Published Last Year
Now a Hilarious Play
at the Porte Sainte Martin Theater
"No, I have not," he replied. "It came about like this.
"With the Suez Canal open, and railroads built all across India and America, everybody realized it would not be at all difficult to travel around the world. So three years ago I wrote a short outline of a play to be called Around the World in Eighty Days. I gave it to a playwright friend, and he wrote the play. Meanwhile I reworked the outline into a novel by the same name, and it was published that same year.
"It was an amazing and wonderful success, that book. I had had a bit of success with my previous novels, including Journey to the Center of the Earth and 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, but Around the World beat them all."
We resolved to ask him about these other novels, but first remarked that we had seen the play and, like everyone else, were amazed and delighted to see an elephant on stage, not to mention the live snakes in the scene in the cave.
"We paid the London Zoo two hundred francs for each performance with the elephant. Expensive, but worth it. "
We remembered the elephant that had been in our city zoo. Several years ago the Prussian army put us under siege, so no one could bring food into Paris. Everyone made do with food in their pantries for a while, but finally people got desperate and ate all the animals in our zoo, including its only elephant.
We wondered whether he would tell us a bit about his life.
"Well, I was born in 1828. My brother and I often rented a boat and sailed around the harbor near our summer house, watching the great ships moving in and out of port. One time, sailing alone, I found myself on a small island when my boat sank, and had to wait until the tide went out before I could wade to safety and walk home.
"My father sent me here to study law, but I wanted to write. Alexandre Dumas, who wrote The Three Musketeers, encouraged me and over the next few years my career could be described as "Unsuccessful Author". I had a financial job to make ends meet -- I hated it -- but I met a lovely lady and married her in 1857. Honorine is enthusiastic about my writing. We have a son named Michel.
"My first published novel was titled Five Weeks in a Balloon and told of a scholar, a professional hunter and
their servant as they explore Africa in a hydrogen balloon. At one point they rescue a missionary from a tribe that was going to kill him. At another, their balloon was attacked by condors and in another they're almost killed by soldiers in a rebel army."
We supposed he himself had visited Africa.
He laughed. "No," he said, "I learned what I needed to know by reading books and magazines.
"And my next novel was A Journey to the Center of the Earth. It too was very successful as were From the Earth to the Moon and Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea"
We said that Around the World in Eighty Days was plausible, but that going to the earth's center or to the moon or to the depths of the ocean were definitely not. Where did he get these crazy ideas?
Verne was indignant. "Going to the moon, or far under the sea are not crazy ideas!" he said. "They take place in the future, when science will have gone far ahead of where we are now. On the other hand, I'll admit the trip to the center of the Earth, seeing prehistoric animals, plants and insects, is pure imagination and has nothing to do with science."
We couldn't imagine being even one league under the sea, no matter 20,000 leagues.
"That's because you haven't looked at history," Verne replied. "In the early 1700's there were patents on submarines, and several were built. Then didn't dive very deep, were generally moved by men pulling oars, and got air from a tube reaching to the surface. About 1800 the American Robert Fulton built one here in France called the Nautilus. So submarines have been around for a long time."
We conceded that undersea travel might be possible. But a trip to the moon? Come on...
"Again, you might do a little reading," said Verne, "about rockets. Between 1200 and 1800 there were all sorts of small rockets used to send signals, in fireworks, to throw rescuing lifelines from shore to ships in distress, and in weapons. An Englishman named William Congreve invented a rocket that was fired at American troops in the War of 1812 -- hence the words "the rockets' red glare" in the American national anthem.
"So a rocket -- a very big rocket -- could be used to send a ship to the moon. Like any rocket, it would be 'pushed' by burning some sort of fuel in its stern, letting the gases from this fire exit the rear of the ship. There's no doubt that, at some time in the distant future such a rocket could carry men to the moon and back. But don't ask me how far in the future this would be. Not as early as 1900, but perhaps 2000 AD? or 3000 AD?"
We told him it was all very interesting, but as we left we reflected that clearly he was crazy.
Fascinating Novels
1. Twenty Thousand Leagues
Under the Sea
But the 'big whale' sinks this harpoon ship. Three of its passengers find themselves on top of the whale and see that it is a submarine. They are taken below and find the ship is called the Nautilus and that it is led by a Captain Nemo, who hates war and thus warships. The three passengers are a famous scientist, his manservant, and an experienced harpooner.
The men are treated well by Captain Nemo. They spend a lot of time looking at sea life through various windows.
They also have many adventures. They fish for pearls, visit the lost city of Atlantis, and hunt in forests that lie below the sea. On a trip to the South pole, the submarine gets caught in the ice, and everyone has to work to break it free. Another time a giant squid get caught in the Nautilis' propeller and must be dislodged by chopping at its arms with axes.
Finally Nemo attacks and sinks another warship, and the three passengers vow to escape. They are off the coast of Norway, and the Nautilis gets caught in a whirlpool and is lost; but the passengers manage to board a small dinghy, and are saved.
Around the Moon
The projectile is 108 inches in diameter and 12 inches thick. It weighs 68,000 pounds and cost about $175,000. It was launched from Tampa Town, Florida, where a hole 900 feet deep and 60 feet wide had been dug. It was financed by money received from various countries, including the United States.
