Boston: Hearth of American Culture

When people think of "American culture and values," they are unconsciously referring to a set of principles, a world view, and a lifestyle which can best be found in Boston, capital of the state of Massachusetts and the major city in all of New England, those six relatively small states tucked away in the northeastern corner of the United States. Although Boston is perhaps the seventh or eighth largest city in the U.S., no other city in America can compare with the influence which Boston has had on the development of government, education, medicine, and the arts.
　　This influence is due in no small part to Boston's central role in the building of a new nation. Many people think that the United States was established in 1776; however, that was the year of the Declaration of Independence, a revolutionary document claiming self-rule from its mother country, England. Actual independence —— the formation of a government with an acting president (George Washington) —— did not begin until 1789. Boston was nearly middle-aged then, as it had had its beginnings a century and a half earlier, in 1630. It maintained its position as the colonies' pre-eminent center for politics, education, and commerce until the mid-18th century, when both New York and Philadelphia (the young nation's first and second capitals, respectively) overtook Boston in size.
　　Boston was settled by religious immigrants from the Church of England. It was with these early settlers that the first outlines of an American culture began: a strict adherence to religious dicta, diligence in work, educational aspirations, and a conservative lifestyle. Because Boston is closer to Europe than any other city in the U.S., it was the point of entry to the colonies until the 19th century, when New York became the new magnet for the "poor, tired, and huddled masses" who were to become the backbone of the new American economy. Boston remained, however, an important commercial center until the 20th century.
　　Today Boston caters to finance and banking, education, and medicine, with some of the top international mutual fund and insurance companies, world-renowned educational institutes, and state-of-the-art medical centers and schools. The city has also managed to preserve much of its earlier identity as the home of the American Revolution; thus, tourism is an important sector in the economy of Boston as well. Like San Francisco or New Orleans, Boston has a reputation for being a pleasant city to admire while walking around it.
　　What can one do in Boston? Important historic sites, well-preserved examples of architecture from the 17th-20th centuries, and spacious parks invite the tourist or resident to "smell the roses" while in Boston. Its unhurried but sophisticated citizens boast not only high incomes but also high levels of education. Music flourishes here: the Boston Symphony Orchestra, the New England Conservatory of Music, and the Boston Pops Orchestra offer first-class musical entertainment in both public and private venues. The Museum of Fine Arts is a major world gallery. Science Park, situated midway between Boston and its major satellite city, Cambridge, offers the Museum of Science. Had enough of "high-brow culture"? Boston affords its citizens and visitors many first-class restaurants and shopping dockside in Faneuil Hall. Historic walking tours are a must for the tourist, especially Boston Commons, a city park, and Beacon Hill, with its roads still paved with the original stones from the 17th century. Admirers of university campuses steeped in tradition should see Harvard, the nation's oldest university (1636), as well as the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Emerson College, Boston College, and Boston University, all in the metropolitan area.
　　In short, no matter one's interest, any visitor is sure to enjoy his stay in Boston, hearth of American culture and still a leader in education, medicine, and music.

　　当人们想到“美国文化和价值观”时，他们不自觉中指的是以波士顿最具代表性的一套准则、一项世界观以及一种生活方式；波士顿是麻州首府和新英格兰（位于美国东北角落六个相当隐蔽的小州）全境的主要城市。尽管波士顿也许是全美第七或第八大城市，但没有其它一个美国城市能够在政府、教育、医学和艺术等各项发展的影响上与它媲美。
　　这种影响力大部分归因于波士顿在新国家建立时所扮演的中心角色。很多人以为美国是在1776年建立的；然而，该年是独立宣言（宣布脱离母国——英国而自治的革命文件）发表的那一年，真正的独立要到1789年才开始——也就是代理总统乔治‧华盛顿政府的成立。那时波士顿几乎已步入中年，因为它早在一个半世纪以前（即1630年）就已存在了。它继续保持殖民地政治、教育和商业的首要中心地位，直到18世纪中叶，纽约和费城（分别为新国家第一个和第二个首都）的规模超越过波士顿。
　　波士顿是由来自英国教会的宗教移民所开垦。这些早期拓荒者开创了美国文化的雏型：严守宗教训示、勤奋工作、热心教育和保守的生活方式。由于波士顿比任何其它美国城市更靠近欧洲，一直以来它都是殖民地的门户，直到19世纪纽约成为“贫穷、疲累和缩瑟移民”心目中的新乐土，而这些人日后成了美国新经济的主干。然而，波士顿直到20世纪仍是一个重要的商业中心。
　　今天波士顿以财政、金融、教育和医学为重点，有一些首屈一指的国际共同基金和保险公司、世界知名的教育机构、最先进的医学中心和学校都在这里。该市也设法维持美国早期革命发源地的原貌；因此，观光业也是波士顿经济重要的一环。如同旧金山和新奥尔良一样，波士顿是出名的宜人城市，很值得去走走瞻仰一番。
　　在波士顿能做什么呢？重要的历史遗迹、保存完善的17～20世纪的建筑典范，以及宽广的公园都诱使观光客或居民在停留波士顿期间去“好好享受人生”。波士顿悠闲但世故的市民不仅以高收入自豪，而且也以教育水平高而自豪。音乐在此很兴盛：波士顿交响乐团、新英格兰音乐学院和波士顿流行管弦乐团在公开和私人的场合都提供一流的音乐欣赏。这里的美术馆是世界主要的美术展览会场。位于波士顿和其主要卫星城剑桥中间的科学公园内则有科学博物馆。受够了“高格调文化”吗？波士顿提供市民和游客许多一流的餐厅和位于法纳尔大厅船坞的购物区。游览历史步道是观光客不可错过的一件事，特别是波士顿市民公园（一座市立公园）和道路仍铺着17世纪原始石头的比肯山。偏爱悠久传统校园的人应该去看看美国最早的哈佛大学（1636），以及麻省理工学院、艾默生学院、波士顿学院和波士顿大学，这些全都在都会区内。
　　总而言之，不论你的兴趣为何，任何访客到波士顿这个美国文化重镇以及依然居教育、医学和音乐领导地位的城市游玩，都一定会玩得非常尽兴。