131 10 3636 https://chinesestudents.andover.edu/files/original/738ef3688f4a60ceb03fd9ab82c3a861.jpg 0afc4a27ee2d47309a323315a7be8cd5 https://chinesestudents.andover.edu/files/original/a4473ad96a8db150f82479965bd2853c.jpg 95544c4d966ec460e5aa6dc693523872 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Box 28 Folder 1 Mary Sun, Head of School (Stearns) Records Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Letter from Dr. Albert E. Stearns to Mr. Charles Sun, March 23, 1926 Subject The topic of the resource Letter from Dr. Albert E. Stearns to Mr. Charles Sun, March 23, 1926 Description An account of the resource Typed letter sent from Dr. Alfred E. Stearns to Charles Sun. Enclosed check. Advises against taking a job in a restaurant. Discusses flu outbreak at Andover and scarlet fever outbreak at Exeter. Communicated with Mary and states she appears happy, but believes says differently to Andover friends. States the insistence of Mary's Abbot friends for her to return has caused Stearns to meet with Dr. Sze in Washington. States he is following their father's wishes. Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Dr. Alfred E. Stearns Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Phillips Academy Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource March 23, 1926 Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource All Rights Reserved By Phillips Academy Language A language of the resource English Type The nature or genre of the resource Correspondence Relation A related resource Mr.Charles Sun 35 Woodside Ave. Amhrest, Mass. Dear Charlie: Your good letter has just reached me, and I am enclosing a check for $300. 00, as requested. It seems to me that you have been very careful with your money, and I am not aware that you have been overspending. I only wish that I could get Tommie to view things as you do. It would be a fine thing for him and would at the same time relieve my anxieties a lot. As to taking a job at the college restaurant next year, I really don’t approve of it and I doubt very much if your father would wish you to do it. Of course there is no real harm in it, and for some follow, especially if it is actually a necessity, work of this kind is an excellent character builder. My impression is that, If you take the job, it would mean the exclusion of some other fellow in greater need than you and it would also mean, of course, a definite lens of time from your college work. Any I should go slow before reaching a final decision. Yes, we had a sudden epidemic of influence tiers, lasting for about two weeks and of a very light and seemingly harmless quality. About sixty boys, all told, were affected, but the illness hardly ever lasted more than three or four days. Our friends at Exeter, unfortunately, have been having a much harder time. Scarlet fever has kept them busy. For goodness sake keep away from the dogs At Amherst if they ore in a bad way, as you intimate. Yes, I have heard from Mary lately and more often from her Andover friends who still persist in trying to keep the waters troubles. Only this moaning, before coming to the office, I talked with Mary’s principal, Mrs. Russell, who tells me that Mary is getting on well, working hard, and to all outside appearances at least, happy and contented. Mary writes me in the same vein, but unfortunately she writes those like her Abbot friends in a wholly different one. It is a bit hard to know just how she really does feel, though I am sure she is not suffering. Because of the persistent and unreasonable efforts of her Abbot friends to have her return to that school for the balance of the year, I find it necessary to make a special trip to Washington to talk the whole matter over fully and frankly with your ambassador, Mr.Sze. At Mr.Sze’s request Mary is to pass her Easter vacation at the Legation in Washington, and I am hopeful that by the end of that period, at least, we shall know where we stand. It has been a hard and perplexing situation, but I have sought most conscientiously to do only what I understood to be your father’s wish. I understand that your friend, Mr. Robinson, is coming to America this Spring. Both your father and he have written me to that effect I can imagine that he will be glad to see all you boys again. What are your plans for the Easter holidays? With all good wishes, believe me Faithfully yours. Charles Sun Dr. Alfred E. Stearns https://chinesestudents.andover.edu/files/original/360352d9dfee0ebeede6a9d68a19a42e.jpg 6a364328108136efdfcda070eebb873c https://chinesestudents.andover.edu/files/original/342223b1ad91448dbf48ad385da48465.jpg 8749a3e9a2ecab218c3511456aeed74f Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Box 28 Folder 1 Mary Sun, Head of School (Stearns) Records Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Draft of telegram sent from A.E. Stearns to Hon. S.K. Alfred Sze, March 22, 1926 Subject The topic of the resource Draft of telegram sent from A.E. Stearns to Hon. S.K. Alfred Sze, March 22, 1926 Description An account of the resource Draft of a telegram sent from Dr. Alfred E. Stearns to Sao-Ke Alfred Sze, requesting a meeting in Washington, D.C. regarding Mary Sun. Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Dr. Alfred E. Stearns Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Phillips Academy Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource March 22, 1926 Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource All Rights Reserved By Phillips Academy Language A language of the resource English Type The nature or genre of the resource Correspondence Dr. Alfred E. Stearns Sao Ke Alfred Sze https://chinesestudents.andover.edu/files/original/44469985c672840515b7ebb3c0c42f73.jpg 4ac7cced9a674da115205b1c52b71c82 https://chinesestudents.andover.edu/files/original/a3dffb5140fe34fc87601d1357d118c2.jpg 19b771945a115327535e9eca97c7daef https://chinesestudents.andover.edu/files/original/533371bcd9bdbbe834dbb1d780a1e05e.jpg e06dbb5337b804cfa66a92dc85dbca59 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Box 28 Folder 1 Mary Sun, Head of School (Stearns) Records Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Letter from Dr. Alfred E. Stearns to Mr. C.Y. Sun, February 22, 1926 Subject The topic of the resource Letter from Dr. Alfred E. Stearns to Mr. C.Y. Sun, February 22, 1926 Description An account of the resource Typed letter sent from Dr. Alfred E. Stearns to C.Y. Sun about Mary's education and school transfer. Made arrangements after receiving Sun's cablegram to prepare Mary for college. Transferred Mary to Whittier School in Merrimac, Massachusetts. States Mary was upset to be transferred from Abbot to Whittier and wrote letters to several people initially. Questions the decision to send Mary to college, as her previous course work didn't prepare her for college. Explains the reasoning behing his decisions regarding Mary and her education. Asks for advice in dealing with Mary and her education in the future. Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Dr. Alfred E. Stearns Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Phillips Academy Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource February 22, 1926 Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource All Rights Reserved By Phillips Academy Language A language of the resource English Type The nature or genre of the resource Correspondence Relation A related resource 22 February, 1926 Mr. C. Y. Sun 44 Cambridge Road Tientsin, China My dear Mr. Sun: Upon the receipt of your recent cablegram, reading, “Prepare Mary for college”, I promptly started careful inquiries to ascertain the best available school where Mary could receive the special and intensive work which must now be had to enable her to achieve this end. As the result of these inquiries I selected a small home school, highly recommended and already somewhat familiar to me, known as Whittier School, in Merrimac, Massachusetts, a small country town about fifteen miles distant from Andover. When the selection had been made I sent for Mary, told her of your decision, and offered her the choice of going to the school in question or remaining at my home to work for the balance of the year with tutors chosen from our own teaching force, aided by a former teacher residing in the town. She chose the school, and the transfer was made the following day. Mary was badly upset by the news and the sudden change of plan involved. She protested vigorously and tearfully against leaving Abbot Academy, and insisted that I ought not to take the proposed step, which she felt sure you would not sanction if you understood all the conditions involved. Miss Clemons and I did our best to quiet her and make her we that no other course was open in view of your explicit instructions, which had been sent after the receipt of my earlier letter to you in which I had endeavored to explain carefully and in detail all that was involved if the change were to be made. Knowing that the change would be hard at best for Mary, I felt that the more promptly it could be made the less would be her distress in the end, for I knew that her friends at Abbot, including her teachers, would naturally console with her and unconsciously strengthen her own feelings that she was being harshly dealt with. To guard her against that I asked Mrs. Russell, the Principal of the Wittier School, to withhold from Mary for a couple of days the letters of sympathy, etc. which I felt sure would follow her from Abbot Academy and add only to Mary’s excitement. At the end of that period all of the letters, of which there were many, were forwarded to Mary, as I had planned at the outset to have them. I mention these details because 1 know that Mary’s first reaction was one of intense resentment and that she wrote at once to her brothers, to the Legation at Washington, and to others, protesting at what had been done and intimating, apparently, that you would not have sanctioned my action have you fully understood the situation. I kept in touch with Mrs. Russell by telephone and urged her to do everything she could to make Mary comfortable and happy and to bring her to realize that your authority in the matter was final, your decision proper, and my action absolutely necessary in view of your definite instructions by cable to me. From Mrs. Russell, and to-day from Mary herself, I have gathered that the first shock has largely worn off, that Mary is hard at work and evidently much more contented than she was at first. In justice to Mary I feel that it is only fair to say that I consider her first reaction perfectly natural and that it would not be fair to blame her too severely for it. As I intimated in my earlier letter to you, the change was a drastic one and the significance of it could not easily be at once interpreted by the one who was thus forced to sever abruptly all connections and friendships and start again among strangers in another school. I felt sure then, and feel surer now, that this reaction should not be considered permanent, and that in a very short time Mary would adjust herself to the new surroundings, and with increasing content and peace of mind. To-day Arthur came out to see me, at my request, stayed to lunch, and talked over with me very fully and freely the entire situation. While he was there we called Mary on the telephone and Arthur himself talked with her frankly. Arthur apparently agrees fully that what has been done is what you desire, and has assured Mary that it was the proper and only thing to do under the circumstances. I think he feels as strongly as I do that Mary is already in a much better frame of mind, and that she will bend herself to the new tasks and adjust herself to the new conditions rapidly and rightly. Arthur, however, is inclined to share my own feelings, those of Miss Clemons, who has followed Mary pretty closely in her work, and those expressed, too, by Miss Bailey, Principal of Abbot Academy, that it is a serious question whether Mary has the proper qualifications to make a college course for her practicable and wise. In some of the subjects, at least, required for admission to a good college (and I assume, of course, that you would not be willing to consider a second-rate college), Mary finds the greatest difficulty Arthur tells me that when he tried to teach her Algebra a short time ago, it seemed next to impossible to make her understand the first principles of the subject. On the other hand she is extremely domestic and has evident talent along those lines. I think that is one reason why Mary has always intimated that she would like to study nursing, something that to-day many of our best girls in this country are taking up for serious study. I confess that I have been terribly puzzled over the whole problem. The subjects which Mary has been taking to round out the general course at Abbot Academy, and which would have permitted her to take her diploma in that course this coming June, are not in the main those required by the colleges for admission; hence her work from now on must he of a very different character. I have asked Mrs. Russell to watch