Colbert.
GO the world over, and you will find that “honesty is the best policy.” Jean Baptiste Colbert was born at Rheims, in France, in the year 1617, of poor parents. When a boy, he was apprenticed to M. Certain, a woollen draper. Young Colbert was very fond of books, and spent his leisure in reading. He had indeed a taste above his station. But his mind was so much on what he read, that he was sometimes absent-minded and forgetful. M. Certain, who thought of nothing but of selling cloth, would ridicule him, and tell him he would never make any thing. One day he sent him and the porter with four rolls of cloth, to the hotel of M. Cenani, a French banker, who wished to buy hangings for a country house which he had purchased. The pieces were marked 1, 2, 3, and 4; and as Colbert left the house, M. Certain told him that No. 1 was marked three crowns a yard; No. 2, six crowns; No. 3, eight crowns; and No. 4, fifteen crowns. The banker selected No. 3, and asked the young man how much it was a yard. Colbert replied, “fifteen crowns.” The porter grinned, but seeing the mistake was on the side of his master he said nothing. There were thirty yards in the piece, and the money was counted out, four hundred and fifty crowns.
When Colbert returned, M. Certain said, “you have made no mistake, I hope.” “I don’t think I have,” replied Colbert. “But I think you have,” said the porter. “Do you think so, Moline? Do you think so?” cried the old man, throwing down the cloth and examining the tickets. “But, indeed, I might have expected this; the little rascal could not do otherwise. But I warn you, if you have made a mistake, you shall go to M. Cenani to ask of him the surplus money; and if he refuses to give it, you shall pay it out of your wages. No. 3 is wanting. No. 3 was worth—it was worth six crowns; no, eight crowns. I am quite puzzled.” “Eight crowns! Eight crowns! are you sure of that?” cried Colbert. “Perhaps you would like to make out that it was I who made the mistake. I tell you No. 3, was worth eight crowns. I am half dead with fear. I will lay a wager that he sold it for six.” “On the contrary,” replied Colbert, “stupid creature that I am, I sold it for fifteen.” “Fifteen! Fifteen!” cried M. Certain. “You are a fine boy, a good boy, Baptiste. You will one day be an honor to all your family. Fifteen!—I could cry with joy! Fifteen crowns for a piece of cloth not worth six! Two hundred and ten crowns profit! O happy day!” “How,” said Colbert, “would you take advantage?” “O, perhaps you want to go shares. Certainly I agree to let you have something.”
“I cannot agree to any such thing,” said Colbert. “I will go to the gentleman I have treated so badly, and beg of him to excuse me, and return him the money he overpaid me.” So saying, he bounded out of the door, leaving his master in a rage of disappointment. In a few moments, he was at the hotel of M. Cenani. It was with great difficulty that he was admitted to his presence, and then he was ordered away. But he persisted in speaking; and after apologizing for his mistake, he returned the money. The banker asked him if he knew that he was no judge of cloth. Colbert assured him that it was not worth more than eight crowns. “And you might easily have kept this money for yourself.” “I never thought of that, sir,” replied the young man. “But, if you had thought of it?” inquired the banker. “It was quite impossible, sir, that such an idea could come into my head. I should as soon have thought of carrying off all that you have here.” “Suppose I should make you a present of this money that you have returned to me with such admirable integrity?” “What right have I to it? And why should you give it to me? I would not take it, sir.” “You are a fine fellow and an honest fellow,” said the banker, and inquired his name. The conversation was suddenly broke off by the arrival of the banker’s carriage. As young Colbert went out, he was seized by the collar, by his enraged master, who abused him in the most frantic manner, and dismissed him from his service.
The young man went home; but his parents were affrighted to see him at that time, fearing some disaster had happened to him. After hearing his story, however, they heartily approved his conduct, and rejoiced that they had such a son.
It was but a little while, however, before M. Cenani arrived, and, praising the nobleness and integrity of the boy, proposed to his parents to take him to Paris and put him in his banking house, where he might make a fortune; which was readily agreed to. Young Colbert soon found himself in a new world. But, denying himself the brilliant attractions with which the city abounded, he gave himself diligently to his business, as clerk in the banking house. His diligence and faithfulness gained for him the esteem of his employers. He soon mastered the business. No accounts baffled him. And, on arriving at manhood, he became a thorough financier. The most important duties were now entrusted to him; and he soon became the travelling agent of the bank; which enabled him also to gratify his taste for the arts and sciences. He made the tour of the French provinces, making commerce his study, and devising means to render it flourishing. In 1648, he was introduced at Court, where his rare merit and conscientiousness in all affairs gained him great esteem. He was created Marquis of Croissy, and afterwards became Prime Minister. In this capacity, he was eminently useful to France. He improved the roads; encouraged trade; founded a chamber of commerce; colonized India and Canada; established naval schools; built ships; introduced manufactures; encouraged the fine arts. One cannot go even a small distance in Paris, even at this day, without finding a trace of the great Colbert. The Observatory, the beautiful gardens of the Tuilleries and Rue St. Dennis, the Hotel of Invalids, and many other things of like nature which adorn and do honor to the city, owe their existence to him. He also raised up his father’s family from great poverty to wealth and honor.
Colbert’s first step to distinction was an act of honor and honesty which deprived him of the means of earning his daily bread. If there was ever a case, which, to human appearance, would seem to contradict the old proverb, and show that honesty was not the best policy, one would think his was such a case. But the event proved its truth. And to this single trait in his character may be traced all his greatness. His honesty and integrity made him faithful to his employers. This raised him in their esteem, and contributed to strengthen and confirm this trait of character. This he carried into public life; and his honesty there led him to regard the public benefit as paramount to private interest. The whole of this story may be found in Chambers’ Miscellany, published by Gould, Kendall and Lincoln.
Would you be great? Honesty and integrity of character lie at the foundation of all true greatness. You must cultivate sincerity, honesty, and fair dealing in early youth, if you would lay the foundation of future greatness.