Very well said, Hal and John. One of the pleasant things about this forum for me has been the variety of people and the exchange of ideas. The "important" people on this list are all pretty humble (like yourselves) and approachable. Your Fishkins, Bushes, Camfields, Rasmussens, Schmidts, Hirsts, Railtons, etc. (I'm going to stop there -- please don't be offended if I didn't include you. You get the point.) are all open-minded to new people and ideas. Also, they are approachable. When I have asked for help I have received it. When I have made a suggestion or observation, it has been graciously received -- and I'm a silly attorney from the Midwest. I'm working on a book on abolitionists right now, so I'm not terribly Twain-focused, but I still read most of the postings on this list. I would hate for someone with a budding interest in Twain and his life to be scared away by fear of an ad hominem slapdown from an "expert." Terrell Dempsey