在十九世纪美国读者的眼中,中国往往是陈列于西方美术馆里的模型庭院。这些袖珍楼台令他们流连而神往。不过,若是将模型还原成一座真实的中国人的社区,让它变成唐人街的一隅,这就会叫他们跌破了眼镜。因为这背离了他们的欣赏习惯,对他们定势的阅读经验算是挑战。在这些读者的眼里,唐人街则代表着肮脏、丑陋与落后。唐人街的华人更是愚昧、卑琐和不可同化的廉价苦力。 In the eyes of American readers in the nineteenth century, China was often the model courtyard on display in Western art galleries. These pocket towers make them linger and fascinated. However, if the model is reduced to a real Chinese community, turning it into a corner of Chinatown, it will cause them to fall below the glasses. Because this is a departure from their habit of reading, it is a challenge to their reading experience. In the eyes of these readers, Chinatown represents dirty, ugly and backward. Chinese in Chinatown are even more foolish, cumbersome and unassimilatable cheap coolies.