A reporter asks me in my capacity of publicist for the Mark Twain House &
Museum:


Why did Livy Clemens call Sam Clemens "Youth"?

Though I've heard (and made up) reasons -- his youthful attitude toward life
the Victorian habit of using an ironical form of poetic address
affectionately -- did she, or anyone else, ever explain why?


Steve Courtney
Terryville, CT