A likely source for Jim's deaf daughter is the experience of Twain's
Hartford coachman, Patrick McAleer, whose child became deaf from scarlet
fever. See pp.86-87 in _Was Huck Black? Mark Twain and African-American
Voices_ for details.


>I'm new to the list, and also fairly new to Twain scholarship, as a PhD
>student in American lit. I'm wondering if anyone knows of any source(s)
>Twain may have had for the episode in _Huck Finn_ where Jim tells of how he
>discovered his daughter's deafness. I'm thinking mainly in terms of folklore
>or maybe something historical--and of course it's highly possible that there
>is no identifiable "source" at all. The episode is interesting to me as one
>of the few times we hear Jim say much about himself and/or his family,
>without identifying himself (or his family) in relation to Huck or other
>white people.
>
>Comments, questions, suggestions, answers--all are welcome!
>
>J.P. Steed
>
>English Department, UNLV
>4505 Maryland Pkwy, Box 455011
>Las Vegas, NV 89154-5011
>(702)895-0908
>
>email:
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>
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Shelley Fisher Fishkin
Professor, American Studies
University of Texas
Austin TX 78712
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