Springfield, MA - 1854
An inventor, Finneus Figgly, has just created his greatest invention yet. Even though it is 2 AM, he sends a messenger to fetch his friend, Cornelius Butress from a neighboring house. He can barely contain his excitement. The two meet in Finneus' study. Cornelius: What's all this, my dear Finneus? You call at such strange hours, one might think you ill! I rejoice to see that you are well, but I must ask, why do you rustle me from bed at such an hour?
Finneus: My dear friend, I have just conceived of an invention which will give the utmost delight and merriment to our countrymen.
Cornelius: Alas, for my own sake I hope this is more monumental an invention than your turnip shredder which, I will kindly remind you, you forced me to look at while on my honeymoon.
Finneus: HA! Such a memory you have! I assure you, this is much more significant than the turnip shredder. Perhaps even more monumental than the boot umbrella as well! But let us talk no more of the past, allow me to present THE FUTURE!
Finneus unveils a model of a bicycle with the front wheel vastly bigger than the back wheel.
Finneus: Behold! I shall call it a Penny Farthing for the disparity in wheel size which roughly correlates to the relative sizes of two popular British coins! It shall usher in a new era of personal transport!
Cornelius: Uh huh...
Finneus: What? What is it, my dearest friend, which vexes you about my creation?
Cornelius: It seems that the front wheel’s too big.
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