" "Yes, you would," replied Bianconi,
"because in promoting my drivers I place them on a more lucrative
line, where their certainty of receiving fees from passengers is
greater."
Bianconi was as merciful to his horses as to his men. He had
much greater difficulty at first in finding good men than good
horses, because the latter were not exposed to the temptations to
which the former were subject. Although the price of horses
continued to rise, he nevertheless bought the best horses at
increased prices, and he took care not to work them overmuch. He
gave his horses as well as his men their seventh day's rest. "I
find by experience," he said, "that I can work a horse eight
miles a day for six days in the week, easier than I can work six
miles for seven days; and that is one of my reasons for having no
cars, unless carrying a mail, plying upon Sundays."
Bianconi had confidence in men generally. The result was that
men had confidence in him. Even the Whiteboys respected him. At
the close of a long and useful life he could say with truth, "I
never yet attempted to do an act of generosity or common justice,
publicly or privately, that I was not met by manifold
reciprocity."
By bringing the various classes of society into connection with
each other, Bianconi believed, and doubtless with truth, that he
was the means of making them respect each other, and that he
thereby promoted the civilisation of Ireland.
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