Hobbies

The word “hobby” is derived from “hobbyhorse”, which a stick is fitted with a wooden horse’s head, which children ride astride for their amusement. We still talk of a man “riding” his bobby.  So a bobby is an amusement; properly, it is any interesting pursuit, not our main business, which we take up for our amusement in our leisure time.  What is a business to one man may be a hobby to another; for example, a photographer may have gardening as his hobby; and a paid gardener may go in for photography as a recreation.

There are very many kinds of hobbies.  Many take the form of collecting in some form.  Collecting postage stamps is a common hobby in England, not only with boys, but with men too.  Some make collections of wild flowers and ferns, and press and mount their specimens.  Other takes an interest in geology, and fined much amusement in collecting fossils.  Such hobbies do not cost much, and are within the reach of all.  But others, such as collecting pictures, old books, curiosities and antiquities, are only for the rich.

Photography creates a fascinating and educational leisure pursuit; and for persons who encompass the talent, drafting and wood-carving and paining. The last hobbies necessitate extraordinary imaginative hand-outs; but approximately any person can be taught woodwork and portrait framing.

Many people find great pleasure and interest in gardening; especially in cultivating some special flowers, like roses.  And boys especially like keeping pets, such as rabbits and fowls.

Every one, young and old, should have a hobby of some sort for his leisure hours; for it adds greatly to the pleasure of life.  It is often an education in itself, and it fills our vacant hours with interest.  It gives us, also, something to fall back on when our business days are over, in the leisure time at the end of life.