"Let me rest rocked gently by the rolling sea, in a nest of velvety darkness, my only light the soft twinkling of the myriads of stars in the quiet sky above; my music, the round of the kissing waters, cooling the brain and easing the pulse; my companionship, dreaming my own dreams. Give me that and I have happiness in its perfection."

Inspired by sci-fi author Jules Vernes's Around the World in 80 Days, Nellie set out to beat the fictional record set by the novel's hero Phileas Fogg. After trekking nearly 25,000 miles by train and boat, Nellie made it back to New York in just over 72 days. Her epic vacation was followed with interest by the American press; her personal account of the journey was published in book form soon after.

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