Δαφνη Ευτυχια Αρθουρος

"M. Jules Verne said it could not be done. I have done it. He told me when he met me at Amiens [France] that if the tour weas made of the world in seventy-nine days he would applaud with both hands. It has been made in seventy-two days, and M. Verne may now applaud and two hands will not do; he must use four. [...]

"At many junctures since my departure I have been compelled to face what looked like failure. Did I ever give up hope of success? No, not exactly. Never having failed, I could not picture what failure meant, but I did tell the officers of the Oceanic, when success seemed very, very hazy, owing to the unexpectedly stormy weather, that I would rather go to New York successful and dead than alive and behind time."

-- Nellie Bly (pen name of Elizabeth Jane Cochrane, b. 1864-05-05, d. 1922-01-27), 1890-01-26, the day after completing her around-the-world trip in 72 days, 6 hours, 10 minutes, 11 seconds (arriving in New Jersey at 15:51 on 1890-01-25).