59_Collecting
59 Collecting¶
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 of 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 strongminded to be able to stop the practice. It is a harmless habit, 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 serious 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 a 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 an 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 talk about it. Collecting, by occupying spare time so constructively, makes a person contented, with no time for boredom.
人们喜欢收藏东西，有时并没有意识到自己在这样做。确实，无意之中找到自己收藏的一件东西往往能给人带来意外的惊喜。那些从来不必搬家的人们成了一种无所无容的收藏家。他们专门收藏那些只能被称作杂货的东西。他们在抽屉里，碗柜中、阁楼上堆放着一些不用的东西，一放就是好几年，相信总有一天需要的正好是那些东西。人们年老之后也喜欢收藏东西，不过是出于两个不同的原因：一是体力，精力均告不佳，这二者是清除无用的东西必不可少的因素；另一个原因是感情因素。东西搁得时间久了，便会充满着与过去岁月的联系，比方说与死去的亲属有关。因此这些东西慢慢获得了一种超出它本身价值的价值。
居家度日，有目的地收藏某些东西是为了防止浪费。这些东西中我想举出线绳和包装纸为例。节俭的人们打开包裹后便把这两样必备的东西收藏起来。省得日后去买。
收集小玩艺儿很容易上瘾。我认识一个人，她总要从报纸上剪下流行服装的图样，等以后有钱时去买服装。由于她并不富裕，她买得起这些服装的可能性十分渺茫。但她又缺乏足够坚强的意志把这一收集活动停下来。这种习惯无害，只把写字台里堆得满满当当，以致每次打开抽屉总能带出许多纸片四处飞扬。作为一种严肃的业余爱好的收藏活动完全是另外一回事，它具有许多益处。它可以使人在闲暇中得到休息，因为欣赏自己收藏的珍品总会充满了乐趣。你不必去屋外寻找娱乐，因为你的收藏品就是放在家中的。不管收藏什么，邮票、唱片、头版书籍、瓷器、玻璃杯、老式家具、绘画、模型汽车、鸟类标本，还是玩具动物，从为新增添的收藏品寻找摆放位置到核对参考书中的事实，总归有事可做。这种爱好不仅能使人从选择的专题中受到教育，而且也能从与之有关的一般事物中获得长进。除此之外，还有其他的益处。收藏者要会见情趣相投的收藏者，以获取教益，交流经验、交换收藏品，炫耀自己的最新收藏。朋友的圈子就这样不断扩在。用不了多久，这种爱好就使得你有了旅行的机会，也许到另一个城市去参加一个会议，也可能到另一个国家去寻找一种稀有的收藏品，因为收藏家是不分国籍的。一人积了多年经验会成为自己这种爱好的权威，很可能应邀在小型集会上作非正式的讲话。如果讲得好，可能向更多人发表演说。这样，你的自信心会不断增长，先是从掌握一个专题开始，然后是关于这个专题的讲话。由于收藏活动占据了你的业余时间，使你有了一个寄托，你就不会感到无聊了。
Words¶
- amass /əˈmæs/ 积聚
- indiscriminate /ˌɪndɪˈskrɪmənət/ 不加选择的
- clutter /ˈklʌtɚ/ 一堆杂物
- string /strɪŋ/ 细线
- requisites /ˈrɛkwəzəts/ 必需品
- mania /ˈmeniə/ 癖好
- sketches /ˈskɛtʃəz/ 图样
- remote /rɪˈmot/ 小的
- strongminded /ˌstrɔŋˈmaɪndɪd/ 意志坚强的
- relaxation /ˌrilækˈseʃən/ 娱乐
- verifying /ˈvɛrəˌfaɪɪŋ/ 查证，核实
- like-minded /ˈlaɪk ˌmaɪndɪd/ 志趣相投的
- specimen /ˈspɛsəmən/ 标本
- constructively /kənˈstrʌktɪvli/ 有益的
- contented /kənˈtɛntəd/ 心满意足的
- boredom /ˈbɔrdəm/ 无聊
Expressions¶
- be aware of 意识到
- in the belief that 相信……
- turn out 清理，清空
- throw away 扔掉
- in an attempt to 试图，企图
- to such an extent that 到了……的程度
- in connection with 与……有关
- have a bearing on 对……有影响，与……有关
- compare notes 交流经验，交换意见
- show off 炫耀
- in search of 寻找
- be confined to 局限于