An 18 years old student was struggling to pay his school fees.
He was an orphan, and not knowing 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 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. But unfortunately, they had not managed to sell enough
tickets. The total collection was only $1600. Disappointed, they went to
Paderewski and explained their plight. They gave him the entire $1600, plus a
cheque for the balance $400. They promised to honour the cheque at the soonest
possible.
“No,”
said Paderewski. “This is not acceptable.” He tore up the cheque, returned the
$1600 and told the two boys: “Here’s the $1600. 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 don’t do it expecting something in return. They do it
because they feel it’s 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 more
than 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 there 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
feed the starving Polish people.
The
calamity devastating Poland 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. I was one
of them.”
The
world is a wonderful place. What goes around comes around!
Stanford University 1892
Google Marks 272nd Birthday Of Abolitionist known as
Gustavus Vassa for most of his life, his autobiography helped in the creation
of the Slave Trade Act 1807 which ended the African trade for Britain and its
colonies.
Olaudah
Equiano, who was known as Gustavus Vassa for most of his life, was a prominent African
in London whose autobiography helped to end the slave trade in Britain.
Google
marks the 272nd birthday of Equiano, who was born in the Eboe province, in the
area that is now southern Nigeria, on October 16, 1745.
His
early life is unclear due to the absence of records, but he recounted how he
was kidnapped with his sister when he was 11.
He
was sold by local slave traders and shipped across the Atlantic to Barbados and
then Virginia.
In
Virginia, Equiano was sold to Michael Pascal, a lieutenant in the Royal Navy,
who renamed him 'Gustavus Vassa' after the 16th-century Swedish king.
Equiano
had already been renamed twice: he was called Michael while onboard the slave
ship that brought him to the Americas; and Jacob, by his first owner.
Equiano
travelled the oceans with Pascal for eight years, during which time he found
Christianity and was baptised as well as learning to read and write.
Pascal
then sold Equiano to a ship captain in London, who took him to Montserrat,
where he was sold to the prominent merchant Robert King.
King
set Equiano to work on his shipping routes and in his stores, working as a
deckhand, valet and barber whilst also earning money by trading on the side.
In
1765, when Equiano was about 20 years old, King promised that he could buy his
freedom for £40 (worth £6000 in the present day).
In
less than three years, he made enough money and was freed in 1967. Equiano then
spent much of the next 20 years travelling the world, including trips to Turkey
and the Arctic.
In
1786 in London, he became involved in the movement to abolish slavery. He was a
prominent member of the 'Sons of Africa', a group of 12 black men who
campaigned for abolition.
Equiano
was befriended and supported by abolitionists, many of whom encouraged him to
write and publish his life story.
In
1789 he published his autobiography, 'The Interesting Narrative of the Life of
Olaudah Equiano or Gustavus Vassa, the African'.
Equiano's
personal account of slavery, his journey of advancement, and his experiences as
a black immigrant caused a sensation on publication.
The
book fuelled a growing anti-slavery movement in Britain, Europe, and the New
World.
His
account surprised many with the quality of its imagery, description, and
literary style. Some readers felt shame at learning of the suffering he had
endured.
The
autobiography, published in 1789, helped in the creation of the Slave Trade Act
1807 which ended the African trade for Britain and its colonies.
In
1792, Equiano married an Englishwoman, Susanna Cullen, and they had two
daughters.
Equiano
died on 31 March 1797.
Who Was Olaudah Equiano?
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