At the end of eighteen months, Bianconi's apprenticeship was out;
and Faroni then offered to take him back to his father, in
compliance with the original understanding. But Bianconi had no
wish to return to Italy. Faroni then made over to him the money
he had retained on his account, and Bianconi set up business for
himself. He was now about eighteen years old; he was strong and
healthy, and able to walk with a heavy load on his back from
twenty to thirty miles a day. He bought a large case, filled it
with coloured prints and other articles, and started from Dublin
on a tour through the south of Ireland. He succeeded, like most
persons who labour diligently. The curly-haired Italian lad
became a general favourite. He took his native politeness with
him everywhere; and made many friends among his various
customers throughout the country.
Bianconi used to say that it was about this time when he was
carrying his heavy case upon his back, weighing at least a
hundred pounds--that the idea began to strike him, of some cheap
method of conveyance being established for the accommodation of
the poorer classes in Ireland. As he dismantled himself of his
case of pictures, and sat wearied and resting on the milestones
along the road, he puzzled his mind with the thought, "Why should
poor people walk and toil, and rich people ride and take their
ease? Could not some method be devised by which poor people also
might have the opportunity of travelling comfortably?"
It will thus be seen that Bianconi was already beginning to think
about the matter.
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