This is a true story that had happened in 1892 at Stanford
University. Its moral is still relevant today.
A young, 18 year old student was struggling to pay his fees.
He was an orphan, and not knowing where to turn for money, he came up with a
bright idea. A friend and he decided to host a musical concert on campus to raise money for their education.
They reached out to the great pianist Ignacy J. Paderewski. His manager demanded a guaranteed fee of $2,000 for the piano recital. A deal was struck. And the boys began to work to make the concert a success.
The big day arrived. Paderewski performed at Stanford. But unfortunately, they had not managed to sell enough tickets. The total collection was only $1,600. Disappointed, they went to Paderewski and explained their plight. They gave him the entire $1,600, plus a check for the balance of $400. They promised to honor the check soonest possible.
"No" said Paderewski. "This is not acceptable" He tore up the check, returned the $1,600 and told the boys "Here's the $1,600. Please deduct whatever expenses you have incurred. Keep the money you need for your fees. And just give me whatever is left" The boys were surprised, and thanked him profusely.
It was a small act of kindness. But it clearly marked out Paderewski as a great human being. Why should he help two people he did not even know?
They reached out to the great pianist Ignacy J. Paderewski. His manager demanded a guaranteed fee of $2,000 for the piano recital. A deal was struck. And the boys began to work to make the concert a success.
The big day arrived. Paderewski performed at Stanford. But unfortunately, they had not managed to sell enough tickets. The total collection was only $1,600. Disappointed, they went to Paderewski and explained their plight. They gave him the entire $1,600, plus a check for the balance of $400. They promised to honor the check soonest possible.
"No" said Paderewski. "This is not acceptable" He tore up the check, returned the $1,600 and told the boys "Here's the $1,600. Please deduct whatever expenses you have incurred. Keep the money you need for your fees. And just give me whatever is left" The boys were surprised, and thanked him profusely.
It was a small act of kindness. But it clearly marked out Paderewski as a great human being. Why should he help two people he did not even know?
We all come
across situations like these in our lives. And most of us only think, "If I help them, what would happen to me?"
The truly great people think, "If I don't help them, what will happen to them?" They do not do it expecting something in return. They do it because they feel it is the right thing to do.
Paderewski later went on to become the Prime Minister of Poland. He was a great leader, but unfortunately, when the World War began, Poland was ravaged. There were over 1.5 million people starving in his country, and no money to feed them.
Paderewski did not know where to turn for help. He reached out to the US Food and Relief Administration for help.
The head was a man called Herbert Hoover - who later went on to become the US President. Hoover agreed to help and quickly shipped tons of food grains to free the starving Polish people. A calamity was averted.
Paderewski was relieved. He decided to go across to meet Hoover and personally thank him. When Paderewski began to thank Hoover for his noble gesture, Hoover quickly interjected and said, "You shouldn't be thanking me, Mr. Prime Minister. You may not remember this, but several years ago, you helped two young students go through college in the US. I was one of them."
The world is a wonderful place. What goes around usually comes around.
The truly great people think, "If I don't help them, what will happen to them?" They do not do it expecting something in return. They do it because they feel it is the right thing to do.
Paderewski later went on to become the Prime Minister of Poland. He was a great leader, but unfortunately, when the World War began, Poland was ravaged. There were over 1.5 million people starving in his country, and no money to feed them.
Paderewski did not know where to turn for help. He reached out to the US Food and Relief Administration for help.
The head was a man called Herbert Hoover - who later went on to become the US President. Hoover agreed to help and quickly shipped tons of food grains to free the starving Polish people. A calamity was averted.
Paderewski was relieved. He decided to go across to meet Hoover and personally thank him. When Paderewski began to thank Hoover for his noble gesture, Hoover quickly interjected and said, "You shouldn't be thanking me, Mr. Prime Minister. You may not remember this, but several years ago, you helped two young students go through college in the US. I was one of them."
The world is a wonderful place. What goes around usually comes around.
Real characters in the story:
Ignacy Jan Paderewski
Ignacy Jan Paderewski (1860 – 1941)
was a Polish pianist and composer, politician, and spokesman for Polish
independence. He was a favorite of concert audiences around the globe.
His musical fame opened access to diplomats and the media. He was the prime
minister and foreign minister of Poland in 1919, and represented Poland at the
Paris Peace Conference in 1919.
Herbert Clark Hoover
Herbert Clark Hoover (1874 – 1964) was the 31st President of
the United States (1929–1933). Hoover, born to a Quaker family, was a
professional mining engineer. He achieved American and international prominence
in humanitarian relief efforts in wartime Belgium and served as head of the
U.S. Food Administration during World War I.
In the presidential
election of 1928, Hoover easily won the Republican nomination, despite having
no elected-office experience.
Stanford
University
Leland Stanford Junior University, or more commonly Stanford
University, is a private research university in Stanford, California, and one
of the world's most prestigious institutions, with the highest undergraduate
selectivity and the number 1 ranking in numerous surveys and measures of U.S.
universities.
Photos and content in Real characters in the story: Wikipedia
