PHOENIX PASS -  Universities and educators are coming to Second Life with greater frequency, eager to adopt the "new" platform for immersive educational opportunities. Residents can find a wide range of classes. The newest skill taught in class may be surprising and may be one many feel they already know – the art of cussing.

But this isn't the art of ordinary profanity. The syllabus looks at the words and spirit of Samuel Clemens, more familiarly known as Mark Twain. Twain is said to offer readers the best understanding of cursing in the 19th century of America.

Twain began his early working career as a steamboat pilot and served a brief stint in the Confederate Militia at the beginning of the Civil War. Not finding himself suited for that, he moved to Nevada to work in mining camps, trying his luck as a prospector, lumber speculator and newspaper man.  Unsuccessful at all of these jobs, he moved on to writing. He filled his first great book,  “Life on the Mississippi,” with the colorful language he had experienced in his travels.

“Twain in fact loved to swear,” Diogenes Kuhr said, instructor and guide in the intricacies of cussing.  “Not just simple profanities, which did have their place but long colorful phrases that were in his words ‘ornamental.’  Generally in his writing much of how he actually swore is somewhat tamed down. Dashed is used instead of damn or goddamn or the true profanity.”

A second source quotes Twain as calling someone he did not care for “a quadrilateral, astronomical, incandescent son of a bitch.”

Profanity in the 19th century had a slightly different focus than our present day usage.  Words such as f***k, shit, cockchafer, c**ksucker, etc. were considered mere vulgarities.  Individuals who used these words were considered low and not concerned with the finer side of life.