This was sent to me by MG, and because it was a forwarded e-mail I didn't believe it was true (a natural assumption by the way...always assume forwarded e-mails are not true). But I checked on Snopes, and sure enough, this is real...
THE SITUATION
In Washington , DC , at a Metro Station, on a cold January morning in 2007, this man with a violin played six Bach pieces for about 45 minutes. During that time, approximately 2,000 people went through the station, most of them on their way to work. After about 3 minutes, a middle-aged man noticed that there was a musician playing. He slowed his pace and stopped for a few seconds, and then he hurried on to meet his schedule.
About 4 minutes later:
The violinist received his first dollar. A woman threw money in the hat and, without stopping, continued to walk.
At 6 minutes:
A young man leaned against the wall to listen to him, then looked at his watch and started to walk again.
At 10 minutes:
A 3-year old boy stopped, but his mother tugged him along hurriedly. The kid stopped to look at the violinist again, but the mother pushed hard and the child continued to walk, turning his head the whole time. This action was repeated by several other children, but every parent - without exception - forced their children to move on quickly.
At 45 minutes:
The musician played continuously. Only 6 people stopped and listened for a short while. About 20 gave money but continued to walk at their normal pace. The man collected a total of $32.
After 1 hour:
He finished playing and silence took over. No one noticed and no one applauded. There was no recognition at all.
No one knew this, but the violinist was Joshua Bell, one of the greatest musicians in the world. He played one of the most intricate pieces ever written, with a violin worth $3.5 million dollars.
Two days before, Joshua Bell sold-out a theater in Boston where the seats averaged $200 each to sit and listen to him play the same music.
This is a true story. Joshua Bell, playing incognito in the D.C. Metro Station, was organized by the Washington Post as part of a social experiment about perception, taste and people's priorities.
This experiment raised several questions:
*In a common-place environment, at an inappropriate hour, do we perceive beauty?
*If so, do we stop to appreciate it?
*Do we recognize talent in an unexpected context?
One possible conclusion reached from this experiment could be this:
If we do not have a moment to stop and listen to one of the best musicians in the world, playing some of the finest music ever written, with one of the most beautiful instruments ever made . . ......
How many other things are we missing as we rush through life?
This week in 1935, while Tex Carleton is beating the Braves in Boston with a 5-hit gem, President Roosevelt is signing a major part of the New Deal, the WPA, into law. The Cubs will go on to win the pennant, and Roosevelt will go on to win re-election.
His Cubs career was far from spectacular, but for one glorious day in 1965 he pitched the game of his lifetime.
He is a Hall of Famer, one of the greatest hitters in history, and he was a Cubs player and manager. As a player he led the Cubs to the 1929 World Series and had one of the best seasons in Cubs history.
He was one of the most colorful Cubs in history, and he still holds the record for RBI in a season with 191.
On this day in 1924 the Cubs were broadcast on the radio for the very first time. The man behind the microphone was sportscaster Hal Totten (photo). The radio station was WMAQ.
75 years ago today...Bill "General" Lee pitches the Cubs to victory to get back to .500 (4-4). They don't look much like a pennant-winning team yet. Meanwhile in Chicago, a radio show debuts that will become one of the most popular shows in America: Fibber McGee and Molly.
He was a big boy, and it was a much less politically correct time.
This former Cubs mustache is becoming a senior citizen today. He is 65 years old.
He was the most popular player in the first fifty years of the Cubs franchise; a living legend when he passed away on this day in 1922. His funeral drew thousands of mourners.
On this day in 1992 Chicago was trying to deal with a flood that caused millions of dollars of damage downtown.
P.K. Wrigley passed away on this day in 1977. He was the Cubs owner for 45 of the 101 years the Cubs haven't won it, and he played a big part in that.
