Letter from Dr. George R. Starkey in Washington, D.C. to his wife, Caira Skelton Starkey. Seal pressed into the upper lefthand corner reads “CAREW” (or “GAREW”) surrounded by a laurel wreath. Dated “Sunday Eve,” no month or year. Starkey notes that another week has passed and remarks that it doesn’t bother him as much as it bothers Caira to think how little time they have left in this world. He knows they will remain on earth as long as they have something to gain, and he is “painfully sensible that much—oh so much—remains to be done in my case.” He writes that they had an instructive discourse today about Ishmael, who signifies rationality from the love of knowing, as opposed to his brother Isaac, who signifies rationality from the love of truth. Starkey sees Tyndale, Huxley, Dr, Briggs, and Darwin as “Ishmaels” of their time. Ishmael is just as necessary as Isaac, but he must eventually “leave the house” because a love of truth results in actual good works while a love of knowing does not. Starkey has been feeling exceptionally well all week, although he has a headache today from eating boiled chestnuts late last night- He took Mrs. Clift on her first visit to the theater last night. Paxie is “perfectly enthusiastic” about the effects of “taking the oxygen,” and Mrs. Clift is desperate to take it as well. Starkey asks after Auntie P. and inquires whether they heard Mr. Fields last night. Fields will give a lecture tomorrow night in Washington about Sydney Smith. Starkey also asks what Caira has in place of Maria and comments that he hopes Kate has arrived by now. Names mentioned: Ishmael (Biblical), Tyndale, Huxley, Dr. Briggs, Darwin, Hagar (Biblical), Abraham (Biblical), Sarah (Biblical), Isaac (Biblical), Pauline (Pauline Starkey Wells), Mrs. Clift, Paxie, Auntie P., Maria, Kate, Mr. Fields, Sydney Smith