Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-03-15
AROUND THE WORLD
In Two Hours, Accompanied by Nellie
Bly,, the Little Lecturer.
BRIGHT CHAT ABOUT HER TRIP,
In Which an American Girl Beat French
mans Imaginary Time.
TIE NEWSPAPER WOMEN'S BANQUET

Nellie Bly,, the famous, plucky littl
traveller, with her tiny hand in the friendl,
clasp of Mr.. Erasmus Wilson, tripped ou
on the platform OF Old City Hall last even
ing at the appointed time. Before her an
pearance the audience spent their time il
admiring the beautiful floral offerings tha
graced the platform; but from the momen
the petite traveller appeared the flowers wer
totally ignored, and her own girIish fgur
and bright, animated countenanee, couple,
with her interesting chat, claimed the atten
tion and admiration Of everyone in the hall
The little lady was attired in the stylish
brown costume which was manufactured il
five hours by a New York tailor, and which
enrobed her dainty self on her trip around
the world. Her hair was worn in the schoo
girl style which she has always affected, and
which is SO becoming to her, with pretty,
fluffy bang. She carried a cluster of lovely
roses, and on the table by which she took
her stanS was magnificent bouquet of the
same fow%-s, sent by the Woman
Club. On the other side of the
table was beautiful floral world,
supported on delicate wires from founda-
tion of choice blossoms, the gift of Elliott.
The world was composed of white carnations,
and the land outlined by red flowers of the
same variety.
ORIGIN OF HER TRIP.
In the most natural and unaffected man
ner, that charmed and delighted her listeners,
Nellie BLY, began relating her experiences by
telling how she first thought of making her
Journey round the world; how on SUNDAYS
she was wont to puzzle her inventive little
brain for ideas with which to astound her
editor Monday morning, and how on one
particular Sunday the tired brain refused
to suggest anything, and as a consequence
she felt just trife blue,
and wished she were on the other side of
the world. There was the idea! Why
couldn't she be on the other side of the
world? And with that as a starting point
she began to think of Jules Verne's tale,
and wonder if she couldn't beat his
imaginary record.
Going down to a steamers ship Office the
next morning, and studying guides she found
she could make the trip some days sooner
than "Phineas Fogg" did. Then she went
to her newspaper Office. Seating herself
beside the editor she waited for him to ques-
tion her, as she had some fears about the re-
ception her suggestion would receive.
When her superior said: "Well, have
you any ideas for this weeks work?" she
replied, eyes, one, and continued to tell
him what that one idea was. The visit
which she and the editor made to the bust
ness manager-who by the way, is very
important factor in newspaper ofice-was
highly amusing.
HE FAVORED A MAN.
The business manager was no. impressed
with the idea, and even if it was carried out
he thought q man should be appointed
to make the trip. He objected to a
woman doing it, on general princi-
piles. and on the trunk principle also,
but Nellie, with her usual determination,
informed the all Important parsonage that
she was going around the world, and he
with the same uncti,n, informed her she
was not going for that paper. Whereupon
she told him that if she did not go for that
paper she would 60 for some other one, and
he succumbed, but it was over a year after
that heated conversation before she actually
started on her Journey.
One night, quite late, she received word
that she was wanted at the Office, and upon
arriving there, was asked if she could start
around the world the morning after the
next She replied in the affirmative, and
after her nights rest, spent the day in pre-
pairing for her trip. Her description of
her departure from New York and her
feelings thereon was almost pathetic in its
naturalness. Their trials the first day out.
with the inevitable seasic6ness, were deci-
dediy laughable the way the little woman
related them, but her 1ndomitable will. for
which she is so justly famed and determine
tion to conquer all obstacles, came to her
rescue, even in that instance, and the horri-
BILE malady that makes an ocean Journey a
thing of dread, retired before the battle
array of Nellie.
LIKE PITTsBURG ONCE WAS.
Although they informed the young lady |
when she reached London that it was dav- |
light, she said she almost doubted the fact. |
1t was so dark-somethlng like Pittsburg. |
She spent three hours there, and saws she |
saw about as much of London as English |
men do who come to America and then re-
turn and write book on Americans The |
English railway carriage was the object upon
which Nellie expended some of the wit with
which her lecture teemed Her visit to
Jules Verne and his wife at their home. was
very Interesting, and the trip from the land
ing to the Verne mansion, which was made
in carriages, and upon which Nellie and
Mrs. Verne were companions, evoked much
laughter, as Nellie could not speak French
and Mrs. Verne was not conversant with the
English language; consequently they
smiled at each other and pressed hands in a
lover like style that resulted in a mutual
admiration society, and real conventional
French kissing, with the example set by
Mrs. Verne, terminated the pleasant little
visit.
A peep into the study of Mr.. Verne dis
closed very meagerly furnished apartment
IN the attic, which did not corroborate the
little lady's idea that all writers of great
books had luxurious apartments in which
to work, and that all she lacked to become
a aH -rifo
cltaI of her experiences on an Eng
Ish ship was intensely funny,
and her sprightly manner of relating her
trials made even an Insignificant incident,
interesting and witty.
WANTED TO MARRY HER.
The different men who wanted to marry
her were splendid subjects upon which to
point the shaft of her wit, and Nellie made
good use of them both in her lecture
ana In person. Her journey through
Italy and the disappointment she |
felt at the sunny skies being
obscured by fogs preceded little incident
Ia which she squelched some Italians who
offended her, BY telling them through an
interpreter, that she had seen their friends
in America, but they always Travelled with
q monkey and hand-organ.
In the lands of China and Japsn the
temples and gods were interesting to Nellie.
and to the audience last night /
aud her Christmas luncheon was
eaten in the Temple of the Dead. Her
Journey to San Francisco was described. and
The bad weather through which it was made
also. The engineer was quite loyal and
had all around his engine room the words,
For Nellie BLY,, I'll Win or Die" and AT !
,ne time it looked as though his obsequies
would be performed.
From San Francisco to New York, and
he royal welcome which greeted her there, Z
ormed the conclusion of her talk, and the J