美国总统麦金莱曾想从两个老朋友中选一位担任驻外大使,但是他无法决定谁较适合。后来他回忆起多年以前的一件小事:在一个风雨之夜,麦金莱搭上街车坐在最后一个座位。随后上来一位老妇人,手挽沉重的衣篮,站在走道上。这时麦氏的一个朋友(亦即两位候选人之一)坐在前面低头 U.S. President McKinley tried to choose one of two old friends as ambassador to the United States, but he could not decide who would be better suited. Later, he recalled a trifle incident many years ago: On a stormy night, McKinley rode to the street with his seat in the last seat. Then come up an old lady, holding heavy clothes basket, standing in the aisle. At this moment, a friend of Wheat’s (ie, one of the two candidates) sat in front of him