there is this" (pulling a flower out of his coat)
"you will not put me down." The threat merely ended in smoke, the
courage and perseverance of Bianconi having long since become generally
recognised.

We have spoken of the principles of Mr. Bianconi. They were most
honourable. His establishment might be spoken of as a school of
morality. In the first place, he practically taught and enforced the
virtues of punctuality, truthfulness, sobriety, and honesty. He also
taught the public generally the value of time, to which, in fact, his
own success was in a great measure due. While passing through Clonmel
in 1840, Mr. and Mrs. S. C. Hall called upon Bianconi and went over his
establishment, as well as over his house and farm, a short distance
from the town. The travellers had a very pressing engagement, and
could not stay to hear the story of how their entertainer had contrived
to "make so much out of so little." "How much time have you?" he
asked. "Just five minutes." "The car," says Mr. Hall, "had conveyed
us to the back entrance. Bianconi instantly rang the bell, and said to
the servant, 'Tell the driver to bring the car round to the front,'
adding, 'that will save one minute, and enable me to tell you all
within the time.' This was, in truth the secret of his success, making
the most of time."[4]

But the success of Bianconi was also due to the admirable principles on
which his establishment was conducted. His drivers were noted as being
among the most civil and obliging men in Ireland, besides being
pleasant companions to boot. They were careful, punctual, truthful,
and honest; but all this was the result of strict discipline on the
part of their master.

The drivers were taken from the lowest grades of the establishment, and
promoted to higher positions according to their respective merits as
opportunity offered. "Much surprise," says Bianconi, "has often been
expressed at the high order of men connected with my car establishment
and at its popularity; but parties thus expressing themselves forget to
look at Irish society with sufficient grasp. For my part, I cannot
better compare it than to a man merging to convalescence from a serious
attack of malignant fever, and requiring generous nutrition in place of
medical treatment"[5]

To attach the men to the system, as well as to confer upon them the due
reward for their labour, he provided for all the workmen who had been
injured, worn out, or become su