What in particular does a person gain when he or she becomes a serious collector?
当一个人成为一个严肃的收藏家时，他或她会特别收获什么？
People tend to amass possessions, sometimes without being aware of doing so.
人们往往会在不知不觉中积累财产。
Indeed they can have a delightful surprise when they find something useful which they did not know they owned.
事实上，当他们发现一些有用的东西时，可能会有意外的惊喜，而他们并不知道自己拥有这些东西。
Those who never have to move house become indiscriminate collectors of what can only be described as clutter.
那些从来不需要搬家的人，会不加区分地收集一些只能用杂乱无章来形容的东西。
They leave unwanted objects in drawers, cupboards and attics for years, in the belief that they may one day need just those very things.
他们把不需要的东西常年放在抽屉、橱柜和阁楼里，因为他们相信有一天自己会需要这些东西。
As they grow old, people also accumulate belongings for two other reasons,
随着年龄的增长，人们积累物品还有另外两个原因、
lack of physical and mental energy, both of which are essential in turning out and throwing away, and sentiment.
缺乏体力和脑力，而体力和脑力都是翻出和扔掉物品的必要条件；以及情感。
Things owned for a long time are full of associations with the past,
长期拥有的东西充满了对过去的联想、
perhaps with relatives who are dead, and so they gradually acquire a value beyond their true worth.
因此，它们逐渐获得了超出其真实价值的价值。
Some things are collected deliberately in the home in an attempt to avoid waste.
有些东西是为了避免浪费而特意收集起来的。
Among these I would list string and brown paper,
其中我想列举的是绳子和牛皮纸、
kept by thrifty people when a parcel has been opened, to save buying these two requisites.
当包裹被打开时，节俭的人们会把它们保存起来，以节省购买这两种必需品的费用。
Collecting small items can easily become a mania.
收集小物品很容易成为一种狂热。
I know someone who always cuts sketches out from newspapers of model clothes that she would like to buy if she had the money.
我认识一个人，她总是从报纸上剪下一些模特衣服的草图，如果有钱的话，她就想买这些衣服。
As she is not rich, the chances that she will ever be able to afford such purchases are remote;
因为她并不富有，所以能买得起这些衣服的可能性微乎其微；
but she is never sufficiently strongminded to be able to stop the practice.
但是，她的意志力总是不够坚定，无法停止这种做法。
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.
这本是无伤大雅的习惯，却把她的书桌弄得乱七八糟，以至于每次打开书桌，散落的纸屑就会从四面八方掉下来。
Collecting as a serious hobby is quite different and has many advantages.
将收藏作为一种严肃的爱好则完全不同，它有许多优点。
It provides relaxation for leisure hours, as just looking at one's treasures is always a joy.
它能让人在闲暇时放松，因为光是看着自己的宝贝总是一件乐事。
One does not have to go outside for amusement, since the collection is housed at home.
由于藏品都放在家里，人们不必外出消遣。
Whatever it consists of, stamps, records, first editions of books, china, glass,
无论是邮票、唱片、初版书籍、瓷器、玻璃器皿、古董家具、图片、汽车模型，还是其他物品，都可以在家中找到、
antique furniture, pictures, model cars, stuffed birds, toy animals,
古董家具、图片、汽车模型、毛绒鸟、玩具动物、
there is always something to do in connection with it,
总能找到与之相关的事情、
from finding the right place for the latest addition, to verifying facts in reference books.
从为最新添置的物品寻找合适的位置，到核实参考书中的事实，总能找到与之相关的事情。
This hobby educates one not only in the chosen subject, but also in general matters which have some bearing on it.
这种爱好不仅能让人了解所选主题，还能让人了解与之相关的一般问题。
There are also other benefits.
还有其他好处。
One wants to meet like-minded collectors, to get advice,
人们希望结识志同道合的收藏家，获得建议、
to compare notes, to exchange articles, to show off the latest find.
交流文章，炫耀最新发现。
So one's circle of friends grows.
这样，一个人的朋友圈就扩大了。
Soon the hobby leads to travel, perhaps to a meeting in another town,
很快，爱好就会带来旅行，也许是去另一个城市聚会、
possibly a trip abroad in search of a rare specimen, for collectors are not confined to any one country.
可能是出国寻找稀有标本，因为收藏家并不局限于任何一个国家。
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
多年后，一个人很可能成为自己爱好方面的权威，很可能被邀请在小型聚会上发表非正式演讲
and then, if successful, to larger audiences.
如果成功的话，还可能被邀请为更多的听众做演讲。
In this way self-confidence grows, first from mastering a subject, then from being able to talk about it.
这样，自信心就会增强，首先是掌握了一个主题，然后是能够谈论这个主题。
Collecting, by occupying spare time so constructively, makes a person contented, with no time for boredom.
收藏能如此有建设性地占用业余时间，使人心满意足，无暇无聊。
