On 9/3, Scott Dalrymple wrote:

"You might want to check out a particular quote in the _Autobiography_ which
seems appropriate.  I don't have it at hand, but Twain reflects on the
possible reason that he has survived into the 20th century, while so many
other once-popular humorists (Josh Billings, P.V. Nasby, etc.) didn't.
Twain
concludes that it is because his humor always included an underlying
seriousness, or something along those lines."


I, too, don't have the Autobiography at hand, but I think Twain's comment
was that what he called "humor of the 'mere' sort" was destined to be soon
forgotten.

I've always liked that comment, because it applies in so many other areas
besides humor.

Pete Salwen