Chapters 26-30 Whimsy, you say?

I think "some" people are giving way too much credence to these characters. If Verne says anything profound, it is entirely accidental. So the train ride, the Mormon history (spelled Hyrum incorrectly). However, the closing line in Chapter 26 on wives "...one, and that way enough!" That's a keeper. The duel, the collapsed bridge. Passapartout's idea was a good one. An attack by Indians! The fact that Fogg does go back to retrieve Passapartout is not the deal breaker. It is that he was successful. It wasn't "duty calls"; it was "what the hell". These last few chapters, albeit entertaining, were at the most whimsical and at the least, contrived.