HANS'S LITTLE BRONZE PLATES 汉氏小铜牌

Hans was a manager of a canning company in the United States. At the beginning, Hans's name was little known, so he tried his best to make himself known.

In 1957, a national exposition was held in Chicago. In order to promote his products and expand his fame, Hans also applied to the exposition for a stall . Because most goods participating in the exposition were well known in the United States, the principal of the exposition had to arrange Hans' exhibits in the most inconspicuous small attic.

After the exposition began, visitors were in an endless stream. However, few visitors patronized Hans' stall. Hans was very worried about it. The first day passed, and the very next day, Hans got a good idea. So he well prepared the same night.

The third day, on the floor suddenly appeared a lot of small bronze plates. On the back of each was engraved with the words, “Whoever picks up the small bronze plate can go the Hans Food Company stall in the exhibition hall attic for a Hans' souvenir .” Just as Hans predicted, the small attic no one had patronized was soon crowded.

“Hans's Little Bronze Plate” was widely praised, and the reporters swarmed to report it. Therefore, Hans's products rose to fame quickly.

汉斯是美国一家罐头公司的经理。起初，他的名字鲜为人知，于是，他倾尽全力，要打响知名度。

1957年，在芝加哥举行了一场全国博览会。为了促销产品、扩大知名度，汉斯也向博览会申请了一个展位。因为大多数参展的都是全美知名商品，博览会负责人只能把汉斯的展品安排在最不起眼的小阁楼间里。

博览会开展之后，顾客络绎不绝。可是，几乎没有人光顾汉斯的展位，汉斯很着急。第一天就这么过去了，就在第二天他想出一个好点子，当晚就认真筹备了起来。

第三天，地上突然出现了许多小的铜牌。每个铜牌的背面还刻着字：“凡拾到小铜牌者均可前往位于博览会大厅阁楼间的汉斯食品公司展位领取一份汉斯特供的纪念品。”和汉斯预想的一样，没人光顾的小小的阁楼间里瞬间挤得水泄不通。

“汉斯特制小铜牌”广受好评，记者们蜂拥而至，争相报道。于是，汉斯的产品很快就声名鹊起了。

-stall [stɔːl] n. 货摊

-souvenir [ˌsuːvəˈnɪə(r)] n. 纪念品

-patronize [ˈpætrənaɪz] v. 惠顾

-swarm [swɔːm] v. 挤满

绝境总能催生善思者的灵感之花。