230. Traveling in 1800.
230．旅行条件（1800年）
The traveler in those days had a very hard time. On the best roads of the north, in the best coach, and with the best weather one might cover as many as forty miles a day. But the traveler had to start very early in the morning to do this. Generally he thought himself fortunate if he made twenty-five miles in the twenty-four hours. South of the Potomac there were no public coaches, and the traveler generally rode on horseback. A few rich men like Washington rode in their own coaches. Everywhere, north and south, the inns were uncomfortable and the food was poor. Whenever it was possible the traveler went by water. But that was dangerous work. Lighthouses were far apart, there were no public buoys to guide the mariner, and almost nothing had been done to improve navigation.
这一时期的旅行者备受磨难，在北方最好的路上，即使乘坐最好的四轮马车，赶上最好的天气，一天最多可以走四十英里。而且，旅行者必须一大早就出发。如果他能够在二十四小时走二十五英里，一般他就会认为自己很幸运。波托马克的南部没有长途公汽，旅行者一般骑马完成行程，像华盛顿这样的富人乘坐他们自己的四轮马车。不论南方还是北方，各地的客栈都令人不舒服，而且食物也很差。如果有可能的话，旅行者会乘船出门，但是，乘船非常危险，灯塔分布疏远，没有公共的浮标导引水手，航行条件没有任何改善。
231. The Steamboat.
231．汽船
The steamboat came to change all this. While Washington was still President, a queer-looking boat sailed up and down the Delaware. She was propelled by oars or paddles which were worked by steam. This boat must have been very uncomfortable, and few persons wished to go on her. Robert Fulton made the first successful steamboat. She was named the Clermont and was launched in 1807. She had paddle wheels and steamed against the wind and tide of the Hudson River. At first some people thought that she was bewitched. But when it was found that she ran safely and regularly, people began to travel on her. Before a great while steamboats appeared in all parts of the country.
汽船的发明改变了这一切，在华盛顿还是总统的时候，有一艘看起来非常奇怪的船一起一伏地出现在特拉华人的视线中，这艘船是靠蒸汽带动的橹或者桨来推进，它必定自下水就运行不畅，很少有人希望乘坐这样的船。罗伯特o富尔顿成功制造出第一艘汽船，把它命名为"科勒蒙特"号。这艘船于1807年下水，它有叶轮，蒸汽推动着它在哈得孙河上迎风破浪。开始的时候人们以为这艘船中了邪，但是，当发现它行驶起来安全、稳定时，人们开始乘坐这艘船旅行。不久，美国各地都出现了汽船。