On 9/3, Scott Dalrymple wrote: "You might want to check out a particular quote in the _Autobiography_ which seems appropriate. I don't have it at hand, but Twain reflects on the possible reason that he has survived into the 20th century, while so many other once-popular humorists (Josh Billings, P.V. Nasby, etc.) didn't. Twain concludes that it is because his humor always included an underlying seriousness, or something along those lines." I, too, don't have the Autobiography at hand, but I think Twain's comment was that what he called "humor of the 'mere' sort" was destined to be soon forgotten. I've always liked that comment, because it applies in so many other areas besides humor. Pete Salwen