Letter from Tsai Ting-Kan to Alfred E. Stearns, June 7, 1929
Letter from Alfred E. Stearns to Tsai Ting-Kan, Dairen, Manchuria, July 1, 1929
My dear Mr. Tsai: I have read with interest and appreciation your friendly letter of June 1, and I am now answering it just one month from the date it was written. Both Alfred and Helen seem to have come through the year in excellent health and spirits, and I think on the whole with real progress in their work. This last has certainly been true of Helen, and while Alfred's marks are none too strong, his teachers all tell me that the boy is gaining, and I look for still better results next year. His spirit and effort seem to be all that we could desire, but I have been a little disappointed that the hoped for momentum in his school work has not developed a little more rapidly. Both the children are spending the first part of their summer vacation with Mrs. Nye in South Weymouth, though Alfred expects to go to his camp in New Hampshire soon. Young Mr. Sanborn, who has direct charge of this camp under his father's guidance, has been teaching with us here at Andover this year, and so understands thoroughly Alfred's special needs. So far as the grammar and standard rhetoric books to which you refer are concerned, I am sure that the children have everything of this kind in their possession that they need at the present time. I have talked this over with both of them in times past, and I am sure that they have all the material at hand that they can use, and that if they are really in earnest, as I believe them to be, they will make good use of these facilities. Thank you heartily for your generous thought in sending me the tea. It has not arrived yet, but will prove most welcome. My own family is very small at present so that I probably shall not be able to use for myself all of the tea in question, but it is a great pleasure to be able to hand a little now and then as a gift to a good friend and where I know that it will be rated at a high value. Don't worry about remitting any more money at present, for with what I still have in the bank and which up to date has been accumulating steady interest, I have more than enough to meet all demands for some time to come. With warm personal regards and renewed thanks for your constant and generous thoughtfulness, believe me Very sincerely yours,
Telegram from E.R. Greenwood, Phillips Academy, to George Sanborn, Director, Cockermouth Camp, Groton, New Hampshire, July 5, 1929
To: George K. Sanborn Street and No. Cockermouth Camp Place. Groton, N.H. via Bristol, N.H Alfred Tsai has not received instructions from you. Is planning/leave to-morrow morning, Saturday, on train leaving Lowell 9:38 daylight and arriving Bristol 11:44 daylight. Will you wire him C/o Mrs Erving, 59 Salem Street, if this arrangement all right. (Signed) E. H. Greenwood 7/5/29
Letter from Secretary to Alfred E. Stearns to Emma Willard (Mrs. Daniel B.) Nye, South Weymouth, Mass., July 9, 1929
My dear Mrs. Nye: The enclosed circulars from St. Mary’s School were sent to Dr. Stearns. I thought you might like to have them, as I believe Helen Tsai is with you at the present time. Very truly yours, Secretary to Dr. Stearns
Letter from Alfred Tsai, Cockermouth Camp, Groton, New Hampshire, to Alfred E. Stearns, July 8, 1929
Dear Dr. Stearns: I like to ask you that if I can get out one week before the camp closes, because I want to see more of Helen. I was very disappointed this year, because I was never with Helen as least as this year. The past two years I had been with Helen always a long time when vacation comes. I was very glad to see the Nye’s. We had a lovely time when Helen arrived there. She cooked the Chinese for all of us. On the forth we went to the Cape, and enjoyed the ocean very much. Helen sends her best to you, and all the Nyes wish you will have a good summer. Sincerely yours.
Letter from Alfred E. Stearns to Alfred Tsai, Cockermouth Camp, Groton, New Hampshire, July 13, 1929
Dear Alfred: Thank you for your note of July 9. I assume that you wrote it yourself on your new typewriter. It is well written, but there are some evidences that you still need further work in English. In your second paragraph you say that "Helen cooked the Chinese for all of us". I wonder which ones she chose, and whether she fried, boiled, or roasted them. Evidently you escaped and I congratulate you. If you are in any doubt as to the significance of your statement, just ask Mr. Sanborn what is wrong with the sentence. It might make trouble if you expressed a similar sentiment to some of your friends in China who wouldn't understand quite what it was all about. I am enclosing a bill from Morrissey. What in the world have you used all those taxis for? I can't understand it. The bill is altogether out of keeping, and I want a detailed statement from you by way of explanation. I must also insist again that you curtail your expenditures at the local drug store. That bill is regularly far heavier that it ought to be. A happy and profitable summer to you. Very sincerely yours,
Letter from Alfred Tsai, Cockermouth Camp, Groton, New Hampshire, to Alfred E. Stearns, July 15, 1929
My dear Dr. Stearns: I had some vistors came to call on me last Sunday, I was very surprised when I went down the Hall, and there were your sister-in-law and Mr. Bancroft and his sister. I had a wonderful time. I hope you will answer me that if I can get out one week before the Camp closes or not; so I will let Helen know. Helen had written me that she sends her best to you, and wishes that you will enjoy your vacation. Also my father sent his best to you. Your Sincerely,
Letter from Alfred E. Stearns to Alfred Tsai, Cockermouth Camp, Groton, New Hampshire, July 19, 1929
Dear Alfred: If Mr. Sanborn approves of your leaving camp a week early and if the Nyes are ready to welcome you at that time, I shall be perfectly willing to approve the plan. It will be necessary for me, however, to have notes from both Mr. Sanborn and Mrs. Nye in advance before I can give my final approval to the proposition. Very sincerely yours,
Note with details of Alfred Tsai's travel to Cockermouth Camp, July 6, 1929
Letter from Alfred Tsai, Cockermouth Camp, Groton, New Hampshire, to Alfred E. Stearns, July 20, 1929
My dear Dr. Stearns: It was good to hear from you. I have been reading the new paper last few day, and there were lots of news about China and Russia. I hope that both of them will be friends again as they always have been. China is far away from strong to against the foreign country, and she is not very rich just yet. China has very few railways, and the people are not educated, also that the soilders [sic] should get more training than they received. The guns and many other equiments are the old German style. She needs more airplanes and warships, and the navy of ours is not very good either. With all above reasons that China is not a very strong at all, and other wise the South and North has trouble of it’s own. Really China is not quite united. If China declared war on Russia: I think that is a very big mistake. I meant "Helen cooked the Chinese food for all of us". I should read the letter after I have finished it. It might help me to get least mistakes. The taxis bill is a long story to tell you. When I was at Mrs. Erving's and there were two other boys. One of them name is Tom Lynn. Often he asked me that if he can charge the taxi on my account, I thought it was all-right to do so, and he promised to pay me. back afterwards. June 1 $1.10 8 $.75 these above bill which he didn’t pay me back. The baggage fare as for my tranks to move to Clement House. On the 19th was the day I left Andover; the fare was to the station. July 5 was the day I came back from Nye’s. July 6 was the I left for camp; the fare was for Lowell. I try to cut down my bills at the drug store. I always try to be careful about my spendin money, but I got buy the things if I need it. I just received a letter from father. He said two sons of his friends might come to Andover next term. They are Frank Pan and Robert Pan, and another friend’s son might going to Harvard next team also. In this letter also said "I sent Dr. Stearns six tin of the best tea. But he did’nt ay anything about the trouble between China and Russia. I hope I will have a good school year next term. I have been studying Algebra an hour a day. I hope will pass that next term. Good luck to you, hope you have a good fishing season. Very sincerely yours,