2006年VOA标准英语-George Washington's Birthday Celebrated at

By Noelle Esquire
New York
16 February 2006

George Washington is celebrated¹ February as the first president of the United States, and a leader of the U.S. Revolutionary War.

The Morris-Jumel Mansion² is the oldest surviving house in Manhattan. Built in 1765 by retired³ British colonel Roger Morris and his wife, the house served as the couple's summer home. With the dawn of the Revolutionary War in 1775, the Morrises returned to Great Britain.

General Washington discovered the vacant Morris home and decided⁴ it was a prime location to set up his headquarters for about five weeks during the Revolutionary War. The house is situated⁵ at the second highest point in Manhattan. It overlooked the site of the Battle of Harlem Heights, where a small American force routed the British.

"It was a good vantage point to oversee⁶ what was going on in the city," said Michael Grillo, a "living history" actor who portrays⁷ different historical figures from the 18th century. "We happen to be on high, elevated ground. You do not notice it now as much in the 21st century because of the roads and most of the land has been flattened⁸ out. You are basically on mountainous terrain⁹. You would be able to see all the way down into the city."

At the Morris-Jumel Mansion, Grillo assumes the role of General Washington and leads school tours.

A nonprofit organization operates the house, focusing on educational programs. Its revolutionary background makes it a popular site for school field trips.

Rashawn Hoke, an elementary school teacher, finds the mansion a good resource to teach his students outside of a classroom setting.

"Many of these children live in the area," said Hoke. "It is an urban setting, and it was important to kind of give them an idea that there are historical sites in their own neighborhood."

After the Revolutionary War, the house passed through a number of different owners. Stephen and Eliza Jumel bought it in 1810, and returned it to its original function as a summer home.

The house is still furnished with many pieces that belonged to the Jumel family. Museum tours allow visitors to explore the mansion and understand how life in the 18th century differs from life today.

"How did people survive without these refrigerators," asked one student.

The museum also exhibits local artwork. During February, the museum is showcasing the work of Caribbean artists Carlton Murrell and Alfred Weekes, in honor of Black History Month. Both artists are originally from the island of Barbados, the only place George Washington visited outside the United States.

"It is a chance for us to tie in our overall history with the history of much of the community," said Ken¹⁰ Moss¹¹, the executive director of the museum. "We, of course, have Stephen Jumel who came here from Haiti, and there were many, many servants, and in the very early years there were certainly slaves here at the house, some who may have come from the Caribbean. It is part of the whole history of the mansion, and it is part of the history of many people here in the community."

Moss says the mansion is important today in the midst of modern New York City as a place for people to remember and explore New York's colonial history.

"New York is such a destination city and it features some of the greatest of world-class museums. But sites like Morris-Jumel Mansion, are the only sites that remain that tell of this colonial era, here in New York. Expansion of the city took place so rapidly that most of the early history of the city does not remain," he said. "So, Morris-Jumel Mansion provides an opportunity for people who come to New York, or people who live in New York, to really learn about the history of this region, and the Revolutionary War activity that took place."

Every February, George Washington's birthday is celebrated at the Morris-Jumel Mansion with free admission and a guided tour. Guides dress up in colonial clothes, serve refreshments¹² popular during the Revolution, and teach visitors about the important role the mansion played in American history.

1 celebrated   

adj.有名的，声誉卓著的

参考例句：

• He was soon one of the most celebrated young painters in England.不久他就成了英格兰最负盛名的年轻画家之一。
• The celebrated violinist was mobbed by the audience.观众团团围住了这位著名的小提琴演奏家。

2 mansion   

n.大厦，大楼；宅第

参考例句：

• The old mansion was built in 1850.这座古宅建于1850年。
• The mansion has extensive grounds.这大厦四周的庭园广阔。

3 retired   

adj.隐退的，退休的，退役的

参考例句：

• The old man retired to the country for rest.这位老人下乡休息去了。
• Many retired people take up gardening as a hobby.许多退休的人都以从事园艺为嗜好。

4 decided   

adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的

参考例句：

• This gave them a decided advantage over their opponents.这使他们比对手具有明显的优势。
• There is a decided difference between British and Chinese way of greeting.英国人和中国人打招呼的方式有很明显的区别。

5 situated   

adj.坐落在...的，处于某种境地的

参考例句：

• The village is situated at the margin of a forest.村子位于森林的边缘。
• She is awkwardly situated.她的处境困难。

6 oversee   

vt.监督，管理

参考例句：

• Soldiers oversee the food handouts.士兵们看管着救济食品。
• Use a surveyor or architect to oversee and inspect the different stages of the work.请一位房产检视员或建筑师来监督并检查不同阶段的工作。

7 portrays   

v.画像( portray的第三人称单数 )；描述；描绘；描画

参考例句：

• The museum collection vividly portrays the heritage of 200 years of canals. 博物馆的藏品让运河200 年的历史再现眼前。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The film portrays Gandhi as a kind of superman. 这部电影把甘地描绘成一个超人。 来自《简明英汉词典》

8 flattened   

[医]（水）平扁的，弄平的

参考例句：

• She flattened her nose and lips against the window. 她把鼻子和嘴唇紧贴着窗户。
• I flattened myself against the wall to let them pass. 我身体紧靠着墙让他们通过。

9 terrain   

n.地面，地形，地图

参考例句：

• He had made a detailed study of the terrain.他对地形作了缜密的研究。
• He knows the terrain of this locality like the back of his hand.他对这一带的地形了如指掌。

10 ken   

n.视野，知识领域

参考例句：

• Such things are beyond my ken.我可不懂这些事。
• Abstract words are beyond the ken of children.抽象的言辞超出小孩所理解的范围.

11 moss   

n.苔，藓，地衣

参考例句：

• Moss grows on a rock.苔藓生在石头上。
• He was found asleep on a pillow of leaves and moss.有人看见他枕着树叶和苔藓睡着了。

12 refreshments   

n.点心,便餐;(会议后的)简单茶点招 待

参考例句：

• We have to make a small charge for refreshments. 我们得收取少量茶点费。
• Light refreshments will be served during the break. 中间休息时有点心供应。