A Final thought

When you next buy your lottery ticket, or do the football pools, just stop for a minute and ask yourself why you are doing it. Do you actually want to win? Or are you doing it for the excitement of thinking about winning?

Is There A Mean Streak In You?

Meanness is one of human nature's less attractive traits. But few people are com­ pletely, totally mean. Keith Waterhouse, a journalist, explains why he's thrifty.

I am thrifty, you are carefull, he is mean. I am generous, you are extravagant, he seems to have money to bum. More probably we are each a bit of all these categories. I know I am. I am a very generous present-giver. I love buying presents - but I hate buying wrapping paper. I hoard scraps from one year to the next. I even recycle the wrappings my own presents came in.

Some of my best friends are mean about string. They carefully unravel and save every scrap that comes into their posession.

There are also people who are obsessively careful with money. They are the sort who get off the bus a stop early to avoid paying a higher fare, or roam supermarkets looking for special offers and coupon discounts. This is fine, as long as these economies are not inflicted upon others. There is nothing quite so tiresome as someone with an obsession about switching off lights, or saving the last scrap of food.

It is when thrift affects one's social life that it becomes meanness. The famous American multimillionaire J. Paul Getty gave away billions but is remembered for the pay phone he installed for the use of his guests. A psychiatrist friend of mine maintains that mean people are insecure. But then he says that about overgenerous people, too. Mean people fear that their money will run out on them; overgenerous ones that their friend will.

Answer thefollowing questions.

1.Have you ever taken part in any lotteries? If yes, why?

2.Have you ever won?

3.Do you dream of winning a big sum of money? What do you need it for?

4.Do you like the idea of not having to work?

5.Would you prefer to make money yourself or to get it from your wife (husband,

relatives)?

6.What are the positive and negative sides of winning a big sum of money?

7.Does richness influence human psychology?

8.Does money spoil children?

9.In what way is it necessary to bring up children in rich families?

10.Can rich people be generous and understanding?

11.Is richness the greatest happiness or a great burden?

12.What is better: to give someone a fishing rod or some money?

13.Should the treasures of the country be equally divided between all its members?

14.Should the rich share their money with the poor?

15.Is there a mean streak in you?

16.What is your attitude to meanness? What’s the difference between meanness,

thrift and extravagance?

17.Why is meanness or greed considered one of the seven mortal sins?

18.Should a man be generous to a woman and should a woman live at his expense?

Kids Want What Money Can't Buy

A new poll shows that 90 % of children ages 9-14 say that family and friends are way more important than things that money can buy.

More good news: 6 out of 10 children surveyed say they'd rather spend time having fun with their parents than head out to the mall to go shopping.

Asked what they would change about their parents' jobs only 13 % said they wished their parents made more money. 63 % said they would arrange it so their parents could spend more time doing fun family activities.

1. Do you agree with the phrase that money can buy everything? Are there still things that money can't buy? What are they?

2. In what families is it more difficult to bring up children: in rich or poor ones?

Why?

3. Is it difficult to be friends for people from different layers of society? Do they "speak different languages"? Can the rich and the poor understand each other? Can they visit the same places, have the same hobbies, spend their holidays in the same way?

Spend, Spend, Spend

Many of us in developed societies are in a vicious circle. We work hard so that we can earn more money. When we have more money, we spend more. Because we spend more, we have to work even harder. The circle goes round and round. The result is not increased happiness, but more stress and less free time to be ourselves and be with our families and friends.

Above all we should remember that "being" and "doing" are much more important than "having"

Read the story.

Mammon and The Archer

After O. Henry

Chapter I

Old Anthony Rockwall, retired manufacturer and proprietor of Rockwall's Eureka Soap Co., looked out the library window of his mansion and grinned. He saw his neighbour - the aristocratic clubman, coming out to his waiting motorcar and wrinkling his nose with despise, as usual, at the soap king's residence built in the style of the Italian Renaissance.

"Little aristocrat!" muttered the ex-Soap King.

And then Anthony Rockwall went to the door of his library and shouted, 'Mike! Tell my son,' he said to his servant, "to come in here before he leaves the house."

When young Rockwall entered the library the old man laid aside his newspaper and looked at his son's big, ruddy face.

"Richard," said Anthony Rockwall, "what do you pay for the soap that you use?" Richard, only six months home from college, was surprised a little. He hadn't learned

yet to understand his parent, who could do anything quite unexpected. "Six dollars a dozen, I think, dad."

"And your clothes?"

"I suppose about sixty dollars, as a rule."

