英国现当代“守财奴” 一生存25万镑
文章来源:未知 文章作者:enread 发布时间:2012-02-25 07:29 字体: [ ]  进入论坛
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Gordon Hewitt, a penny-pinching eccentric who used to read his paper in his car to save electricity, has left behind a £250,000 fortune after a lifetime of scrimping.

英国守财奴戈登•休伊特在吝啬了一生之后,留下25万英镑的遗产。这位守财达人曾经为了省电而在车里读报。

But in reality twice-married Mr Hewitt had a quarter-of-a-million pounds located in at least 20 <a href=savings1 and investment schemes, which he has left to six different people." src="http://www.enread.com/upimg/allimg/120225/1_120225073028_1.jpg" width="450" height="282" />
But in reality twice-married Mr Hewitt had a quarter-of-a-million pounds located in at least 20 savings and investment schemes, which he has left to six different people.
To a casual observer Mr Hewitt, who died 14 months ago, may have appeared virtually destitute2 in his trademark3 duffel coat(粗呢大衣) , ill-fitting trousers and canvas(帆布) pumps, as he sold newspapers on the streets.

But in reality twice-married Mr Hewitt, who lived in the same house all his life, had a quarter-of-a-million pounds located in at least 20 savings and investment schemes, which he has left to six different people.

Former neighbours of Mr Hewitt's in Huddersfield, West Yorks., told how he used to save money by reading the paper in his Reliant Robin4 so he didn't have to turn on the light in his house, and wore his clothes wet rather than using his tumble dryer5.

They recalled his obsessive6(强迫性的) approach to saving money - including never putting the heating on, eating for free at churches and relying on the same duffel coat for years.

Friend and neighbour Jean Buckley, 68, remembered his obsessively7 thrifty8(节约的) ways which even included him helping9 out at a soup kitchen just for the free soup and calling into churches for the warmth.

"He used to sit in his Reliant Robin reading a newspaper with the light on so he didn't have to turn the light on in the house. He was just a character.

"He'd do anything to get warm, walk miles to find somewhere warm to sit even walking through the rain in his pumps to find somewhere.

"I think he enjoyed saving the money. It gave him power to have that much in the bank," said mum-of-two Jean.

Neighbour David Cheeseman, 68, said: "I have known him for over 50 years and he was always eccentric(古怪的) and comical(滑稽的) in his manner. I told him many times to look after himself and install central heating in his house. He just laughed.

"He wouldn't spend a penny if he had to. He went to every different church to sit in the warm, have a cup of tea or meal. He knew where to go.

"He wouldn't put the heat on in his house. When the police found him he was in his chair dead with his overcoat. I asked if the fire was on and they said no, I didn't think it would have been.

"He had a dryer in his house but used to wash his clothes and put them on wet. He said it cost money to use the dryer."

In an odd twist to Mr Hewitt's tale, six ladies benefited from his will and at least three of them barely knew him.



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1 savings ZjbzGu     
n.存款,储蓄
参考例句:
  • I can't afford the vacation,for it would eat up my savings.我度不起假,那样会把我的积蓄用光的。
  • By this time he had used up all his savings.到这时,他的存款已全部用完。
2 destitute 4vOxu     
adj.缺乏的;穷困的
参考例句:
  • They were destitute of necessaries of life.他们缺少生活必需品。
  • They are destitute of common sense.他们缺乏常识。
3 trademark Xndw8     
n.商标;特征;vt.注册的…商标
参考例句:
  • The trademark is registered on the book of the Patent Office.该商标已在专利局登记注册。
  • The trademark of the pen was changed.这钢笔的商标改了。
4 robin Oj7zme     
n.知更鸟,红襟鸟
参考例句:
  • The robin is the messenger of spring.知更鸟是报春的使者。
  • We knew spring was coming as we had seen a robin.我们看见了一只知更鸟,知道春天要到了。
5 dryer PrYxf     
n.干衣机,干燥剂
参考例句:
  • He bought a dryer yesterday.他昨天买了一台干燥机。
  • There is a washer and a dryer in the basement.地下室里有洗衣机和烘干机。
6 obsessive eIYxs     
adj. 着迷的, 强迫性的, 分神的
参考例句:
  • Some people are obsessive about cleanliness.有些人有洁癖。
  • He's becoming more and more obsessive about punctuality.他对守时要求越来越过分了。
7 obsessively 0c180424cba71c2e5a90cdda44a64400     
ad.着迷般地,过分地
参考例句:
  • Peter was obsessively jealous and his behaviour was driving his wife away. 彼得过分嫉妒的举止令他的妻子想离他而去。
  • He's rude to his friends and obsessively jealous. 他对他的朋友很无礼而且嫉妒心重。
8 thrifty NIgzT     
adj.节俭的;兴旺的;健壮的
参考例句:
  • Except for smoking and drinking,he is a thrifty man.除了抽烟、喝酒,他是个生活节俭的人。
  • She was a thrifty woman and managed to put aside some money every month.她是个很会持家的妇女,每月都设法存些钱。
9 helping 2rGzDc     
n.食物的一份&adj.帮助人的,辅助的
参考例句:
  • The poor children regularly pony up for a second helping of my hamburger. 那些可怜的孩子们总是要求我把我的汉堡包再给他们一份。
  • By doing this, they may at times be helping to restore competition. 这样一来, 他在某些时候,有助于竞争的加强。
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