In 1892, an 18-year-old student struggled to pay his tuition fees at Stanford University. An orphan unaware of where to turn for money, he came up with a bright idea. He and a friend decided to host a musical concert on campus to raise funds for their education.
The two friends approached the great pianist Ignacy J. Paderewski. His manager demanded a guaranteed fee of $2,000 for the piano recital. An agreement was reached, and the boys started working hard to make the concert a success.
The big day arrived, but unfortunately, they hadn’t sold enough tickets. The total collection was only $1,600. Disappointed, they approached Paderewski and explained their difficult situation. They gave him the full $1,600, plus a check for the remaining $400. They promised to pay the check as soon as possible.
“No,” said Paderewski. “This is not acceptable.” He tore up the check, returned the $1,600, and said to the two boys, “Here is the $1,600. Please deduct any expenses you have incurred.
Keep the money you need for your fees. And give me what remains.” The boys were astonished and thanked him profusely. It was a small act of kindness, but it clearly marked Paderewski as a great human being.
Why would he help two people he didn’t even know? We all encounter situations like this in our lives. And most of us only think, “If I help them, what will happen to me?”
Truly great people think, “If I don’t help them, what will happen to them?” They don’t do it expecting something in return. They do it because they feel it is the right thing to do.
Paderewski ~ already a great musical prodigy later became the Prime Minister of Poland. He was a great leader, but unfortunately, when World War broke out, Poland was devastated. There were over 1.5 million people starving in his country, and there was no money to feed them.
Paderewski didn’t know whom to turn to for help. He asked for assistance from the U.S. Food Administration. He heard that there was a man named Herbert Hoover, who later became the President of the United States. Hoover agreed to help and quickly sent tons of grain to feed the starving Polish people. A calamity was averted.
Paderewski felt relieved. He later decided to travel to meet Hoover and thank him personally.
When Paderewski began to thank Herbert Hoover for his noble gesture, the entrepreneur and former US President Hoover quickly intervened and said, “You shouldn’t thank me, Mr. Prime Minister. Perhaps you don’t remember, but many years ago, you helped two young students go to college. I was one of them.”
The world is a wonderful place. What you sow, you reap. Please help others as best as you can. In the long run, you may be helping yourself. The universe never forgets anyone who sows a good seed in others, never.
Nothing in nature lives for itself. Rivers don’t drink their own water. Trees don’t eat their own fruits. The sun doesn’t give heat just for itself. Flowers don’t spread fragrance for themselves. Living for others is the rule of nature. And therein lies the secret of living. SHARE HAPPINESS BY SHARING STORIES
THE DOVETAILS HOTEL A charming romantic and risqué comedy that dares to discover the taboo pleasures of a ménage a trois relationship. Michael Walsh award-winning novelist amusingly reveals the amorous love lives of Gareth and his two attractive lady friends who are happy to share more than just friendship with the debonair novelist. CLICK LINK TO BOOK https://tinyurl.com/t4bfj754
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Categories: Art and Culture, Music Notes
Michael Walsh Stories and Books 