"You're a gentleman," said Anthony decidedly. "I've heard of these young sons of aris­ tocrats spending $24 a dozen for soap. And over one hundred for clothes. You've got as much money to waste as any of them, and yet you keep to what is decent and moderate. Now I use the old Eureka - not only out of habit, but it's the purest soap made. Fifty cents is very good for a young man of your position and wealth. As I said, you're a gentleman. They say it takes three generations to make one. But it used to be so. Money can do it much sooner and easier. My money has made a gentleman of you. By hokey! It's almost made a gentleman of me. I'm nearly as disagreeable and ill-mannered as these two haughty Dutch men on each side of me. They can't sleep at night because I had bought the land between them."

"There are some things that money can't buy," remarked young Rockwall rather gloomily. "Don't say such things," said old Anthony. "I am absolutely sure that money can buy and do everything. I've read the encyclopaedia down to “Y” looking for something you can't buy with it. And I'm going to read the appendix next week. "I believe in the power of money! Tell me something money won’t buy."

"First of all, it can't help you to get into the exclusive circles of society," answered Richard.

"Oho! won't it?" roared the defender of money. "And that's what I'm going to talk to you about. That's why I asked you to come in. There's something wrong with you, boy. I've been noticing it for two weeks. Tell me."

"I've fallen in love, dad."

"Ah, what's her name?" asked Anthony. "Why don't you propose to her? She'll be very happy. You're rich and good-looking, and you're a decent boy."

"I haven't had a chance," said Richard.

"You can arrange it. Take her for a walk in the park, or walk home with her from church."

"You don't know the life of the society people, and she belongs to die pillars of the so­ ciety. Every hour and minute of her time is arranged for many days in advance. I must have that girl, dad, or I'll hate New York for the rest of my life. And I don't dare to write to her either."

"Tut!" said the old man. "Do you mean to tell me that with all the money I've got you can't get an hour or two of the girl's time for yourself?"

"It's too late now. She's going to sail for Europe the day after tomorrow and she'll stay there for two years. I'm to see her alone tomorrow evening for a few minutes. She's at Larchmont now at her aunt's. I can't go there. But I'm allowed to meet her with a cab at the Grand Central Station tomorrow evening at the 8.30 train. We'll drive down Broadway as far as Wallack's Theatre where her mother and some other people will be waiting for us in the lobby. Do you think she would listen to me during these six or seven minutes? No. And what chance would I have in the theatre or after the performance? None. No, dad, your money is helpless here. We can't buy one minute of time. If we could, the rich would live longer. There's no hope of getting a talk with Miss Lantry before she sails."

"All right, Richard, my boy," said old Anthony cheerfully. "You may go to your Club now. You say money won't buy time? Let's live and see".

Chapter II

That night came Aunt Ellen to brother Anthony and began to discuss the lovers' problems. "He told me all about it," said brother Anthony. "I told him my bank account was

at his service, but he said money couldn't help."

"Oh, Anthony," sighed Aunt Ellen, "I wish you would not think so much of money. Wealth is nothing where a true love is concerned. Love is all-powerful. If he only had spoken earlier! She could not have refused our Richard. But now I fear it is too late. He will have no opportunity to address her. All your gold cannot bring happiness to your son.

At 8 o'clock the next evening Aunt Ellen took an old ring from an old case and gave it to Richard.

"Wear it tonight, nephew," she begged, "our mother gave it to me. Good luck in love she said it brought. She asked me to give it to you when you had found the one you loved."

Young Richard took the ring and tried it on his smallest finger. But the ring was too big. He took it off and put it into his vest pocket, like all men do. And then he phoned for his cab.

At the station he met Miss Lantry.

"We mustn't keep mamma and the others waiting," said she.

"To Wallack's Theater as far as you can drive!" said Richard. So they drove off. At thirty-fourth street young Richard ordered the cabman to stop. "I've dropped a ring," he apologized. "It was my mother's and I'd hate to lose it. I won't keep you waiting long - 1 saw where it fell."

In less than a minute he was back in the cab with the ring. But within that minute a tram had stopped directly in front of the cab. The cabman tried to pass to the left, but a heavy express wagon cut him off. He tried the right but had to drive away from a furniture van. He tried to drive back but dropped his reins and gave it up.

He was surrounded and blockaded by numerous vehicles and horses on all sides. "Why don't we drive on?" said Miss Lantry impatiently. "We'll be late."

Richard stood up in the cab and looked around. He saw dozens of wagons, vans, cabs, buses and trams around his cab. The oldest New Yorker had not seen a street blockade of such a proportion.

