In my newspaper column some months ago, I reprinted a short essay on youth by Samuel Ullman, an author unknown to me. Then I got a call from Ullman's great-grandson, Richard Ullman Rosenfield, a psychologist. He told me that he had been intrigued（好奇的） with the "spiritual journey" of the essay, especially in Japan.
Gen. Douglas MacArthur, I learned, often quoted Ullman's "Youth" essay and kept a
Unlikely as it may sound, this essay, written more than 70 years ago, is the underpinning of much Japanese productivity and the basis of many businessmen's life philosophies. Many carry creased（有折痕的） copies in their wallets.
"Anyone worth his salt in Japanese business knows and uses this essay," says one longtime Japan observer, "It is our Popeye's spinach（菠菜） ," said Tatsuro Ishida, who was deputy chairman of Fujisankei Communications Group.
"It touches me at the core of my heart," says Kokichi Hagiwara, the 67-year-old chairman of Japanese/American-owned National Steel in Pittsburgh. "This kind of enthusiasm is indispensable, We must have the spirit of youth to make change."
Some Japanese leaders see the essay as a bridge between the two cultures, If Westerners can understand Japanese reverence（崇敬） for it, maybe they can better understand the Japanese businessman's quest for spiritual sustenance in the midst of material abundance.
When one of Ullman's grandsons, Jonas Rosenfield, Jr., was having dinner in Japan a few years ago, "Youth" came up in conversation, Rosenfield told his dinner companion, a Japanese business leader, that the author was his grandfather. The news was staggering.
"'You are the grandson of Samuel Ullman?' he kept repeating," says Rosenfield, head of the American Film Marketing Association. "He couldn't get over it."
Then the executive pulled a copy of "Youth" from his pocket and told Rosenfield, "I carry it with me always."
Three years ago, several hundred top businessmen and government leaders gathered in Tokyo and Osaka to celebrate their admiration of Ullman's essay. Testimonials abounded, including one from Konosuke Matsushita, founder of the Panasonic Company, who said "Youth" has been his motto for 20 years.
Someone asked, "Why don't Americans love the essay as much as we do? It sends a message
Samuel Ullman was born in 1840 in Germany and came to American as a boy. He fought in the U.S, Civil War and settled in Birmingham, Alabama. He was a hardware merchant with a penchant（嗜好，倾向） for public service that continues 67 years after his death, In the last few years more than $36,000 from Japanese royalties on a book and a cassette reading of his work has gone to a University of Alabama at Birmingham scholarship fund, Not bad for a man who started writing in his 70s.
相关单词：intrigued
intrigued解释：adj.好奇的，被迷住了的v.搞阴谋诡计(intrigue的过去式)；激起…的兴趣或好奇心；“intrigue”的过去式和过去分词
intrigued例句：
You've really intrigued me—tell me more! 你说的真有意思—再给我讲一些吧！
He was intrigued by her story. 他被她的故事迷住了。
相关单词：underpinning
underpinning解释：n.基础材料；基础结构；（学说、理论等的）基础；（人的）腿v.用砖石结构等从下面支撑（墙等）( underpin的现在分词 )；加固（墙等）的基础；为（论据、主张等）打下基础；加强
underpinning例句：
Underpinning this success has been an exemplary record of innovation. 具有典范性的创新确保了这次成功。 来自辞典例句
But underpinning Mr Armstrong's technology changes is a human touch. 但阿姆斯特朗技术变革的支柱是人情味。 来自互联网
相关单词：creased
creased解释：（使…）起折痕，弄皱( crease的过去式和过去分词 )； （皮肤）皱起，使起皱纹； 皱皱巴巴
creased例句：
You've creased my newspaper. 你把我的报纸弄皱了。
The bullet merely creased his shoulder. 子弹只不过擦破了他肩部的皮肤。
相关单词：spinach
spinach解释：n.菠菜
spinach例句：
Eating spinach is supposed to make you strong.据说吃菠菜能使人强壮。
You should eat such vegetables as carrot,celery and spinach.你应该吃胡萝卜、芹菜和菠菜这类的蔬菜。
相关单词：reverence
reverence解释：n.敬畏，尊敬，尊严；Reverence:对某些基督教神职人员的尊称；v.尊敬，敬畏，崇敬
reverence例句：
He was a bishop who was held in reverence by all.他是一位被大家都尊敬的主教。
We reverence tradition but will not be fettered by it.我们尊重传统，但不被传统所束缚。
相关单词：sustenance
sustenance解释：n.食物，粮食；生活资料；生计
sustenance例句：
We derive our sustenance from the land.我们从土地获取食物。
The urban homeless are often in desperate need of sustenance.城市里无家可归的人极其需要食物来维持生命。
相关单词：marketing
marketing解释：n.行销，在市场的买卖，买东西
marketing例句：
They are developing marketing network.他们正在发展销售网络。
He often goes marketing.他经常去市场做生意。
相关单词：admiration
admiration解释：n.钦佩，赞美，羡慕
admiration例句：
He was lost in admiration of the beauty of the scene.他对风景之美赞不绝口。
We have a great admiration for the gold medalists.我们对金牌获得者极为敬佩。
相关单词：abounded
abounded解释：v.大量存在，充满，富于( abound的过去式和过去分词 )
abounded例句：
Get-rich-quick schemes abounded, and many people lost their savings. “生财之道”遍地皆是，然而许多人一生积攒下来的钱转眼之间付之东流。 来自英汉非文学 - 政府文件
Shoppers thronged the sidewalks. Olivedrab and navy-blue uniforms abounded. 人行道上逛商店的人摩肩接踵，身着草绿色和海军蓝军装的军人比比皆是。 来自辞典例句
相关单词：Founder
Founder解释：n.创始者，缔造者
Founder例句：
He was extolled as the founder of their Florentine school.他被称颂为佛罗伦萨画派的鼻祖。
According to the old tradition,Romulus was the founder of Rome.按照古老的传说，罗穆卢斯是古罗马的建国者。
相关单词：penchant
penchant解释：n.爱好，嗜好；（强烈的）倾向
penchant例句：
She has a penchant for Indian food.她爱吃印度食物。
He had a penchant for playing jokes on people.他喜欢拿人开玩笑。
相关单词：royalties
royalties解释：特许权使用费
royalties例句：
I lived on
Payments shall generally be made in the form of royalties. 一般应采取提成方式支付。 来自经济法规部分
