过答应回来喝酒迎新年 -- 这是我们一直都遵从的习俗。

点评：从这句话里，我们可以看到，十九世纪时的英国人迎新年的习俗是一家人在一起喝酒吃饭，共迎新年（这点和我们的文化习俗极为相近）。同时，也能多少领略到伦敦"雾都"的天气情况。

六、给衣领做标记的习惯

Chapter 15 February 9

In the evening, Carrie was engaged marking a half-dozen new collars I had purchased. I'll back Carrie's marking against anybody's. (P232)

晚上，卡丽忙着给我新买的半打衣领做标记。我敢说卡丽做的标记比其他任何人做的都要好。

点评：给衣领做标记这种活动，现在已经几乎没有了，这也算是难得一窥的那个时代的生活细节。

七、 当时报纸的某些特色

Chapter 18 April 20

Cummings called, hobbling in with a stick, saying he had been on his back for a week. ... Cummings said this was the second time he had been laid up, and we have never sent to inquire. I said I knew nothing about it. Cummings said;"It was mentioned in the BICYCLE NEWS." (P276)

卡明斯来了，拄着拐杖，步履蹒跚，说他卧床不起已有一个礼拜了。……卡明斯说这是他第二次病倒了，可是我们连问也没问一句。我说我们一点儿也不知道，他说："《自行车新闻报》都登了。"

Chapter 19 April 29

... The subject was fortunately changed, and Cummings read a most interesting article on the superiority of the bicycle to the horse.(P292)

……幸好话题转了，卡明斯读了一片非常有意思的文章，写的是自行车胜过马车的话题。

点评：连一个普通人生病这样琐碎的事情，报纸也会刊登出来。这在现在可能不可思议，但却反映出当时英国社会的生活情态；自行车与马车孰优孰劣这样话题的讨论，深深刻着时代的烙印。

八、当时社会兴起的某些风潮

Chapter 7 August 29

Mrs. James is making a positive fool of Carrie. Carrie appeared in a new dress like a smock-frock. She said "smocking" was all the rage. I replied it put me in a rage. （P116）

Chapter 18 April 18

Mrs. James, of Sutton, called in the afternoon. She and Carrie draped the mantelpiece in the drawing-room, and put little toy spiders, frogs and beetles all over it, as Mrs. James says it's quite the fashion. (P274)

萨顿的詹姆士太太下午来串门，她和卡丽一起在客厅的壁炉台上挂了一个帘子，还在上面挂满了玩具小蜘蛛、小青蛙和甲壳虫。詹姆士太太说这很时髦。

Chapter 18 April 22

I have of late frequently noticed Carrie rubbing her nails a good deal with an instrument, and on asking her what she was doing, she repllied:"Oh, I'm going in for manicuring. It's all the fashion now." ... (P276)

最近，我发现卡丽总是拿着一个东西不停地打磨指甲，就问她在干什么，她回答说："啊，我在修指甲，现在很时髦的。" ……

Chapter 22 May 30

... When I came home in the evening I found Carrie buried in a book on Spiritualism, called THERE IS NO BIRTH, by Florence Singleyet. I need scarcely say the book was sent her to read by Mrs. James, of Sutton....

...

... Mrs. James seemed surprised and said:"All the world is going mad over the book."... (P330)

……晚上回到家，我发现卡丽正埋头看一本关于招魂术的书，书名叫《诞生不存在》，作者是弗洛伦斯.辛格尔耶。不用说这本书一定是萨顿的詹姆士太太寄给她看的。……

……

……詹姆士太太看起来很吃惊，说："全世界都已经为这本书疯狂了。"……

点评：装饰壁炉、美化指甲、招魂术，这些都是曾风靡社会的一阵阵潮流，也都反映出了当时人的物质精神状况。给指甲美容这一风潮，现在中国社会也在刮，读此，颇感亲切；而其他两种风潮，读来颇有遥远的陌生感觉。

九、娱乐活动

Chapter 6 August 20

... and as it was cold, we stayed in and played games; Gowing, as usual, overstepped the mark. He suggested we should play"cutlet", a game we never heard of. He sat on a chair, and asked Carrie to sit on his lap, an invitation which dear Carrie rightly declined.

After some species of wrangling, I sat on Gowing's knees and Carrie sat on the edge of mine. Lupin sat on the edge of Carrie's lap, then Cummings on Lupin's, and Mrs. Cummings on her husband's. We looked very ridiculous, and laughed a good deal.

