Seen from a slight distance, that would make a splendid spectacle. The movements of this army would be regulated like those of the ballet in the opera. First would come the turn of the lamplighters of New Zealand and Australia. Having set their lamps alight, these would go off to sleep. Next, the lamplighters of China and Siberia would enter for their steps in the dance, and then they too would be waved back into the wings. After that would come the turn of the lamplighters of Russia and the Indies; then those of Africa and Europe, then those of South America; then those of South America; then those of North America. And never would they make a mistake in the order of their entry upon the stage. It would be magnificent.

Chapter 16

從遠處看來，這是非常絢麗光輝的。這支軍隊的行動就像歌劇院的芭蕾舞行動一樣有條不紊。起首呈現的是新西蘭和澳大利亞的點燈人。點亮了燈，隨後他們就去睡覺了。然後就輪到中國和西伯利亞的點燈人走上舞台。他們也很快退到幕布前麵去了。因而就又輪到俄羅斯和印度的點燈人了。接著就是非洲和歐洲的。然後是南美的，再就是北美的。他們向來也不會搞錯他們上場的挨次。真了不起。

The Earth is not just an ordinary planet! One can count, there 111 kings (not forgetting, to be sure, the Negro kings among them), 7000 geographers, 900,000 businessmen, 7,500,000 tipplers, 311,000,000 conceited men― that is to say, about 2,000,000,000 grown-ups.

地球可不是一顆淺顯的行星！它上麵有一百一十一個國王（當然，包含非洲黑人國王）、七千個地理學家、九十萬個販子、七百五十萬個酒鬼、三億一千一百萬個傲慢自大的人，也就是說，約莫有二十億的大人。