Collecting
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People tend to amass possessions, sometimes without being aware of doing so. Indeed they can have a delightful surprise when they find something useful which they did not know they owned. Those who never have to move house become indiscriminate collectors of what can only be described as clutter. They leave unwanted objects in drawers, cupboards and attics for years, in the belief that they may one day need just those very things. As they grow old, people also accumulate belongings for two other reasons, lack of physical and mental energy, both of which are essential in turning out and throwing away, and sentiment. Things owned for a long time are full associations with the past, perhaps with relatives who are dead, and so they gradually acquire a value beyond their true worth.
Some things are collected deliberately in the home in an attempt to avoid waste. Among these I would list string and brown paper, kept by thrifty people when a parcel has been opened, to save buying these two requisites. Collecting small items can easily become a mania. I know someone who always cuts sketches out from newspapers of model clothes that she would like to buy if she had the money. As she is not rich, the chances that she will ever be able to afford such purchases are remote; but she is never sufficiently strong-minded to be able to stop the practice. It is a harmless bait, but it litters up her desk to such an extent that every time she opens it, loose bits of paper fall out in every direction.
Collecting as a serous hobby is quite different and has many advantages. It provides relaxation for leisure hours, as just looking at one's treasures is always a joy. One does not have to go outside for amusement, since the collection is housed at home. Whatever it consists of, stamps, records, first editions of books china, glass, antique furniture, pictures, model cars, stuffed birds, toy animals, there is always something to do in connection with it, from finding the right place for the latest addition, to verifying facts in reference books. This hobby educates one not only in the chosen subject, but also in general matters which have some bearing on it. There are also other benefits. One wants to meet like-minded collectors, to get advice, to compare notes, to exchange articles, to show off the latest find. So one's circle of friends grows. Soon the hobby leads to travel, perhaps to a meeting in another town, possibly a trip abroad in search of a rare specimen, for collectors are not confined to any one country. Over the years, one may well become a authority on one's hobby and will very probably be asked to give informal talks to little gatherings and then, if successful, to larger audiences. In this way self-confidence grows, first from mastering a subject, then from being able to take about it. Collecting, by occupying spare time so constructively, makes a person contented, with no time for boredom.
人們喜歡收藏東西，有時并沒有意識到自己在這樣做。確實，一旦無意之中從自己的收藏品中找到某件有用的東西時，可以給人一種驚喜的感覺。那些從來不必搬家的人們成了一種無所無容的收藏家。他們專門收藏那些只能被稱作雜貨的東西。他們在抽屜里，碗柜中、閣樓上堆放著一些不用的東西，一放就是好幾年，相信總有一天需要的正好是那些東西。人們年老之后也喜歡收藏東西，不過是出于兩個不同的原因：一是體力，精力均告不佳，這二者是清除無用的東西必不可少的因素;另一原因是感情因素。東西擱得時間久了，便會充滿著與過去歲月的聯(lián)系，比方說與死去的親戚有關。因此這些東西慢慢獲得了一種超出它本身的價值。
居家度日，有目的地收藏某些東西是為了防止浪費。這些東西中我想舉出線繩和包裝紙為例。節(jié)儉的人們打開包裹后便把這兩樣必備的東西收藏起來。省得日后去買。收集小玩藝兒很容易著迷。我認識一個人，她總喜歡從報紙上剪下流行服裝的圖樣，等以后有錢時去買服裝。由于她并不富裕，她買得起這些服裝的可能性十分渺茫。但她又缺乏足夠堅強的意志把這一收集活動停下來。這種習慣無害，只把寫字臺里堆得滿滿當當，以致每次打開抽屜總能帶出許多紙片四處飛揚。
作為一種嚴肅的業(yè)余愛好的收藏活動完全是另外一回事，它具有許多益處。它可以使人在閑暇中得到休息，因為欣賞自己收藏的珍品總會充滿了樂趣。人們不必走到戶外去尋求娛樂，因為收藏品都是存放在家中。不管收藏品是什么，郵票、唱片、頭版書籍、瓷器、玻璃杯、老式家具、繪畫、模型汽車、鳥類標本，還是玩具動物，從為新增添的收藏品尋找擺放位置到核對參考書中的事實，總歸有事可做。這種愛好不僅能使人從選擇的專題中受到教育，而且也能從與之有關的一般事物中獲得長進。除此之外，還有其他的益處。收藏者要會見情趣相投的收藏者，以獲取教益，交流經驗、交換收藏品，炫耀自己的最新收藏。朋友的圈子就這樣不斷擴大。用不了多久，有這種愛好的人便開始旅行，也許是去另一個城市參加會議，也可能是出國尋找一件珍品，因為收藏家是不分國籍的。一人積了多年經驗會成為自己這種愛好的權威，很可能應邀在小型集會上作非正式的講話。如果講得好，可能向更多人發(fā)表演說。這樣，你自信心不斷增強，先是因為掌握一門學問，接下來是因為能夠就此發(fā)表見解。收藏活動通過富有建設性地利用業(yè)余時間使人感到心滿意足，不再有無聊之日。
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