Gowing then said："Are you a believer in the Great Mogul?" We had to answer all together:"Yes -- oh, yes!" (three times). Gowing said:"So am I," and suddenly got up. The result of this stupid joke was that we all fell on the ground ... (P104)

……因为天冷，我们待在屋里玩游戏，高英和平时一样，不知分寸。他建议我们玩"肉排"，这游戏我从来没听说过。他坐在椅子上，叫卡丽坐在他大腿上，亲爱的卡丽当然回绝了。

废了一番口舌后，我坐在高英的膝上，卡丽坐在我膝上。卢品坐在卡丽的大腿上，卡明斯坐在卢品的大腿上，卡明斯夫人坐在她丈夫的大腿上。我们看上去很滑稽，不禁大笑了起来。

然后，高英说："你们相信真有'伟大的莫卧尔人'吗?"我们必须一起回答："是的--噢，是的！"（三次）。高英说："我也是。"然后就突然站了起来。这个愚蠢玩笑的结果就是，我们都摔倒在了地上……

Chapter 15 February 11

Gowing dropped in just in time, bringing with him a large sheet, with a print of a tailless donkey, which he fastened against the wall. He then produced several separate tails, and we spent the remainder of the evening trying blindfolded to pin a tail on in the proper place. My sides positively ached with laughter when I went to bed.(P236)

高英来得真及时，还带来了一大张纸，上面印着一头没尾巴的驴。他把纸贴到了墙上，然后又拿出几条尾巴。那天晚上其余的时间，我们蒙着眼睛玩贴驴尾巴的游戏，看谁贴得准。上床睡觉时，我两肋绝对笑痛了。

点评：在这个快速运转的现代社会，人与人的距离越来越远，上述所列举的这些慢节奏、亲密接触的娱乐活动似乎完全从现代成人的生活中消失了。读此，我似乎触摸到了那个时代英国生活一个侧面的质地，感觉到了那种慢与乐，人与人之间的那种单纯可爱的气息。

十、当时社会的经济状况

Chapter 14 January 5

I can scarcely write the news. Mr. Perkupp told me my salary would be raised 100 pounds! I stood gaping for a moment unable to realize it. I annually get 10 pounds rise, and I thought it might be 15 pounds or even 20 pounds; but 100 pounds surpasses all belief....

Lupin gave three cheers...Lupin ordered us to "fill up" again, and addressing us upstanding, said,"Having been in the firm of Job Cleanands, stock and share-brokers, a few weeks, and not having paid particular attention to the interests of my superiors in office, my Guv'nor, as a reward to me, allotted me 5 pounds worth of shares in a really good thing. The result is, to-day I have made 200 pounds."... (P220)

我差点儿没记下这条消息。帕卡普先生告诉我说我的工资会涨一百镑！我目瞪口呆地站着，好一会儿没有意识到这是真的。我的工资每年涨十镑，我想这次可能会涨十五或者二十镑，谁知道竟然出乎意料地涨了一百镑。……

卢品欢呼了三声……；卢品要我们都"满上"，站起来对我们说："我在股票商乔补.克里南兹那里工作了几个星期，没有特别注意维护上级的利益，作为回报，我的主管分给了我五镑值钱的股票，结果今天赚了两百镑。……"

Chapter 20 May 10.

...As he had said nothing about dress in the letter, I wired back:"With pleasure. Is it full dress?" and by leaving out our name, just got the message within the sixpence. (P296)

……因为他在信中没有提到着装的问题，我就发电报道："很荣幸，着礼服吗？"

没有署名，所以发电报花了不到六便士。

Chapter 21 May 16.

To my amazement, I read that Gylterson and Sons had absolutely engaged Lupin at a salary of 200 pounds a year, with other advantages. (P320)

我读了信大吃一惊，格里尔特森父子公司确定无疑地雇佣了卢品，年薪二百镑，还有其他的福利。

Chapter 23 July 1.

Today we lose Lupin, who has taken furnished apartments at Bayswater, near his friends, Mr. and Mrs. Murray Posh, at two guineas a week. I think this is most extravagant of him, as it is half his salary. (P350)

卢品今天从家里搬了出去，他在贝斯沃特街一套配有家具的公寓，离他的朋友默里.波什夫妇住得很近，每周租金两几尼。我觉得这样太奢侈了，这可是他工资的一半。

Chapter 23 July 4.

