As the author of most of the "dirty" entries in the _Mark Twain Encyclopedia_, I guess I ought to weigh in here. I don't have my copy here at home, but I do have my rough draft. The earliest publication attributed it to Petroeum V. Nasby, but, to quote myself, "most scholars generally accept MT's authorship." I agree with Larry M. that "Onanism" is much more clever. And I like "1601" best of all these bawdy, scatological pieces. I remember my glee when I first found it in the library. I ended up doing my M.A. thesis on it (which is why I guess I ended up covering all the "dirty" work for the encyclopedia), and I am probably semi-legendary at Appalachian State U. for uttering the phrase "art for fart's sake" during my thesis defense in answer to a question about the work's importance. And now I get to say it again in public! Tee hee--probably very much MT's impulse for writing these little diversions. John Bird