Handwritten letter from Dr. George R. Starkey to Gertrude Starkey Pitcairn. Addressed "Dear Baby." Line across the top of the first page reads, "1323 F st. Monday Morning" (Front Street?). No date given, filed under 1876. Starkey writes this letter while stuck inside during a storm. After escorting Lillie Scidmor home on the 5:40 Saturday train, he arrived to find that Dr. H. (Hatch) had departed for Phila. to consult with Drs Rane and Lippe on the case of Mr. Hitz’s Pauline, who is about 7 years old. He inferred from Gertrude’s card that she was already home, and he inquires whether her stay at Dr. T’s was satisfactory. He also wonders if Dr. T goes to Phila. today and what he thinks of “the Washington project.” He reports “a good deal of feeling” where he is regarding the upcoming election. The headquarters of the Congressional Democratic Convention are opposite the Dr.’s and they had a flag stretched across the street displaying Tilden and Hendrick’s “Reform & Retrenchment.” It was just torn down by the wind, and he is pained to confess that Paxie and the other women laughed very unsympathetically at it laying in the mud. He has not yet found out about the business prospects of Oxygen there, but will do so soon and return to Phila. tomorrow or the day after. He reports being profoundly affected by the state in which he found poor Ned two weeks ago. Although encouraged by “the spirit in which he received my rebuke of his conduct,” Starkey does not think Ned will “overcome the state induced by his habits, without long continued effort on his part, & constant watchfulness & help on our part.” He believes that a “want of obedience has been the fatal condition with Ned” and the younger girls, and this is because the three older children have unwittingly weakened their mother’s authority by “habitually treating her wishes & opinions with levity.” While they are old enough to have their own opinions, they should begin with respectful consideration of their mother’s wishes, and if they wish to dissent, have a discussion without the presence of the younger children. He writes, “You must remember that Mamma is passing thro’ a ‘critical’ period of her woman’s life. We must allow her to be non-rational in many of her moods & wishes.” He hopes Gertude is still enjoying life, and he is very glad that the “great cloud of last winter & spring” has passed. He believes she will see in hindsight benefits from this great cloud, as they are all wonderfully led and protected in the Lord’s Providence. He sees Providence in “Pauline’s escapade,” because she easily could have “thrown herself away!”, yet they are all thankful for the result. Starkey sends love to the family from Mrs. Hatch, Aunt Sarah, and Paxie. Names mentioned: Lillie Scidmore (?), Dr. H. (Hatch), Dr. Rane, Dr. Lippe, Mr. Hitz (Kitz?), Pauline (Hitz/Kitz?), Dr. T (Tuller?), Tilden, Hendricks, Paxie, Ned (Edward Starkey), Pauline (Pauline Starkey Wells), George (George G. Starkey), Mrs. Hatch, Aunt Sarah, Cara (Cara Starkey Glenn), Dora (Theodore Starkey Smith) Places mentioned: Phila (Philadelphia), Washington