It seems likely that biographers may have given the "favorite" status to Susy based upon the letters Clemens wrote to his friends shortly after her death. On 10 Sept. 1896 to H. H. Rogers: "The family has lost its prodigy." On 24 Sept. 1896 to Howells: "There was not a detail in Susy's make-up that was commonplace." On 27 Sept. 1896 to Twichell: "Susy was a rare creature; the rarest that has been reared in Hartford in this generation." The early loss of Susy compared to the ongoing difficulties he faced with Jean's illness as well as dealing with a headstrong Clara are events that would have a tendency to make later biographers rate her adoration from her father on a higher level than the affection he expressed overtly for the other two daughters. Barb