Not being a scholar, I don't know the scholarship on this. But I've read Suzy's book about her father and it so charming it made me think she had that creative knack that he had, and a lovely disposition in keeping with his. Never came across references to the other daughters having quite those qualities. Suzy always seems like the one who would've been more fun to be around.
Am I off base here?

Steve Hoffman
Takoma Park MD
Sent from my Verizon Wireless 4G LTE smartphone

<div>-------- Original message --------</div><div>From: Linda Morris <[log in to unmask]> </div><div>Date:06/19/2014  1:27 PM  (GMT-05:00) </div><div>To: [log in to unmask] </div><div>Subject: Re: Susy as "favorite child"?? </div><div>
</div>Hal,
Interesting and appropriate question.  I gave a paper on this topic at =
ALA a few years ago.  I'll try to dig it up and send it along to you.
The quick answer is that there is no evidence I could find that Twain =
ever used that phrase, nor did the first (or second) generation of =
biographers.  The first time I can confirm that the phrase appeared was =
in 1960, and as the 20th century went on, it appeared more frequently, =
and with assurance, by many Twain critics and biographers.
What also emerged in my research for the paper was that Livy and Susy's =
bond was fierce, and the effect of Susy's death on Livy dominated the =
family for a very long time.  If Susy was a "favorite," I'd apply that =
term to Livy, not SLC.  But knowing what I know now, I wouldn't use it =
at all.
Linda
On Jun 19, 2014, at 10:07 AM, "Lee, Judith" <[log in to unmask]> wrote:

> This is an interesting question, Hal, especially in light of research =
on birth order and parental investment=97that is, on social and =
biological forces outside of individual biography.  Of course Langdon =
was the first born, but since he did not survive long, Susy as the =
oldest held that privileged position, well known for the intensity of =
parental investment of time and care (the parents among us can check our =
own photo albums for the overabundance of baby pictures of the oldest =
kid, compared to younger ones!).
>=20
> I think of this first-born bias often when I hear parents who=92ve =
sent their oldest child to a big-name private college express the sense =
they got pushed into a prestige choice that they would not make for a =
younger one. But these are just anecdotal responses to underscore my =
sense that many factors may have given Susy a privileged place in the =
Clemens family and Sam's heart even apart from her evident charm, =
intelligence, and literary ambitions.
>=20
> Judith
>=20
>=20
> On Jun 19, 2014, at 10:14 AM, Hal Bush =
<[log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]>> wrote:
>=20
> Folks;  one of the old chestnuts of Twain biography, I suppose, is the
> notion that Susy was his  "favorite child" or "most favored daughter." =
I
> am among those who have said as much.  Now, working through this =
material
> once again, it strikes me--was she??  I'm fairly certain there are =
quotes
> to that effect but I am presently unable to unearth any.  I'd be happy =
to
> quote from various biographers and critics to that effect but I think =
most
> of you get the picture.
>=20
> Can we say for certain that Susy was his favorite?  Or is that another
> effect of the echo chamber of earlier scholars and biographers?  =
Opinions
> and/or actual evidence is invited... --Hal B.
>=20
> --
> Prof. Harold K. Bush
> Professor of English
> 3800 Lindell
> Saint Louis University
> St. Louis, MO  63108
> 314-977-3616 (w); 314-771-6795 (h)
> <www.slu.edu/x23809.xml<http://www.slu.edu/x23809.xml>>
>=20
> My newest book: Twain's Brand:  Humor in Contemporary American Culture =
<http://www.ohio.edu/people/leej/Twains_Brand.html>
>=20
> Judith Yaross Lee, Ph.D.
> Professor and Director of Honors Tutorial Studies
> Director, Central Region Humanities Center
> School of Communication Studies
> Lasher Hall 113
> Ohio University
> Athens, OH 45701
>=20
> [log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]>
> T: 740.593.4888
> F: 740.593.4810