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a talent for words, both written and spoken. Poetry easily flowed from his pen. If an occasion required a poem, he was the one asked to write it, even though a reviewer for the Williams College newspaper said that, while Horace’s poems were excellent, there was a sameness of tone because of his ‘leaning toward the philosophical and religious’.9 His abilities as a writer as well as his conscientiousness and organized mind had earned him the journal editorship. Friendly, but quiet, Horace had no difficulty getting along with classmates and teachers.

The book loaned to him was about the life of the leader of a new religion, not a usual theme to offer a young bachelor. Both of the Holley brothers were innately religious; thus, one unanswered element of the historic loan is the question: which traveller first brought up the topic of religion that led to it? An incident which happened two years earlier might provide a plausible answer. Bertha attended a reception in Paris hosted by another native of Wisconsin.10 Among the guests were a well-to-do English matron, Sara, Lady Blomfield,11 and her daughter, Mary, minor members of the British aristocracy. Mother and daughter were sitting together on a couch when Bertha, without the preliminary introduction required by proper etiquette, approached them and sat down between the two. The brash American neglected to engage in customary small talk, but at once jumped into what may well have been a practised spiel.

‘If I look happy, it is because I am happy. I have found the desire of my heart! I should like to tell you why I am so happy. May I?’

The captive audience could hardly say ‘no’ to so surprising an opening. Lady Blomfield remembered that at that moment Bertha’s face ‘glowed’.

‘It is true! True!’

Did the startled women begin to feel slightly uncomfortable as this awkward social situation unfolded? Imagine their amazement at what Bertha said next.

‘We have been taught to believe that a great Messenger would again be sent to the world. He would set forth to gather together all the peoples of good will in every race, nation, and religion on earth. Now is the appointed time! He has come! He has come!’

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