Evening star., 1932-12-02
THIS AND THAT
BY CHARLES E. TRACEWELL.

The man who has books for bis first
tage over the riders Of all other hobbies.
Most hobbies are essentially collec-
tions of some sort.
To keep up the interest In them one
has a choice of three methods Of ap-
proach.
He may continue to increase the
number of specimens.
He may share his enthusiasm.
He may read about his hobby.
Since it is generally agreed that a
hobby Is necessity with most human
beings, it may be helpful to look for a
moment at these natural methods of
keeping alive the spark of enthusiasm.
The commonest approach is through
the continuing increase in the number
of subjects, specimens, varieties or
whatnot.
But If one is half philosopher he
comes in time to realize that such q
way Of keeping up ones interest in a
hobby, whether 1t be stamps or tropical
fishes, Is not for every man.
There Is something lacking, whether
one succeeds or fails. No matter how
many specimens he gathers, there are
more to be secured; and If he manages
to gather them all together, he lives to
lament the fact, Just as did the man
who sorrowed because there was no
more Dickens to read.
Viewed from wide standpoint, there
Is not much difference, after all, be-
tween few and great many. It is
rather q befuddlement than anything
else.
He who has half a dozen good speci-
mems may be just q beginner In some
one type of hobby, but he who has 81
varieties may not have many more to
secure, so narrow Is the margin, after
all.
And there is realization, too, that
quantity. after all, does not so much
matter.
In a rose garden a man may have
hundred varieties and still not enjoy
them any more. or get any more real
pleasure out of them, than the gar
dener with his dozen types, from which
he gathers both good flowers and a
supreme interest.
Here begins the most difficult task
OF the man with hobby-keeping it
within bounds. 1t is hearty wisdom,
however, one which he must master,
to some degree, at least, If he is to keep
his respect for his avocation.
More hobbies have been ridden to
death than have died in any other way.
And the first warning comes, in any
collection, when one discovers that he
is putting too much stress on mere
numbers.
Often this is a bitter wisdom, one
much resented, even disbelieved, by
some enthusiast, especially the new
conner
Bigger and better" that foolish
slogan OF recent years, assails the hob
byist from every side
Especially is he in danger If he goes
in for another of the three primary
ways of keeping up his interest, that
OF sharing his enthusiasm with others.
Often this takes the form of joining
some sort OF club or association, where
men of like minds and interests gather
The trouble with this Is that no
group of men contains like minds.
Minds are just as different in asso-
Citations as they are outside them.
Wise is the enthusiast in any sort of
hobby who takes up his fancy accord
ing to his own whims, and never finds
it expedient for him to join with others.
He is, indeed. the true fancier, be-
cause he possesses enough of the vital
interest in subject to carry it on by
himself, ION his own" 1t will seem
to some that he gathers more solid
upon get-together meetings of various
sorts to fan the spark Of his en-
thusiasm.
"You get all sorts Of helpful pointers
and suggestions from such meetings"