Lupin sneered, and said Mr. Posh was worth thousands. "Posh's one-price hat" was a household word in Birmingham, Manchester, Liverpool, and all the big towns throughout England. Lupin further informed me that Mr. Posh was opening branch establishments at New York, Sydney, and Melbourn, and was negotiating for Kimberley and Johannesburg.

...

Lupin said:"Why, he has settled over 10000 pounds on Daisy, and the same amount on'little girl.' If at any time I wanted a little capital, he would put up a couple of 'thou' at a day's notice, and could buy up Perkupp's fim over his head at any moment with ready cash."

On the way home in the carriage, for the first time in my life, I was inclined to indulge in the radical thought that money was NOT properly divided. (P360)

卢品轻蔑地笑了一声，说波什先生收入上万。"波什一口价帽子"这个牌子在伯明翰、曼彻斯特、利物浦和英国的各大城镇都是家喻户晓的。他还告诉我，波什先生要在纽约、悉尼和墨尔本开分店，而且正谈判在金伯利和约翰内斯堡开店。

……

卢品还说："哎，他已经给黛西留了留了一万镑，给'小姑娘'也留了一万。什么时候我需要点本钱，只要提前一天打招呼，他就能一下拿出好几千镑。他还能随时用现金把帕卡普的公司全买下来。"

坐马车回家的路上，我脑海中不断地浮现出一个激进的想法--这是我一生中第一次这样-- 这世界真是贫富不均呀！

点评：发电报用掉六便士；租金每周两几尼（英国的旧金币，值一镑一先令）；资深员工正常时期每年涨薪10-15镑，特殊时期涨100镑；出入职场年薪200镑，外加各种福利（算是当时的好工作）；做生意动则资产过万--这些数据，就好比今日的各种物价行情，虽不能当作完全客观的统计数据对待，但确实为我们了解当时一部分人的经济状况提供了很好的参考依据。另外，投资股票，这件国人最近二十年才熟知的经济活动，在一百多年前的英国已经进入普通人的生活。

十一、 代沟问题

Chapter 23 July 1.

... Today we lose Lupin, who has taken furnished apartments at Bayswater, near his friends, Mr. and Mrs. Murray Posh, at two guineas a week. I think this is most extravagant of him, as it is half his salary. Lupin says one never loses by a good address, and, to use his expression, Brickfield Terrace is a bit "off". Whether he means it is "far off' I do not know. I have long since given up trying to understand his curious expressions. I said the neighbourhood had always been good enough for his parents. His reply was:"It is no question of being good or bad. There is no money in it, and I am not going to rot away my life in the suburbs. (P350)

……卢品今天从家里搬了出去，他在贝斯沃特街一套配有家具的公寓，离他的朋友默里.波什夫妇住得很近，每周租金两几尼。我觉得这样太奢侈了，这可是他工资的一半。卢品说住好的地方不会有损失的，而且，用他的话说，布里克菲尔德台地这地方有点"外"。他的意思是不是"遥远"，我不知道。我早就不再费劲猜他的古怪说法是什么意思了。我说，那里的邻里关系对他的父母来说够好了，他说："不是好坏的问题。那儿没什么发展，我可不想把我的一生都毁在郊区。"

Chapter 23 July 3.

We promised to go; but I must say in my simple mind the familiar way in which Mrs. Posh and Lupin addressed each other is reprehensible. Anybody would think that they had been children together. I certainly should object to a six months' acquaintance calling MY wife "Carrie" and driving out with her. (P354)

我们答应去，可是我必须得说，以我的浅见，波什太太和卢品之间这么随便称呼，应该受到谴责，谁都会以为他们是从小玩到大的。反正我肯定是不会同意一个只认识六个月的人叫我的妻子"卡丽"还和她一起驾车出去。

点评：对金钱的使用态度，对居住环境地点的选择，对朋友称谓分寸的把握 --这些统统都折射出了两代人迥然不同的观念。在快速城镇化的今天，在大批年轻人宁可在城市做"蚁族"也不愿回农村的现代中国，"我可不想把我的一生都毁在郊区"这句话是否照见了我们自己生活的现实？代沟，可谓超越时空亘古不变之话题！

结语：其实，这本不算厚重的小书给我们的启示远不止以上种种。我如上罗列，算是抛砖引玉，希望有更多的人去读这本书，去享受它带来的种种乐趣与美好体悟！