LESSON 162 OUTDATED ODEAS?
Martin Constantine, the outgoing head of the Hampstead College of Design, left his job because he had outgrow his position. He took over the prestigious post of director of the British Museum.
Peter Handerson, who took over Constantine’s position, began his work with gusto. His first task was to outfit all the labs with new equipment. Peter considered himself to be an original thinker as well as an originator of new work practices. Ornamental design was his favorite subject, and his office was soon filled with all kinds of ornaments, mostly designed by himself.
A few months after taking over his position, Peter organized a staff outing, a picnic on Hampstead Heath. But, instead of everyone being happy, there was an outbreak of discontent among some of the staff.
Mark Ashworth was particularly outspoken. “That man’s ideas on design are totally outdated,” he said with disdain. “ There is not one ounce of originality in his thinking. He has never originated anything worth looking at, nothing at all. His views on ornamentation are old hat, an outgrowth of 19th century thinking. Tell you what, we should all get together and oust the man before he does any more damage to the College. Not to put too fine a point on it, I believe he should be banished to the outermost edges of the British Isles, somewhere like the Outer Hebrides.”
“But what would be the outcome of that?” interjected another colleague, Steve Kirby. “You just want Peter’s job, and I’m sure that would cause an outcry among the board of governors, not to mention the press. I’d advise you to leave well enough alone!”
WORDS:
original adj.最初的，独创的
originality n.创意，新奇
originate v.产生，发生
originator n.发起人，创办人
ornament n.装饰/物
ornamentation n.装饰，装饰品
ornamental adj.装饰的
ounce n.盎司
oust n.追逐；赶走
outbreak n.爆发，发作
outcome n.后果，成果
outcry n.大声疾呼，强烈抗议
outdated adj.过时的
outermost adj.最外边的
outfit n.服装，v.配备，装备
outgoing adj.好交际的，外向的
outgrow v.生长速度超过
outgrowth n.自然的发展
outing n.郊游，远足 |