Mary as closely as she can and tell me frankly within the next few weeks what she herself feels as to Mary’s qualifications to prepare for admission to college and carry later successfully the college course. If Mrs. Russell comes to feel, as some of the rest of us are inclined to do without, perhaps, full and proper data on which to base our somewhat hazy conclusions, that Mary ought not to attempt to go on to college, I shall hardly know what to do next. In talking the situation over with Arthur to-day we were both inclined to feel that if the college proposition should prove to be impracticable and a nursing or home economics course from your point of view undesirable, Mary should perhaps have a year or two in one of the very best of our American schools, chiefly for the contacts and cultural influences that such a school would afford. There are several such schools in this country, but I have not considered them seriously in the past, chiefly because they are excessively expensive, involving an annual outlay of from $2500 to $3000 per year per pupil a sum which it seems to me would be beyond what you would naturally feel ought to be invested. Perhaps my judgment has erred in this respect, but it has at least been formed on the basis of a very careful consideration on my part of all the factors involved and of a further belief that you would have reached the same decision yourself under the same circumstances. Where I may have erred chiefly up to this time has been through my understanding that Mary would return to China this coming year, and that therefore her American education was to have been completed so far as possible before that time. As I wrote in my former letter, the suggestion of a later college course came to me comparatively recently, and hence did not enter into the consideration of the earlier plans decided upon. I am writing you fully at this time because I have reason to fear that Mary in her first reaction to the new situation may have sent you, direct or through the Legation, at Washington, word that would naturally have been very much colored by her feelings at the time, and which I feel sure would have taken on a different color had she sent such a messages to-day , and probably even a brighter hue were she to send it a bit later. Her statement on the telephone to-day to both me and Arthur was to the effect that the new school was all right, that she liked her schoolmates, etc. but that she still wanted to return to China, I hope, therefore, that if you have received a message from her previous to the receipt of this letter, you will consider it in the light of what I have just written, and will not do unduly disturbed by its character. Unless Mary misled both Arthur and myself, she would not, I feel sure, send a message of quite the same character to-day, and I am very hopeful that we can within a reasonable time report her as contented and happy under the new regime. I hope that in your next letter to me you will feel perfectly free to tell me very frankly exactly what courses I should adopt with Susy from now on. Please take into consideration the possibility that those who are now undertaking to prepare Mary for colleges may agree with Miss Bailey and others that Mary is not adapted to college work and ought not, therefore, to be forced to attempt it. If this is the final and combined judgement of us all, we must then plan carefully for the next and wisest east step, and we shall certainly need definite advice and instructions from you. I have tried to outline the possibilities so that we may so far as possible work in complete sympathy and harmony in the matter and adopt a plan which has been decided upon only after all the conditions and ramifications that enter into the problem have been fully considered and estimated at their relative values. My sole desire is to carry out your wishes and to do only what I should feel you would desire to do yourself were you actually on the ground here and able to view the situation from the same angle. I might add that the Wittier School has been thoroughly endorsed by a number of responsible educators whom I have consulted, who know of its work and its product, and who tell me that it does exceptionally effective work in the preparation of its pupils for college. It is a home school, rather old-fashioned in its type, and to my mind all the better for that, with a distinctly cultural and Christian atmosphere. Mrs. Bussell is a motherly woman of high ideals and refinement, and strongly opposed to the modern and superficial tendencies and social excesses so strongly prevalent in the majority of our American girls’ schools to-day. Mary will therefore some under closer and in my judgment wholesome supervision than she has had heretofore, while at the same time she will be guided in her studies by those who are thoroughly familiar with the requirements for admission set by our best colleges, and who are in the habit of preparing their girls to meet the same. Please excuse this extremely long letter, but I cannot help feeling that the situation in such that you are entitled to know all of the circumstances and details which have been taken into consideration by me in handling this somewhat difficult and in a way very perplexing problem. I can only hope that I have not in any way, and unintentionally, abused the confidence which have so generously reposed in me, though I must admit in dealing with the case of a girl I feel my limitations more strongly than I do in dealing with boys, whose problems are a little more familiar, though even then not always easily solved. Believe me, with warm regard and esteem. Very sincerely yours, C.Y.Sun Dr. Alfred E. Stearns https://chinesestudents.andover.edu/files/original/103d701fe8c94af01b762e0ab1dc80ad.jpg 8ac143efc7533877a5489c20c58d05bc https://chinesestudents.andover.edu/files/original/3edc8e09a43efee458abe48c8be2ce01.jpg 907367cef17c77391984367818eef155 https://chinesestudents.andover.edu/files/original/7ad6403d7d4b5364af4b2b7c628b5001.jpg e031a57a36f970e2ac824862b251bae2 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Box 28 Folder 1 Mary Sun, Head of School (Stearns) Records Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Letter from Alfred E. Stearns to Mr. C.Y. Sun, March 19, 1926 Subject The topic of the resource Letter from Alfred E. Stearns to Mr. C.Y. Sun, March 19, 1926 Description An account of the resource Typed letter sent from Dr. Alfred E. Stearns to C.Y. Sun about Mary's education. States Mary is happier at the new school after some time. Explains protests from Mary's Abbott friends prevented her from adjusting quicker. Questions whether the transfer was necessary. Believes Mary could have finished the year, entered prep courses, and attending college a year later if not for the cost. Plans to monitor the situation. Discusses college options for Mary. Discussed the issue with Chinese Minister, Dr. Alfred Sze. Discusses college options for Tom Sun. Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Dr. Alfred E. Stearns Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Phillips Academy Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource March 19, 1926 Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource All Rights Reserved By Phillips Academy Language A language of the resource English Type The nature or genre of the resource Correspondence Relation A related resource March 19, 1926 Mr. C.Y.Sun 44 Cambridge Bond Tientsin, China My dear Mr. Sun: Let me acknowledge the receipt of your letter of February 3, confirming the cable message received several weeks ago. As I have already written you, the receipt of that message prompted me to readjust Mary’s schedule completely at a place and in a small school about fifteen miles from here, where she would secure for the balance of the year intensive and individual work in preparation for college entrance examinations. Apparently Mary is much happier there now than she was when the change was first made, for it was sudden and unexpected and aroused a storm of protest from her Abbot Academy friends; indeed their misguided but well meant sympathy and enthusiasm kept Mary pretty badly stirred up for some time and have made it increasingly difficult for her to settle down in the new environment. Frankly, I am still very gravely in doubt as to whether we did the wisest thing in changing Mary’s school and course so suddenly and at this particular time of year. My own inclination would have been to allow her to finish out the current school year at Abbot Academy, secure her diploma for the general course, a goal for which she had been aiming, and then settle down to the intensive college preparatory work, if that was to be the new aim. On the other hand, that meant naturally the consuming of some additional months in work which was not leading to the goal finally chosen and which, therefore, might seem to you, in large measure, thrown away. Again the change in midyear also involved extra expense, since pupils in boarding schools are regularly held for the full year’s charge, unless their places can be filled by new-comers. At this late season the chance of securing new pupils to finish out the school year are very slight. Having all these things in mind to puzzle me, I finally decided that the only thing I could do after receiving your definite message, which I knew was sent after you had read my earlier letter in which I had tried to outline the complications involved, was to make the change at once and this was done. I must admit, however, that my pause of mind has not increased as a result, for Mary and many of her friends, at least, feel that I have acted both unwisely and harshly, something which at best my conscience sought not to do. All I can do now is to watch the situation as closely as possible and, on the basis of the results secured during the balance of the current school year, figure out the wisest plane for the future. Wellesley is an excellent college, and if it is your preference that Mary should go there, we will have that college in view. The entrance requirements are high and similar to those of Smith, Mount Holyoke, and Vassar. Whether Mary is capable of meeting these high requirements, I am not quite sure. Her Abbot Academy teachers and Miss Clemons are agreed in feeling that Mary will not find this an easy task and that it is a serious question whether she ought to be pushed to accomplish it. Their feeling is, and I am almost inclined to share it, that Mary would do much better in same smaller and less exacting college, of which there are a number in this country and which still rank high in the public estimation. Here again we can perhaps reach a fairer decision when we have before us the final record of the current school year, and especially that which the new conditions will accomplish. I have accepted Dr. Alfred Sze’s invitation to Mary to pass the coming spring vacation with him and his wife in Washington. I have also written him very frankly of the difficult problem we have had to face in Mary’s case during recent weeks and the complications that were necessarily involved. I hope that  Dr. and Mrs.Sze will be able to convince Mary that our decision is all for the best and should be accepted in a spirit of hearty cooperation. Just a word as to Tom. The more I have thought over his case and the more I have talked with him, as well as with Arthur and Charlie, the more I am inclined to feel that Tom ought to go to some small but high grade college after he leaves us. While I would be disposed to favor the business course in his case, I know of no good business college that is not located in one of our large cities that does not have rather loose supervision of its pupils. Tom is not stable enough, in my judgment, to profit by such conditions, and for that reason, primarily, I am disposed to favor a small country college - such a college, for example, as Middlebury College in Vermont or Hamilton College in New York, or perhaps a somewhat larger one like Amherst or Wesleyan. If Tom makes a creditable record, a business course later would be all the more valuable to him, while, on the other hand, the college work itself might turn his interest in a wholly new and unexpected direction. Trusting that your country may soon shake itself loose from the militarists who have been causing it so mush injury and distress and with assurance of my high regard and esteem, believe me Very sincerely yours, Dr. Alfred E. Stearns Mary Sun https://chinesestudents.andover.edu/files/original/4041e3461ee12cb1e07ab886c0855a7f.jpg aef12d76e9ae19379bdd9a48ba59f9d4 https://chinesestudents.andover.edu/files/original/b46c0d7d46795ef9f966b81eaac42981.jpg abd8249d1b71f5f07295e4cc6a4fc2c2 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Box 28 Folder 1 Mary Sun, Head of School (Stearns) Records Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Letter from Dr. Alfred E. Stearns to Mary Sun, March 8, 1926 Subject The topic of the resource Letter from Dr. Alfred E. Stearns to Mary Sun, March 8, 1926 Description An account of the resource Typed letter sent from Dr. Alfred E. Stearns to Mary Sun about her correspondence. Explains he wanted the letters withheld to help the adjustment to the new school. Believes the wave of sympathy would prevent her from adjusting and moving on. States in the beginning she was sending so many letters it interfered with schoolwork. States it was not his intention to deprive her of friendship. Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Dr. Alfred E. Stearns Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Phillips Academy Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource March 8, 1926 Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource All Rights Reserved By Phillips Academy Language A language of the resource English Type The nature or genre of the resource Correspondence Relation A related resource March 8, 1926 Miss Mary Sun The Whittier School Merrimac, Mass. My dear Mary: Thank you for your good frank letter which I find on my desk this morning on my return from New York. Please understand that the last thing in the world that I want to do is to deprive you of any of your normal friendships and normal wholesome activities. I have only sought to make this change of course and location for you as free as possible from the pain which, at best, I know it must bring you. That is why I felt that it would be vise to curtail, so far as practicable, the Abbot Academy contacts just at the start, at least, so that you might be spared from the wave of sympathy and condolences which I knew would be ready to overwhelm you from that source until you could have become a bit acclimated to the new surroundings and a bit steadier on your own feet. If you are writing no more letters than you say, I haven't a word of criticism to make, but I judged from the first reports that dozens of letters were going from and coming to you and I knew that this meant that it would be impossible for you to give your full attention to your studies or quiet the natural pangs of regret you would experience under the changed conditions. Just so soon as I can get over there we can talk the whole thing over, and I am sure you will fully understand my position and not believe that I have been unduly or unfairly hard on you. Of course I can't tell very much as yet how Miss Russell feels about your work. She has told me over the phone and has written that you were taking hold finely and had shown excellent spirit. Naturally that made me very happy. I want you to be equally frank, too, in telling me just how good you consider the instruction you are getting there. With all good wishes, believe me Faithfully yours Dr. Alfred E. Stearns Mary Sun https://chinesestudents.andover.edu/files/original/e741d0d0c858762b10f14226c92988a0.jpg 8cf4681872c4eda72287abba8bddbc42 https://chinesestudents.andover.edu/files/original/6c1fb213010db95b7d33f17c8ca7061f.jpg 2ee384bdb63551a4b65221634025d28a Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Box 28 Folder 1 Mary Sun, Head of School (Stearns) Records Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Letter from Dr. Alfred E. Stearns to Hon. Sao-Ke Alfred Sze, March 10, 1926 Subject The topic of the resource Letter from Dr. Alfred E. Stearns to Hon. Sao-Ke Alfred Sze, March 10, 1926 Description An account of the resource Typed letter sent from Alfred E. Stearns to Sao-Ke Alfred Sze. Worries about Mary's present depression. States Mary says she happy and adjusting to the new school. Believes the Szes will get a better understanding during Mary's visit. Questions whether the chose course of action in regards to Mary's education was the best. States there has been pressure from Abbot Academy and Mary's friends for her to return. Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Dr. Alfred E. Stearns Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Phillips Academy Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource March 10, 1926 Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource All Rights Reserved By Phillips Academy Language A language of the resource English Type The nature or genre of the resource Correspondence Relation A related resource March 10, 1926 My dear Mr.Sze: Thank you for your letter of March 8 received this morning. I am heartily in sympathy with the proposed visit of Mary Sun with you is Washington during the coming spring recess. Just so soon as I learn when the date of the recess is to be. I shall be glad to advise you. What you tell of Mary’s present depression because of her surroundings is distressing, especially as 1 have been given by Mary herself to understand that she has come to feel much happier about things and is ready to make the most of conditions. 1 confess, however, that I have never been able to feel sure of Mary’s deepest feelings, which she has a faculty of holding to herself so that I may be completely wrong in this instance. Anyway, I am sure that you can get a fairer picture than I of just what is going on inside of Mary’s mind and will be able, therefore, to advise intelligently as to what should be done, if anything, to better the situation for all concerned. Frankly, the seeming necessity for this last move in Mary’s case has distressed me greatly. I have worried over it constantly because there seemed to be so much at stake and no clear way of deciding conclusively the wisest course to pursue. In view of my earlier and detailed letter to Mr. Sun, which prompted his cablegram to me and the definite instructions which that cable brought, I could not see how I could act otherwise them I did, even though my own personal judgement as to what was wisest did not wholly concur. I know that there has been tremendous pressure from those connected with Abbot Academy and Mary’s friends there to find a way to get Mary back to that school and to enable her to complete her year there, This, naturally, has tended to intensify Mary’s feelings of distress over the change and has made the path increasingly difficult for us all. I admit that the whole thing has furnished me one of the most perplexing problems I hare ever encountered with the scores of Chinese students with whom 1 have been privileged to deal during the last twenty-five years. With kindest personal regards, believe me Very sincerely yours Dr. Alfred E. Stearns Mary Sun Sao Ke Alfred Sze https://chinesestudents.andover.edu/files/original/c315c6b0c3076d25928a6e1b62da68d5.jpg c2e2c85e73f1ad2ecc96dbc436a85955 https://chinesestudents.andover.edu/files/original/805f01d42ced15abd42c5e6f8ec5f878.jpg 3037944cb708518ae3890c2334d23128 https://chinesestudents.andover.edu/files/original/4683f58a6f014a0273607e7d4609e602.jpg 6eff2509da7724cce96151d9222de52b Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Box 28 Folder 1 Mary Sun, Head of School (Stearns) Records Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Letter from Dr. Alfred E. Stearns to Hon. Alfred Sze, February 18, 1926 Subject The topic of the resource Letter from Dr. Alfred E. Stearns to Hon. Alfred Sze, February 18, 1926 Description An account of the resource Typed letter sent from Dr. Alfred E. Stearns to Sao-Ke Alfred Sze. Explains the current situation with Mary and her education. States he received a cablegram from Mr. Sun that Mary should attend college. Made arrangements to transfer Mary from Abbot Academy, where she resided for 2 years, to Whittier School, a small school suitable for college prep. Questions whether the transfer was the right course of action. Is troubled over the effect the transfer had on Mary. Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Dr. Alfred E. Stearns Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Phillips Academy Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource February 18, 1926 Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource All Rights Reserved By Phillips Academy Language A language of the resource English Type The nature or genre of the resource Correspondence Relation A related resource February 18, 1926 Hon.Alfred Sze Chinese Legation Washington D.C. My dear Dr.Sze: I forwarded to you a day or two ago, by registered mail and at Mary Sun’s request, a letter in which I assume Mary expressed to you her dissatisfaction with the most arrangement which I felt it necessary to xx for her further schooling. I cannot blame Mary at all for feeling as she does, for I am a good bit distressed and puzzled myself. In view, however, of definite cabled instructions from Mr. sun to prepare Mary for college, I could not see how the step taken could be avoided, and I am writing only to explain my position. For the past two years Mary has been a student at Abbot Academy, taking the general and not the college course, and with the expectation of XX her diploma in this course this coming June. I had always understood from Mr. Sun and from other children that on the completion of her school work in this country was to return to China. For this reason, and for the added reason that the college work seemed a bit too hard for the girl, the general course was selected. About a year ago I began to hear rumors from the children that Mr. Sun might desire Mary to go on to college. Numerous inquiries brought me no definite information, though finally in a letter from Mr. Sun under date of September 4, 1925, this statement is made: “With reference to the choice of school to which Mary should join after she finish her studies in Abbot, many of my friends have told me that Wellesley will be a very desirable college for her.” In answer to this I replied: “The new school year is well under way. Mary should complete her course at Abbot Academy next June. If she is to go on to college, as you initiate, my preference will be for Mount Holykole or Wellesley.” The above was written on the assumption, of course, that Mary would required further preparation, and that Mr. Sun himself had not fully made up his mind to the desirability of the advanced college work. I did not feel it wise for Mary to change schools again, in middle of the year. From that time on, further and XX stronger intimation come to me from the children that college for Mary was becoming a mere definite issue in her father’s mind. I also gathered that the extra year or two of preparation would prove distasteful to both Mr.Sun and Mary and that Mary herself was hoping to enter some so-called college of inferior grade that would not require further preparation. Knowing something about American institutions of this class, I could not believe that Mr.Sun would approve of any such course, and I frankly told Mary so. It was and still is my opinion that in speaking of “college” Mr.Sun had definitely in mind a college of the first rank, and not a college in name only. Consequently, and with these ideas in my mind, I wrote Mr. Sun at considerable length and in detail just before Christmas, asking for definite instructions as to the course I was to pursue in order to carry out his wishes. I explained very fully that they general course Mary was now taking would not permit her to enter a good college, and that further preparation of a year at least, and perhaps more, would be required. I told him, further, that if college was to be the definite goal, I should doubtless feel it necessary to sever at once Mary’s connection with her present school, Abbot Academy, and place her either in a small school or with a tutor where intensive work in preparation for college admission could be had. I explained that such a course would be drastic and upsetting, and in view of this fact I did not feel justified in adopting it without Mr.Sun’s full approval. I asked Mr.Sun, therefore, if he would carefully consider the facts I had stated and write me fully and definitely what I should do. Several days ago, and prompted by the receipt of my letter, Mr.Sun cabled me the brief messages, - “Prepare Mary for college”. I confess that the message distressed me a good bit, for I did not like the idea of making another change only two or three months before Mary would have completed the Abbot course, but under the circumstances and in view of the detail with which I had explained in my letter to Mr. Sun, I could see no alternative but to support the decision and follow instructions. I took several days to search carefully and make numerous inquiries among college and school authorities as to a suitable school, and finally decided on the Whittier School at Merrimac, about fifteen miles from here, a home school of some twenty-five or thirty girls with a distinctly cultured and Christian atmosphere, and where I am told excellent work can be counted on. Then I made the change, the purposely rather abruptly because it seemed to me that Mary’s distress would only be intensified if the strain was prolonged. I also withheld from Mary for the first two days a flood of letters from her former schoolmates and teachers, the receipt of which at the very outset of the new venture would only have been disconcerting. This I explained to Mary by telephone, and forwarded all the letters in question that same day. I mention this last merely because Mary showed in a note which she wrote to me that she felt that unduly severe