May 11 Thursday – In his May 13 to William Dean Howells, Sam wrote of this evening: 

Day before yesterday [May 13] the Harper came [May issue with another installment of Their Silver Wedding Journey by Howells], & in the evening I hunted it up & was lying on the sofa, & kept interrupting the family’s repose with laughter & chuckles. Finally Mrs. Clemens (very late, I thought) asked “What is it?” 

“Portraits of you.”

“Where?”

“In Carlsbad. Whether Mrs. March was there or not, you were.”

Then she let it out that she had already been through the chapter, & had recognised herself. That seems good evidence to me that Mrs. March is a type, going around disguised with a special name; & she is probably being recognised by lots of Mrs. Marches named Jones & Smith & so-on. I reckon you had good times writing that number; it is persistently & devilishly happy & comfortable & easy & flowing; & exact to the facts in every detail… [MTHL 2: 695-6].