When Paderewski was on his last visit to America he was in a Boston suburb, when he was approached by a bootblack who called:
Shine?
The great pianist looked down at the youth whose face was streaked with grime and said:
No, my lad, but if you will wash your face I will give you a quarter.
All right! exclaimed the youth, who forthwith ran to a neighboring trough and made his ablutions.
When he returned Paderewski held out the quarter, which the boy took but immediately handed back, saying:
Here, Mister, you take it yourself and get your hair cut.