I recall reading, many years ago, that the famous "Whoo-oop! I'm the
old original iron-jawed, brass-mounted, copper-bellied corpse-maker
from the wilds of Arkansaw" speech by the Child of Calamity in Chapter
three of Life On The Mississippi had its antecedents in a speech by a
Senator Cassius M. Johnson.

        I no longer have access to the materials, and would greatly
appreciate it if some fellow Twainian could quote the Johnson passage
for me.

        As this is my first posting to the list, I must beg your tolerance if
I have unwittingly asked a question that has been dealt with
previously.

        Many thanks in advance.

Alan Bradley
[log in to unmask]