measures were being taken by me, but for what reason she could not seemingly understand. I am really very troubled over the whole situation, for I cannot help feeling that Mary is perfectly justified in being greatly distressed over the sudden and unexpected turn in affairs, and yet I cannot see how I could have acted otherwise in view of Mr.Sun’s definite instructions. Had I been able to talk with Mr.Sun in person and explain all the ins and outs, I have no doubt that we could have come to a mutually satisfactory decision as to the best course to pursue. The long distance between us and the extensive time which most elapse between the sending and receipt of letter complicate the problem immensely. It has been very hard, therefore, for me to reach satisfactory decisions and to carry them out, feeling, as I do, that the wisest setps may not always been taken in this way and that a clearer understanding on my part of Mr.Sun’s exact wishes and a clearer understanding on his part of the factors and complications involved at this end would very probably prompt us to decisions somewhere different from these arrived at. I hope you will pardon this long and somewhat detailed letter, but since Mary has evidently placed her case before you, I think it is only fair that you should understand the reasons for the action which Mary herself could hardly regard with anything but questionings and distress. The last report I had from the school indicates that Mary’s intense reaction has lessened distinctly and I hope and believe that within a reasonable time she will enjoy the new surroundings and friends and be able to settle down to definite and hard work of preparing for college in accordance with her father’s expressed wishes. With personal regards and the assurance of my readiness to consider carefully any suggestions you may feel disposed to make in this matter, believe me, Very sincerely yours, https://chinesestudents.andover.edu/files/original/eebaf0bc3f4d5bd40c493e76eeb1dbef.jpg 378867c14f7145057ef50e7251ac2076 https://chinesestudents.andover.edu/files/original/5c7c0366bed5b80c3ffc1339040c1ebd.jpg 692e67744d3666bb0bf17020a7fec2c9 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Box 28 Folder 1 Mary Sun, Head of School (Stearns) Records Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Letter from Dr. Alfred E. Stearns to Mr. Arthur Sun, February 16, 1926 Subject The topic of the resource Letter from Dr. Alfred E. Stearns to Mr. Arthur Sun, February 16, 1926 Description An account of the resource Typed letter sent from Dr. Alfred E. Stearns to Arthur Sun. Discusses Mary's school transfer. Explains the choices were based on telegrams from their father, C.Y. Sun. States he wrote to C.Y. Sun at Christmas, explaining what it would mean to have Mary attend college. Explains the instructions received were 'Prepare Mary for College' leaving Stearns to decide the details. States he is unsure of what to do for Tom future education. Wishes to discuss these issues with Arthur. Received check and credited to account. Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Dr. Alfred E. Stearns Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Phillips Academy Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource February 16, 1926 Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource All Rights Reserved By Phillips Academy Language A language of the resource English Type The nature or genre of the resource Correspondence Relation A related resource February 16, 1926. Mr. Arthur Sun, New Tech Dormitory, Cambridge, Mass. Dear Arthur: On my return to Andover this morning I find your letter of February 10th. I am afraid that I have missed your visit if you made one, for I have been away since Thursday of last week. Doubtless you have heard of the recent decision to change Mary's school, a matter that I hope to be able to discuss with you in the early future. Mary, of course, is terribly upset, and naturally so, and I can’t blame her a bit, for I can’t feel altogether that we have done the very best things; at least, I am rather inclined to believe that if your father had been actually on the ground here, and known all of the conditions, he would have been disposed to favor rounding out the course at Abbot for the school degree, and then adding the college preparation later, even though it might mean an extra year. In view of his cablegram, however, there seemed to be nothing for me to do but act promptly and make the change, which I did. After investigating carefully a number of schools, and making all of the inquiries I could of responsible and informed persons, the Wittier School at Merrimac, which has been chosen, combines a home atmosphere and the possibilities of intensive individual work such as Mary must have if she is to enter the college gates. I don’t think a better school could have been found under the circumstances, and I imagine that Mary will be happy there after she once gets over the natural jar which the sudden upset occasioned. I wrote your father very fully just before Christens telling him of the rumors that had come to me through you and Charlie, and Mary herself, that he had recently expressed a wish for Mary to go to college. I explained to him very carefully what this meant, the necessity for a complete change of course, probably an extra year of preparation, and further, the evident necessity of a change of school. I added that this involved such radical and drastic action that I would not feel justified in making it without direct and full authority from him. I told him further that I had supposed that I had been carrying out his wishes in having Mary complete the general course at Abbot, which would mean her degree in June. but that my only wish of course, was to do what he desired me to do. After giving all these details and explanations I asked him to write me fully what his present desires were so that I could be governed accordingly. The receipt of this letter by him prompted a cablegram, which only said, "Prepare Mary for College", so that seemingly there was nothing else I could do but act as I have done. I feel very sorry for Mary because I can readily understand the unhappiness that she must feel at this sudden and abrupt ending of the Abbot connection and the breaking of the contacts with the friends she has made there, but, as you can readily understand, there seemed to be nothing else to do in view of the instructions contained in the cablegram mentioned.  