It blasted off with three passengers, who were hurt, though not seriously, when it left. They circled the moon, were almost hit by a meteor, and took various measurements. They were unable to land on the moon, and finally returned to earth at an enormous speed and landed in the ocean. But an American naval ship saw what they thought was a meteor heading toward the earth. Investigating, they found the ship along with its three passengers, all alive.
Eighty-Day Novel
An Amazing Journey
His friends scoff at such an idea, and in the end bet him twenty thousand pounds that he cannot do it. Fogg agrees, though that amount equals half of his fortune. He goes home, has his servant Passepartout (pronounced Pahss par too) pack one bag with travel essentials, and they catch the train to Dover. Passepartout is horrified to learn that the bag contains twenty thousand pounds, to cover travel expenses on the trip.
A week after they left, Scotland Yard got a cable from Suez, saying that a bank had been robbed, and giving a description of the thief. A Detective named Fix requested a warrant for the thief's arrest, and realizes that Phileas looks just like the description of the robber. So he catches a ship for Suez, where he finds Phineas.
Phineas had reached Suez on time (according to his 80-day plan), and he and Passepartout catch the ship for Bombay. Fix was on the ship, as well, expecting to find the warrant at that city. And the ship reached Bombay two days ahead of its own and Phileas' schedule, which of course delighted that man. He and Passepartout hurried to the railway station to catch the train for Calcutta.
Fix went to the Bombay police station, but there learned that the warrant for the arrest of Phileas Fogg had not arrived. So he too boarded the train.
The train, however, stopped far short of Calcutta for the very good reason that the tracks had not been laid that far. Passepartout wasn't fazed, however, and told Phineus that all he had to do was buy an elephant; which Phineus did, for 2000 pounds. For days they went through the jungles on the back of this enormous beast.
But one day they came across a curious ceremony, and Phineus learned that an Indian Prince had died and that his widow was to be burned alive on her husband's grave. Phineus was of course horrified, and he and Passepartout managed to rescue her and take her away on their elephant. Her name was Aouda (pronounced Ah oo duh), she was very pretty, and she spoke English perfectly.
They now reached the place where the railroad began again, and boarded it. And before long they reached Calcutta. They had lost a little time traveling by elephant, and were now exactly on time rather than being early. They now boarded a ship for Hong Kong, detective Fix still with them, still hoping that the arrest warrant would catch up with him.
The ship reached that city, where they learned that Aouda's friend had left China two years earlier, intending to retire to Holland. And when she asked what she should do now, Fogg told her she should accompany him to Europe. But the next day they found that the Yokahama ship had left the day before!! Fog searched for a replacement, and finally settled on a small ship which would go to Shanghai, for he had discovered that the ship bound to San Francisco actually left from Shanghai, stopping at Yokahama on the way. He caught the San Francisco ship at Shanghai, and they were at that point a day late.
Meanwhile Aouda, seeing Phineus' kindness, thoughtfulness, and generosity, began to have feelings other than gratefulness for his protection. And Fix, who had got acquainted with Passepartout and been with them all the way, finally found himself in possession of the warrant for Fogg's arrest, which had followed him 'round the world. Had he received it in India or Hong Kong, British possessions, he could have used it. But now he would have to wait until they were home in England.
Phineus, Aouda, Passepartout, and Fix now boarded the train for New York.
Unhappily, in the Great Plains the train is attacked by one hundred indians of the Sioux tribe! They mounted the train from their horses while the train was moving. They threw trunks and suitcases from the baggage car and fought with passengers. But the train reached a station where troops attacked them, and they withdrew. However, Passepartout had disappeared, probably captured by the indians. Fogg pursued them, accompanied by the soldiers. The train proceeded and Aouda and Fix waited in the station for Fogg to return.
The next morning he did return, with Passepartout. Since the train had left, they found a man with a sledge
The next day the captain found himself locked in his cabin, and the ship was bound for Liverpool. Fogg had discovered that the crew didn't love the captain, and agreed to change their destination. Fogg himself took the helm, headed for England. They arrived at Liverpool. It was Saturday, and they were only six hours away from London. At that point, Fox said, "I arrest you in the Queen's name!"
Phineus was in jail. He had nine and a quarter hours before the 80 days was up, the trip by train to London took only six hours -- but he was in prison!
Then, after about two hours, Fix, Aouda, and Passepartout arrived and Fix explained that the real thief had been arrested three days before, and that Fogg was free. Phineus drew back his fist and knocked Fix down. Then he, Auoda, and Passepartout caught a train to London. Unfortunately, they arrived on Saturday, all right, but were five minutes late. So he, Passepartout, and Auoda went to his home, where they spent the night.
The next day, Sunday, Phineus spoke to Auoda, apologizing for bringing her all the way 'round the world and explaining that he was now penniless. But Auoda took him by the hand, and said, "Will you have me for your wife?" Mr. Fogg, amazed and delighted, said, "I love you! I love you and am entirely yours. He sent Passepartout out to find a reverend to marry them. But Passepartout returned saying he couldn't be married tomorrow because it was a Sunday. So it turned out they had arrived in London 24 hours ahead of time, and now had only ten minutes to get to the Reform Club and win the bet!
How had he made a mistake of one day in measuring his time? He had crossed the International Date Line, and thus repeated a day.
So he got to the club in time, won the prize, and he and Auoda lived happily every after.
Chloe came into our office and said she had been investigating Edward Lear.
Sam'll Answer 
