Like the rest of royalty this
King became absorbed in china-making--so absorbed that he went
frequently to work in his factories himself, and each year held a sale
of his products at the gates of his palace; whenever a piece was sold
a record of it was made and later the name of the purchaser was
reported to the King."
"I suppose he, too, made the nobles buy his china," laughed Theo.
"I am afraid he did," agreed Mr. Croyden. "At least it was a fact
that he showed especial favor to those who did buy it, which was
practically the same thing. I think I forgot to tell you that the
French kings also forced, or perhaps I should say expected, their
courtiers and ladies to purchase Sevres ware. It was a custom of the
time."
"I think it was a rotten custom!" ejaculated Theo wrathfully.
"Certainly it was not a desirable thing. In our day we should call it
graft. Still at that time there were plenty of people who were only
too anxious to keep their heads on their shoulders, and who would have
been glad to buy almost anything in order to do so. Doubtless they
considered a little porcelain a small price for their lives, and were
glad to win the favor of a capricious monarch by purchasing it.
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