"I'm very sorry, but it looks as if we are stuck," Richard said.

"Let me see the ring. Now that it can't be helped, I don't care. I think theatres are stupid, anyway," said Miss Lantry.

Chapter III

At 11 o'clock that night somebody knocked lightly on Anthony Rockwall's door. "Come in," shouted Anthony, who was in a red dressing-gown, reading a book of

piratical adventures.

"They're engaged, Anthony," Ellen said softly. "She has promised to marry our Richard. On their way to the theatre there was a street blockade, and it was two hours before their cab could get out of it. And oh, Brother Anthony, don't ever boast of the power of money again! A little emblem of true love - a little ring that symbolized unending and unmercenary love - was the cause of Richard's happiness. He dropped it up in the street and got out to take it up. And before they could drive on the blockade happened. He spoke to his love and got her to accept his proposal while the cab was standing. Money is rubbish compared with true love, Anthony."

"All right," said old Anthony. "I'm glad the boy has got what he wanted. I told him I wouldn't spare any money if..."

"But Brother Anthony, what good could your money have done?"

Chapter IV

The next day a person with red hands and a blue polkadot necktie, who called himself Kelly, called at Anthony Rockwall’s house, and was at once received in the library.

"Well," said Anthony, reaching for his check-book, "let's see - you had $5,000 in

cash."

"I paid out $300 more of my own," said Kelly. "I had to spend more than we had expected. I got the express wagons and cabs mostly for 5; but the trucks and two-horse teams mostly for 10. The motormen wanted 10 and loaded vans 20. Most expensive were the cops. I paid two of them 50, and the rest 20 and 25. But didn't it work beautiful,

Mr. Rockwall? And there hadn't been any rehearsal! The boys were right on time! And it all lasted two hours!"

"Thirteen hundred - there you are, Kelly," said Anthony, tearing off a check. "Your thousand for the job and the $300 you have spent out of your own money. You don't despise money, do you, Kelly?"

"Me?" said Kelly. "I can beat the man that invented poverty."

Anthony called Kelly when he was at the door. "You didn't notice anywhere in the crowd a fat boy without any clothes on with arrows and a bow, did you?" said he.

"Why, no," said Kelly mystified. "1 didn't. If he was there, perhaps the cops got him before I came there."

"I thought the little rascal wouldn't be on hand", chuckled Anthony. "Good-bye, Kelly."

Answer thefollowing questions.

1. Explain old Anthony's words: "It takes three generations to make a gentleman. But money can do it sooner and easier." Do you agree with him? Give your definition of the notion "gentleman".

2.What do you mostly rely on: luck or seized opportunity? Does it sometimes happen that we overlook our chance and then curse our fate?

3.What kind of a naked fat boy did Anthony Rockwall mean?

4.What, do you think, really helped the young people to be together: money or love?

5.How would you describe the story: instructive and deductive; or humorous and entertaining?

6.O'Henry is known to be a master of surprise endings. In this story we can see two surprise endings. What are they?

RENDERING

Render into English.

PSYCHOLOGISTS SAY...

Люди отличаются не только своей внешностью, характером и отношением к другим людям. Они отличаются своим отношением к деньгам. Отношение к день­ гам - важная характеристика личности. Есть люди бережливые, есть прижимистые, а есть жадные. Есть люди щедрые, а есть расточительные. Такие люди могут растра­ тить по мелочам целое состояние. Есть богатые люди, которые никогда не дарят по­ дарки своим близким. А есть бедные, для которых самая большая радость - дарить подарки друзьям.

Конечно, деньги - это великая сила. Они дают большую свободу и открывают большие возможности. Но в то же время деньги лишают их владельца свободы. Чем больше у человека денег, тем больше денег ему требуется. Чем больше человек зарабатавает, тем больше он тратит. Образуется порочный круг, и выхода из него нет. В результате человек не становится счастливее. Чем больше времени он тратит, чтобы заработать деньги, тем меньше времени у него остается на отдых, на чтение, на разви­ тие своей личности. Чем больше человек работает, тем меньше времени он проводит с семьей и друзьями. А для детей самым важным является общение с родителями. Де­ ти хотят того, чего нельзя купить за деньги.

Многие считают, что в наше время за деньги можно купить все. Устарело даже изречение, что здоровье нельзя купить за деньги. Хорошо оборудованные современ­ ные клиники стоят дорого, и не каждый может себе их позволить. И, несомненно, бо­ гатому мужчине легче найти девушку, которая захочет стать его женой.