古德明《征服英语》之英语军事故事，古德明，香港英语教育作家，他开了一个《征服英语专栏》，在专栏中专门用英语写了世界近代史上的军事小故事，用英语讲述历史中那些惊心动魄的战争。
戏 假 情 真
during the american war of independence, the british army tried to maintain as normal a social life as possible. in boston, for example, plays were acted twice every week by the officers and some of the local ladies. one night, while a farce called the blockade of boston was being acted, the americans launched an attack in the vicinity.
a sergeant standing outside the playhouse door heard the firing and immediately ran into the playhouse, got up onto the stage and cried, "turn out! turn out! they are hard at it, hammer and tongs." the whole audience thought that the sergeant was acting a part in the farce, and that he did it so well that there was a general clap and such a noise that he could not be heard for some time. it was only when the clapping was over that the sergeant was able to make it clear that he was not playacting.
