Every man should be as meek as Hillel, and not quick to anger like Shammai. Once it came to pass that two men made a wager, the one saying that he would make Hillel angry and the other replying that it could' not be done. The stake was 400 shillings. This happened on the eve of Sabbath when Hillel was washing his hair in honor of the day. The man who had laid the wager that he would make Hillel angry came to the door of Hillel's house and knocked, calling out, "Where is Hillel?"

When Hillel heard it, he covered himself with his mantle and went to meet the man and said, "Dear son, what is your wish?"

Then the man said, "Dear Rabbi, I, want to ask a question."

Then Hillel said; "My son, ask what you desire."

Whereupon the man replied, "Dear Rabbi, why are the people of Babylon round-headed?"

Hillel .replied, "My son, you have asked a difficult question. I will tell you. There are no wise men among the Babylonians, therefore they have heads in the shape of a ball."

The man went away and said, "You have given a very proper answer to my question."

A little while later he went again to Hillel's door and knocking, called out, "Where is 'Hillel?"

The good Hillel again put on his mantle, went to meet him and said to him, "My son, what is your desire?"

The man said,"Dear . Rabbi, I wish to ask you a question."

Hillel said, "My son, ask what you will."

Then he said, "Dear Rabbi, why have the people of Tadmor (Palmyra) round eyes?"

Hillel replied, "My son, you have asked a difficult question, I will tell you. They live in a sandy country and if they had eyes with two corners like ours, they could not remove the sand which the wind blows into their eyes and would lose their sight."

Then the man said, "You have given me a very excellent answer to this question, also." And he went on his way.

After a little while he came back again, thinking he would anger Hillel by calling him so often from the bath. Again he cried, "Where is Hillel, where is Hillel?"

When Hillel heard that he was being called again, he put on his mantle and went out and said, "My son, what do you wish of me?"

The man said, "Dear Rabbi, I want to ask you an important question."

And Hillel replied, "Dear son, ask whatever question you like."

Then he said, "Dear Rabbi, tell me why the Phrygians (Afriki) have broad feet?"

Hillel replied, "You have asked me a difficult question. They live in moors and swamps; and they have broad soles on their feet so that they can walk about more easily, for if they had narrow feet they would sink in the swamps, but their broad feet enable them to walk better."

Then the man said, "Dear Rabbi, I have still many more questions to ask, but I am afraid you will grow angry."

Then the good Hillel put on his mantle and sitting down, said to the man, "My son, ask what you like, and I will answer as best I can."

So he said, "Are you the Hillel whom they call the prince in Israel?"

Hillel said, "Yes."

Then the man said again, "May there not be many like you in Israe1."

Then Hillel said, "Why?"

And the man replied, "I laid a wager of 400 shillings about you and you have caused me to lose them, as I could not make you angry."

Then Hillel said to him, "My son, be warned in time and do not wager. Know that Hillel is well worth the 400 shillings which you have lost because of him; and you may wager another 100 florins, but you will not anger him."

And the man went his way.