The auctioneer said, "Do I have an opening bid for this violin?"

A person from the audience shouted, "Four dollars."

A second person shouted, "Four fifty."

A third  person shouted, "Four seventy five."

The first person shouted back, "Five dollars."

Auctioneer: [pause] "$5, surely this violin is worth more than that."

An old man walked up to the auctioneer.  Without saying a word, he took the violin from the auctioneer.  He started to play the violin.  The song was quite beautiful.  When we was done, he gave the violin back to the auctioneer and sat down [short pause] still with out saying a word.

The second bidder shouted, "800 dollars."

A third bidder shouted, "Eight fifty."

The first bidder shouted, "900."

The third bidder shouted, "1000 dollars."

A boy in the back row asked his father, "It's the same violin. Why is it worth so much more?"

His father replied, "The difference is the master's touch."

Ideas for Toastmasters.  A collection of meeting ideas, ideas for officers and speech ideas.

Rick's home page with index or without index