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ick； no form of transport could be worse。 Even if you travel in ideal weather； sea journeys take a long time。 Relatively few people are prepared to sacrifice up to a third of their holidays for the pleasure of travelling on a ship。
Aeroplanes have the reputation of being dangerous and even hardened travellers are intimidated by them。 They also have the grave disadvantage of being the most expensive form of transport。 But nothing can match them for speed and comfort。 Travelling at a height of 30；000 feet； far above the clouds； and at over 500 miles an hour is an exhilarating experience。 You do not have to devise
ways of taking your mind off the journey； for an aeroplane gets you to your destination rapidly。 For a few hours； you settle back in a deep armchair to enjoy the flight。 The real escapist can watch a free film show and sip champagne on some services。 But even when such refinements are not available； there is plenty to keep you occupied。 An aeroplane offers you an unusual and breathtaking view of the world。 You soar effortlessly over high mountains and deep valleys。 You really see the shape of the land。 If the landscape is hidden from view； you can enjoy the extraordinary sight of unbroken cloud plains that stretch out for miles before you； while the sun shines brilliantly in a clear sky。 The journey is so smooth that there is nothing to prevent you from reading or sleeping。 However you decide to spend your time； one thing is certain： you will arrive at your destination fresh and uncrumpled。 You will not have to spend the next few days recovering from a long and arduous journey。
Lesson45 The power of press
In democratic countries any efforts to restrict the freedom of the press are rightly condemned。 However； this freedom can easily be abused。 Stories about people often attract far more public attention than political events。 Though we may enjoy reading about the lives of others； it is extremely doubtful whether we would equally enjoy reading about ourselves。 Acting on the contention that facts are sacred； reporters can cause untold suffering to individuals by publishing details about their private lives。 Newspapers exert such tremendous influence that they can not only bring about major changes to the lives of ordinary people but can even overthrow a government。
The story of a poor family that acquired fame and fortune overnight； dramatically illustrates the power of the press。 The family lived in Aberdeen； a small town of 23；000 inhabitants in South Dakota。 As the parents had five children； life was a perpetual struggle against poverty。 They were expecting their sixth child and faced with even more pressing economic problems。 If they had only had one more child； the fact would have passed unnoticed。 They would have continued to struggle against economic odds and would have lived in obscurity。 But they suddenly became the parents of quintuplets； four girls and a boy； an event which radically changed their lives。 The day after the birth of the five children； an aeroplane arrived in Aberdeen bringing sixty reporters and photographers。 The news was of national importance； for the poor couple had become the parents of the only quintuplets in America。
The rise to fame was swift。 Television cameras and newspapers carried the news to everyone in the country。 Newspapers and magazines offered the family huge sums for the exclusive rights to publish stories and photographs。 Gifts poured in not only from unknown people； but from baby food and soap manufacturers who wished to advertise their products。 The old farmhouse the family lived in was to be replaced by a new 100；000 home。 Reporters kept pressing for interviews so lawyers had to be employed to act as spokesmen for the family at press conferences。 The event brought serious changes to the town itself。 Plans were announced to build a huge new highway； as Aberdeen was now likely to attract thousands of tourists。 Signposts erected on the outskirts of the town directed tourists not to Aberdeen； but to 'Quint…City U。S。A。' The local authorities discussed the possibility of erecting a 'quint museum' to satisfy the curiosity of the public and to protect the family from inquisitive tourists。 While the five babies were still quietly sleeping in oxygen tents in a hospital nursery； their parents were paying the price for fame。 It would never again be possible for them to lead normal lives。 They had become the victims of commercialization； for their names had acquired a market value。 The town itself received so much attention that almost every one of the inhabitants was affected to a greater or less degree。
Lesson46 Do it yourself
So great is our passion for doing things for ourselves； that we are becoming increasingly less dependent on specialized labour。 No one can plead ignorance of a subject any longer； for there are countless do…it…yourself publications。 Armed with the right tools and materials； newly…weds gaily embark on the task of decorating their own homes。 Men of all ages spend hours of their leisure time installing their own fireplaces； laying…out their own gardens； building garages and making
furniture。 Some really keen enthusiasts go so far as to build their own record players and radio transmitters。 Shops cater for the do…it…yourself craze not only by running special advisory services for novices； but by offering consumers bits and pieces which they can assemble at home。 Such things provide an excellent outlet for pent…up creative energy； but unfortunately not all of us are born handymen。
Wives tend to believe that their husbands are infinitely resourceful and versatile。 Even husbands who can hardly drive a nail in straight are supposed to be born electricians； carpenters； plumbers and mechanics。 When lights fuse； furniture gets rickety； pipes get clogged； or vacuum cleaners fail to operate； wives automatically assume that their husbands will somehow put things right。
The worst thing about the do…it…yourself game is that sometimes husbands live under the delusion that they can do anything even when they have been repeatedly proved wrong。 It is a question of pride as much as anything else。 Last spring my wife suggested that I call in a man to look at our lawn…mower。 It had broken down the previous summer； and though I promised to repair it； I had never got round to it。 I would not hear of the suggestion and said that I would fix it myself。 One Saturday afternoon； I hauled the machine into the garden and had a close look at it。 As far as I could see； it only needed a minor adjustment： a turn of a screw here； a little tightening up there； a drop of oil and it would be as good as new。 Inevitably the repair job was not quite so simple。 The mower firmly refused to mow； so I decided to dismantle it。 The garden was soon littered with chunks of metal which had once made up a lawn…mower。 But I was extremely pleased with myself I had traced the cause of the trouble。 One of the links in the chain that drives the wheels had snapped。 After buying a new chain I was faced with the insurmountable task of putting the confusing jigsaw puzzle together again。 I was not surprised to find that the machine still refused
to work after I had reassembled it； for the simple reason th