I recall reading, many years ago, that the famous "Whoo-oop! I'm the old original iron-jawed, brass-mounted, copper-bellied corpse-maker from the wilds of Arkansaw" speech by the Child of Calamity in Chapter three of Life On The Mississippi had its antecedents in a speech by a Senator Cassius M. Johnson. I no longer have access to the materials, and would greatly appreciate it if some fellow Twainian could quote the Johnson passage for me. As this is my first posting to the list, I must beg your tolerance if I have unwittingly asked a question that has been dealt with previously. Many thanks in advance. Alan Bradley [log in to unmask]