>There is another item in Chapter 16, the Australian's greeted Twain with 
>the question/remark "Is he dead?.  His play, with that title, was not 
>written until 1898 but he was in Melbourne in 1895.  I suspect the Aussies 
>were harkening back to The Innocents Abroad.

I'm sure it's a reference to Innocents Abroad -- at least it's always seemed 
obvious to me. It was one of his most popular books, if not THE most 
popular, and it makes perfect sense that people would repeat a famous line 
in his presence.

-- Bob G.