" Many thought that no one
would pay eighteen-pence for going to Cahir by car when they
could walk there for nothing? There were others who thought that
Bianconi should have stuck to his shop, as there was no
connection whatever between picture-gilding and car-driving!
The truth is, the enterprise at first threatened to be a failure!
Scarcely anybody would go by the car. People preferred trudging
on foot, and saved their money, which was more valuable to them
than their time. The car sometimes ran for weeks without a
passenger. Another man would have given up the enterprise in
despair. But this was not the way with Bianconi. He was a man
of tenacity and perseverance. What should he do but start an
opposition car? Nobody knew of it but himself; not even the
driver of the opposition car. However, the rival car was
started. The races between the car-drivers, the free lifts
occasionally given to passengers, the cheapness of the fare, and
the excitement of the contest, attracted the attention of the
public. The people took sides, and before long both cars came in
full. Fortunately the "great big yallah horse" of the opposition
car broke down, and Bianconi had all the trade to himself.
The people became accustomed to travelling. They might still
walk to Cahir; but going by car saved their legs, saved their
brains, and saved their time.
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