Alan C. Reese writes: "I think, and here I agree with Hoffman, the climate of the time permits such issues to be deemed fair ground, indeed almost invite such exploratory examination. Look at how we scrutinize political candidates. The need to know everything overrides common sense." Or, paraphrased, literary criticism overrides common sense. Incidentally, how do you agree with Hoffman if you believe that "this interest in the sexuality of Twain shows a lack of imagination on the part of newer scholars to the field"? You don't sound convinced that such studies are a legitimate use of time (here insert the voice from Mel Brooks' _The Critic_: 'he coulda done something with himself...he coulda...made a shoe...something'). Robert Dagnall