The chief mover behind the project was Liang-Shan Lee, who is president of the Federation of Chinese Student Associations in U.S.A.

A student of cinema at New York University, Lee is a spitting image of the noted dancer Lin Huai-min and has the same artistic sensitivity and sincerity. When he saw the Tienanmen massacre unfold he realized he couldn't simply remain aloof. "We're Chinese, and the future of freedom and democracy in China is our responsibility too. We can't just stand by and do nothing."

So how should one get involved?

Financial assistance is the most direct and substantive way of helping, of course. His federation had worked with the Min-Fon-Yua-Fu--a performing group organized by T'ao Hsiao-ch'ing, a radio host of the Broadcasting Company of China, to give tours for Chinese students abroad--for two years previously, so he talked things over with Ms. T'ao and they made raising money for the pro-democracy movement the goal of this year's tour.

But what performers would be foolish enough to take part in a monthlong, 16-show tour gratis?

"The first time we went abroad we had to pay for own our plane tickets!" T'ao says. Several years back an old friend who had emigrated to the U.S. happened to suggest that there should be shows aimed specially at overseas students and not just the Chinese expatriate community. That was when she teamed up with the Federation of Chinese Student Associations, and for the next two years she took her group to campuses around the U.S., entertaining students and introducing the way of life on Taiwan. Since this year's tour was to raise money for the pro-democracy movement, it was a worthy cause even harder to turn down.

As for the singers chosen, "first of all they have to be good," T'ao emphasizes, otherwise they won't have any voice left after a couple of performances. Next, because there are discussion seminars after the performances, they have to be able to express themselves well. Third, they have to identify with the nature and purpose of the tour. Finally, they can't bear too heavy a "family burden": they have to be able to put up with the loss of a month's earnings.

More than a hundred pro-democracy groups of various sizes were organized in the U.S. in the wake of Tienanmen, and Liang-Shan Lee chose the Independent Federation of Chinese Students and Scholars.

"It's an organization of mainland Chinese students from all over the U.S., and it has no special funding," he says. He admires the leadership of the federation's president, Yong-Chuan Liu, and believes the group can really make a mark.

Since Lee is not a political activist by nature and his motives were purely altruistic, the federation was happy to receive his "unofficial, unconditional" support, but they didn't participate in the project in any way.

From New York to California, the Min-Fon-Yua-Fu group visited a dozen states, with various student associations enthusiastically paying the costs of reception, food and lodging. The most enthusiastic welcome of all came from the Chinese student association of the University of Maryland, which consists mostly of Chinese who were born in the U.S. or came there at a young age with their parents. Their whistles, applause and laughter created a joyful atmosphere on the night of the show.

The next day they decided to charge over to Philadelphia and catch the show there. Their appearance naturally touched the singers deeply, and they stayed up talking with them most of the night.

In and of itself, the tour was quite a success. Despite rather steep prices of US$5 to US$8, tickets sold well and the shows were a big hit with the audiences.

But looking at the main purpose of the project--aiding the mainland pro-democracy movement--there were some oversights in preparation and planning owing to the group's inexperience in fund-raising.

On the posters announcing the shows, for example, the words about fund-raising were printed in too small type, so many people didn't know their purpose and failed to notice the donations box at the entrance.

In addition, some mainland students said the ticket prices were too high and that if they had been a little lower more people would have taken part and donated more money.

The sum that they raised during their short one-month tour in the US was just a drop in the bucket for the weighty mission of the Independent Federation of Chinese Students and Scholars, but the most important thing is the sense it gave participants of doing good for others. Besides performing without pay, two singers in the group also donated the entire US$500 fee for incidental expenses they were given by the sponsoring agency.

"When it's given with sincerity, even water's sweet to drink," a Taiwanese proverb goes. The sincerity of Liang-Shan Lee and the Min-Fon-Yua-Fu group surely left a sweet feeling in the hearts of the people who took part in this activity.

[Picture Caption]

(Left) Chinese student associations from all over the country pitched in to help the group on its tour.

Their voices not only raised money for the pro-democracy movement but al so helped to relieve some of the pressures faced by Chinese students abroad.

Wang Ti's exciting performances were a favorite with many students.

Hsueh Yueh learned a lot by observing other performers when his schedule permitted.

Yen Cheng-yang was thrilled when he unexpectedly met up with a friend of his father's who lives in the U.S.

This group of students at the University of Maryland was really enthusiastic!

(Above) Rice gruel prepared for the troupe by students at Syracuse University on a snowy day warmed the cockles of their hearts.

(Below) Talking over current events in the homeland has become a focal point of each seminar.

Their voices not only raised money for the pro-democracy movement but al so helped to relieve some of the pressures faced by Chinese students abroad.

Wang Ti's exciting performances were a favorite with many students.

Hsueh Yueh learned a lot by observing other performers when his schedule permitted.

Yen Cheng-yang was thrilled when he unexpectedly met up with a friend of his father's who lives in the U.S.

This group of students at the University of Maryland was really enthusiastic!

（Above） Rice gruel prepared for the troupe by students at Syracuse University on a snowy day warmed the cockles of their hearts.

（Below） Talking over current events in the homeland has become a focal point of each seminar.