I do not believe that there is any evidence that Twain edver uttered these
words that are frequently attributed to him. Ralph Keyes, in his
engaging book, _Nice Guys Finish Seventh,_ points out that even San
Francisco Chronicle columnist Herb Caen thought that Twain said this.
But to my knowledge no one has ever documented Twain's ever saying this.
Keyes suggests that its genesis may be an 1879 letter in which Twain
quoted a wag who, when asked is he'd ever seen such a cold winter,
replied, "Yes. Last summer."  Concluded Twain: "I judge he spent his
summer in Paris."  But I may be wrong.

Joe McCullough