It was, "Truth,
like water, will find its own level."' And this led him to speak
of the great influence which the example and instruction of Mr.
Rice, of the Christian Brothers, had had upon his mind and
character. 'That religions institution,' said he, 'of which Mr.
Rice was one of the founders, has now spread itself over the
country, and, by means of the instruction which the members have
imparted to the poorer ignorant classes, they have effected quite
a revolution in the south of Ireland.'
"'I am not much of a reader,' said Mr. Bianconi; 'the best part
of my reading has consisted in reading way-bills. But I was once
complimented by Justice Lefroy upon my books. He remarked to me
what a wonderful education I must have had to invent my own
system of book-keeping. Yes,' said he, pointing to his ledgers,
'there they are.' The books are still preserved, recording the
progress of the great car enterprise. They show at first the
small beginnings, and then the rapid growth--the tens growing to
hundreds, and the hundreds to thousands--the ledgers and
day-books containing, as it were, the whole history of the
undertaking--of each car, of each man, of each horse, and of each
line of road, recorded most minutely.
"'The secret of my success,' said he, 'has been promptitude, fair
dealing, and good humour. And this I will add, what I have often
said before, that I never did a kind action but it was returned
to me tenfold.
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