Although the importance placed on the tall tale in Roughing It
chronicles somewhat an aspect of the 'Urban Legend' that is not merely
just a chroniclization thereof. The telling of these tails is well
illustrated to be a major part of keeping the travelors sane during their
long journeys and quite possibly plays a larger role, such as a defining
aspect of an undeveloped culture composed of such a myriad of other
cultures. Things such as a the buffalo that could climb a tree, the tail
of Tom Quartz the miner's cat, the repeated and repeated and repeated
yarn about Horace Greeley, etc.

        I find this to be an interesting topic merely because Twain
embodies many of the aspects of the courier of Urban Legends (as is
idealized as the pinnicle of Rouging It's meagre plot when Twain becomes
a lecturer in a similar manner as Garrison Keelior (sp) became with his
lecture legends.)...

Micah