Dear Camy, I think one needs to take into consideration three things: The times, where even in the (supposedly) enlightened Northeast interracial marriage was extremely rare. It was illegal in some Northern cities and towns too, as it was throughout most of the South. I could see, however, Sam consenting to a union with a very light-skinned man of good education and means to Susy, Clara or Jean. His, not to mention Livy's, concern for their daughter's and prospective son-in-law's future. In the late 1950s, my dad had to walk a cousin of mine down the aisle because she was marrying someone of Italian heritage, and his brother-in-law, according to family lore, equated Italians with blacks. His own survival, financially and socially. Though he bravely and willingly spoke out on dozens of controversial issues — especially U.S. meddling in the Philippines in the late 1890s; read some of his talks and other pieces and the parallels with Iraq now will make your hair stand on end — he wouldn't be able to afford the repercussions of approving such a marriage. He was so famous it could have been life-threatening. Hope this helps. Kathy O'Connell P.S.: Does anyone on the forum have a direct e-mail address for Debra Petke, the new director of the Mark Twain House? I'm still searching for full-time work, and there's no place I'd rather be in a non-journalistic capacity than there. And for those who haven't yet visited since the opening of Robert A.M. Stern's addition, it's quite beautiful. Thanks.