Twain's distaste for Christmas predates Jean's death in1909, and had nothing to do with the fact that she drowned on Christmas Eve morning that year. In a letter Jean wrote to a friend on Dec 21, 1909, she begs the friend to come to Stormfield for Christmas, mentions that her father was "absolutely disinterested in Christmas" and says she had to be careful about what she said to him or he'd tell her "to go to the devil." He certainly celebrated Christmas with his family when the girls were small, but how early he developed a distaste for the holiday I do not know for certain. I seem to recall it may date from Susy's death. Kevin Mac Donnell Austin TX