Hi Hal :)

Unfortunately for helping, I am at the RMMLA this week.
I'll watch to see if you get a response next week and if not, I'll go through my research to see if I have anything for you :)
Jules

-----Original Message-----
From: Mark Twain Forum [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Harold Bush
Sent: Thursday, October 06, 2011 10:57 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: a couple of little known pieces

Does anyone know of, and perhaps can direct my attention to the location of, a couple of minor pieces by MT --both mentioned by the late Lou Budd in his still amazingly relevant and useful book MT: Social Philosopher:

"Brief Biography of the Government" & "A Difficult Conundrum"? (both around the turn of century)

 Prof. Budd also asserts in this book that Puddn'head Wilson's use of lynching was somehow spurred onward by the infamous lynching of eleven Italians in New Orleans, March 1891, but he gives no reason for this assertion.  Any ideas about this possible connection; or evidence that Twain had this specific incident in mind as he wrote PW?

thanks, -hb


--
Harold K. Bush, Ph.D
Professor of English
Saint Louis University
St. Louis, MO  63108
314-977-3616 (w); 314-771-6795 (h)
<www.slu.edu/x23809.xml>