Soon thereafter his friend Mon. B visited him and was shown the new rare plant. 
He said, “That is a very nice plant. Let me have one.” “No,” said Mon. A, “I have 
resolved that I will not give any away as I want to have a plant that no one else has.” 
“But,” said Mon. B, “just think of all the rare plants that I have given you. You cannot 
refuse my request.” So he was finally given a plant and was required to promise that he 
would give none away. 
Later, Mon. B was visited by his friend, Mon. C. Mon. C also saw and admired 
the pretty plant. He said, “That is very nice. I would like one of them.” But Mon. B 
replied, “No, I cannot give you one. Mon. A and I have the only plants in cultivation 
and we have resolved to give none away. Thus, we will have a plant that no one else 
has.” “But,” said Mon. C, “just think of all the rare plants I have given you. You cannot 
refuse my request.” Finally, after promising not to give any away, he received one. 
Later, when visiting Mon. C, Maj. Pam saw the plant. He said, “That is a very 
pretty plant. Let me have one.” “No,” said Mon. C, “only three people have this plant 
and we have resolved to give none away so that we may have a plant that others do not 
have.” “But,” said Maj. Pam, “just think of all the rare plants I have given you. You 
cannot refuse to give me one of these.” 
Maj. Pam won the argument and he gave them freely to every one. Thru him they 
were distributed to plant collectors everywhere tho it is still in the rare plant class. 
It lived over last winter here outdoors, under trees. Our lowest temperature there 
was about 30°. In one of our greenhouses it has spread by seed into pots or under benches, 
there may be 50 or more plants. It has been called “The Pink Polka Dot Plant” and the 
botanical name has been spelled many ways but the plant survives this disagreement, 
unharmed. I have used Maj. Pam’s spelling. If you want a plant, we can supply it during 
mild weather for $2.00. 
I did not tell you this story in order to sell you plants but to exploit Maj. Pam’s 
idea that plants should not be hoarded, but that we should pass them on to others, free 
if we are amateurs or at reasonable prices if we are commercial. 
This story about Maj. Pam and the Pink Polka Dot Plant illustrates the way that 
one man has applied the principle of “Ich Dien,” I serve. The origin of this classic motto 
is ancient and obscure. It is believed to have been carried under the plume of John, King 
of Bohemia, slain at Cressy in 1346, by the Black Prince who assumed it, out of modesty, 
to indicate that he served under the King, his father. In its modern application it is, 
consciously or unconsciously, the motto of those who try to help others. It is a good 
motto to live by. 
No people on earth are more anxious to serve others than the Americans. Most of 
our important public officials serve their country at a financial sacrifice. Our contributions 
to other peoples speak for themselves. 
We ourselves received a letter from a Greek farm woman telling how much the 
Greek common people appreciate and love the American people. We do not always get 
appreciation, however. Only too often does a feeling of indebtedness cause the recipient 
of kindness to feel inferior and that may be followed by dislike or even hatred. 
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