I had often seen shops with strange names in England, but this was the first time I had ever seen a restaurant called "The Rich Man and the Beggar". My curiosity was aroused.
On the counter at the entrance of the restaurant there was a donation box, the top of which explained that it was for donations to Somalia. Beside the box was a large, brutally graphic poster of the victims of the famine there. I thought the poster rather killed the atmosphere of the place, so I hurried in and found a place to sit.
The manager told me an interesting story. A few hundred years ago, all the land in the area had belonged to a wealthy count. On the eve of his sixtieth birthday, this rich man hired an artist to portray his entire family and his mansion in a big oil painting. That painting now hung in the restaurant.
I saw the painting. The count and his wife had a majestic air about them. The whole painting felt very cheerful.
But shortly after the count's birthday, a tragedy occurred on his land. A tenant farmer passed away, and his widow, aware of her own frail health and susceptibility to illness, and having four children besides, decided to commit suicide. The tragic thing was that she poisoned her children's food as well, then waited until she had seen them die to kill herself.
After the tragedy, the rich man often stared at the painting, lost in thought.
Everyone asked him why. He said he saw two beggars in the painting. They were begging among his family on the lawn, but no one in the family was paying any attention.They completely ignored the beggars' existence. The thing that really puzzled him was why he had never noticed the two beggars before.
His family never saw the beggars, but they were unwilling to argue with him. Then one day the count summoned his entire family to his study and told them he had something to say to them, something he hoped his descendants would always remember. His words were simple: "It is a shameful thing for there to be both rich men and beggars on such a tiny piece of land. "
The descendants of the count didn't let him down. They were successful in business, but they also made sure to care for those who were less fortunate.
After listening to the legend, I began to savor my big meal. After I had been fully wined and dined, I went to the entrance to pay my bill. Suddenly I saw the poster for the famine victims in Somalia once again. This time I heard a voice: "Turn around and look at the painting."I was shocked to see that there really were two beggars. I rubbed my eyes and walked up for a closer look; the two ragged beggars were still there.
I had walked just a few steps before I wanted to go back again-how was it possible that anyone would paint beggars in a painting like that The rich man had commissioned the painting-how could the artist dare do such a thing.
But I quickly realized that it didn't matter whether there were beggars in the painting or not. The important thing was, "It is a shameful thing for there to be both rich men and beggars on such a tiny piece of land."
