Learning took as little effect upon him as pouring water upon a
duck's back. Accordingly, when he left school at the age of
sixteen, he was almost as ignorant as when he had entered it; and
a great deal more wilful.
Young Bianconi had now arrived at the age at which he was
expected to do something for his own maintenance. His father
wished to throw him upon his own resources; and as he would soon
be subject to the conscription, he thought of sending him to some
foreign country in order to avoid the forced service. Young
fellows, who had any love of labour or promptings of independence
in them, were then accustomed to leave home and carry on their
occupations abroad. It was a common practice for workmen in the
neighbourhood of Como to emigrate to England and carry on various
trades; more particularly the manufacture and sale of barometers,
looking-glasses, images, prints, pictures, and other articles.
Accordingly, Bianconi's father arranged with one Andrea Faroni to
take the young man to England and instruct him in the trade of
print-selling. Bianconi was to be Faroni's apprentice for
eighteen months; and in the event of his not liking the
occupation, he was to be placed under the care of Colnaghi, a
friend of his father's, who was then making considerable progress
as a print-seller in London; and who afterwards succeeded in
achieving a considerable fortune and reputation.
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