I have a question for all you Twainers out there. Recently I reviewed Clinton Cox's *Mark Twain: America's Humorist, Dreamer, Prophet* (Scholastic, 1995) for *The Five Owls* magazine (Nov/Dec 1995, not yet published). The book is intended for the middle reader, ages 8-14. When dealing with Livy's death in his book, Cox states, "On her tombstone, Twain had engraved in the German language they both loved: "Gott sei dir gnadig, O meine Wonne!" -- "God be gracious, Oh, my Bliss!" (p. 201). Cox makes no other mention of the German language in his biography. I found this especially surprising, since I knew of Twain's apparent disdain for the language from his treatment of it in *A Tramp Abroad*. Was his criticism for the language intended merely for effect, and did he truly love this language? Mark Dittman Business/Production Manager, The Five Owls [log in to unmask]