Bianconi's wild
oats were soon all sown. He was careful and frugal. As he
afterwards used to say, "When I was earning a shilling a day at
Clonmel, I lived upon eightpence." He even took lodgers, to
relieve him of the charge of his household expenses. But as his
means grew, he was soon able to have a conveyance of his own. He
first started a yellow gig, in which he drove about from place to
place, and was everywhere treated with kindness and hospitality.
He was now regarded as "respectable," and as a person worthy to
hold some local office. He was elected to a Society for visiting
the Sick Poor, and became a Member of the House of Industry. He
might have gone on in the same business, winning his way to the
Mayoralty of Clonmel, which he afterwards held; but that the old
idea, which had first sprung up in his mind while resting wearily
on the milestones along the road, with his heavy case of pictures
by his side, again laid hold of him, and he determined now to try
whether his plan could not be carried into effect.
He had often lamented the fatigue that poor people had to undergo
in travelling with burdens from place to place upon foot, and
wondered whether some means might not be devised for alleviating
their sufferings. Other people would have suggested "the
Government!" Why should not the Government give us this, that,
and the other,--give us roads, harbours, carriages, boats, nets,
and so on.
Pages:
275
276
277
278
279
280
281
282
283
284
285
286
287
288
289
290
291
292
293
294
295
296
297
298
299