Ɛpsilon

From W. E. Darwin   6 February 1871

Bank, Southampton,

Feb 6 1871

My Dear Father,

I certainly do shut my eyes when I scratch myself, but I can find no trace of tears. I fancy that the Drepressor Anguli oris acts most absurdly in Sanders when he is trying to resist gaping but I will watch him.1

I will see about the Babies photographs.2

I will remind Langstaff about your Q as to the muscles brought into playing in flute playing.3 I am getting on very well and am at the shop for the 1st. time today.4 I have to hobble about as if I was made of glass, so as not to jerk myself, & strain the ligaments in healing.

I hope you are right again | Your affect son | W E Darwin

1
CD described the action of the depressores anguli oris muscles in Expression, pp. 193–7. Sanders has not been identified.
2
CD asked William to try to obtain a photograph of a child smiling or laughing (see this volume, Supplement, letter to W. E. Darwin, 20 [January or February 1871?]).
3
Charles Langstaff was a surgeon and friend of William’s who had provided CD with observations on expression (see Expression and Correspondence vols. 16 and 19).
4
William was a partner in the Southampton and Hampshire Bank.

Please cite as “DCP-LETT-7476F,” in Ɛpsilon: The Charles Darwin Collection accessed on 5 June 2025, https://epsilon.ac.uk/view/dcp-data/letters/DCP-LETT-7476F