² Both in this preface and in his autobiography, Twain assures us that the characters and scenes in the novel are drawn accurately from life, allowing, of course, for the author's license to alter the truth for art's sake.
   It should also be noted that Twain refers to the young characters in the book as "schoolmates" here and throughout the book. He uses the same term in his autobiography. Clearly, it is the shared school experiences which link this diverse group of youngsters together who might otherwise be separated by age, social status, and geography.