Then there is Tommy’s case to be decided, and here again I am completely at a Loss to know what to do. If Tom can get into college I really think he ought to go to some small college where the standards are not so severe, but where he will be made to work, none the less, rather than to a bigger institution in a large city, like the University of Penn. Further, I question the value of the business course to a boy of Tommy's disposition unless he is seriously in earnest in his desire to get the very most and best out of it he can. So you see I am really anxious to talk things over with you, and I do hope that you will be able to come out here for such an interview pretty soon. Yes, I received the rebate check of $14.00 from your Bursar, and credited it at once to your account, though I do not quite understand yet what it represents. Faithfully yours, Arthur Sun C.Y.Sun Dr. Alfred E. Stearns https://chinesestudents.andover.edu/files/original/3ef75b6eb85e27b07a40720db78c2622.jpg 253eaf5df746819605c5af9fa9189374 https://chinesestudents.andover.edu/files/original/95215b54644664bb433fdb26a8dd1f8b.jpg 6c9aeda92377f931fb2a92e84e2aff37 https://chinesestudents.andover.edu/files/original/aca191cb3e3c4ba01ee13a5e6688a894.jpg b5af0a24ab9ce4aa9e0cd59ab0717dc9 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Box 28 Folder 1 Mary Sun, Head of School (Stearns) Records Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Letter from Dr. Alfred E. Stearns to Hon. Alfred Sze, February 18, 1926 Subject The topic of the resource Letter from Dr. Alfred E. Stearns to Hon. Alfred Sze, February 18, 1926 Description An account of the resource Typed letter sent from Dr. Alfred E. Stearns to Sao-Ke Alfred Sze about Stearns' decisions regarding Mary's education. Explains Mary attending Abbott Academy 2 years based on the assumption she would gain a diploma and return to China. Heard rumors from the Sun children that Mr. Sun prefers Mary attend college. Preferred Mary finish at Abbot, take additional prep courses, then attend college. Received letter and cablegram from Mr. Sun to prepare Mary for college, specifically Wellesley, or other first-rate college. Prompted Stearns to find a suitable school, Whittier, to prepare Mary, resulting in the transfer. States the transfer distressed Mary. Admits the situation troubles Stearns as well. Also explains letters to Mary were witheld the first few days after the transfer, to help Mary adjust. States the letters were forwarded after those few days. Reports Mary appears to be adjusting to the new school. Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Dr. Alfred E. Stearns Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Phillips Academy Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource February 18, 1926 Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource All Rights Reserved By Phillips Academy Language A language of the resource English Type The nature or genre of the resource Correspondence Relation A related resource February 18, 1926 Hon.Alfred Sze Chinese Legation Washington D.C. My dear Dr.Sze: I forwarded to you a day or two ago, by registered mail and at Mary Sun’s request, a letter in which I assume Mary expressed to you her dissatisfaction with the most arrangement which I felt it necessary to xx for her further schooling. I cannot blame Mary at all for feeling as she does, for I am a good bit distressed and puzzled myself. In view, however, of definite cabled instructions from Mr. sun to prepare Mary for college, I could not see how the step taken could be avoided, and I am writing only to explain my position. For the past two years Mary has been a student at Abbot Academy, taking the general and not the college course, and with the expectation of securing her diploma in this course this coming June. I had always understood from Mr. Sun and from other children that on the completion of her school work in this country was to return to China. For this reason, and for the added reason that the college work seemed a bit too hard for the girl, the general course was selected. About a year ago I began to hear rumors from the children that Mr. Sun might desire Mary to go on to college. Numerous inquiries brought me no definite information, though finally in a letter from Mr. Sun under date of September 4, 1925, this statement is made: “With reference to the choice of school to which Mary should join after she finish her studies in Abbot, many of my friends have told me that Wellesley will be a very desirable college for her.” In answer to this I replied: “The new school year is well under way. Mary should complete her course at Abbot Academy next June. If she is to go on to college, as you initiate, my preference will be for Mount Holykole or Wellesley.” The above was written on the assumption, of course, that Mary would required further preparation, and that Mr. Sun himself had not fully made up his mind to the desirability of the advanced college work. I did not feel it wise for Mary to change schools again, in middle of the year. From that time on, further and somewhat stronger intimation come to me from the children that college for Mary was becoming a mere definite issue in her father’s mind. I also gathered that the extra year or two of preparation would prove distasteful to both Mr.Sun and Mary and that Mary herself was hoping to enter some so-called college of inferior grade that would not require further preparation. Knowing something about American institutions of this class, I could not believe that Mr.Sun would approve of any such course, and I frankly told Mary so. It was and still is my opinion that in speaking of “college” Mr.Sun had definitely in mind a college of the first rank, and not a college in name only. Consequently, and with these ideas in my mind, I wrote Mr. Sun at considerable length and in detail just before Christmas, asking for definite instructions as to the course I was to pursue in order to carry out his wishes. I explained very fully that they general course Mary was now taking would not permit her to enter a good college, and that further preparation of a year at least, and perhaps more, would be required. I told him, further, that if college was to be the definite goal, I should doubtless feel it necessary to sever at once Mary’s connection with her present school, Abbot Academy, and place her either in a small school or with a tutor where intensive work in preparation for college admission could be had. I explained that such a course would be drastic and upsetting, and in view of this fact I did not feel justified in adopting it without Mr.Sun’s full approval. I asked Mr.Sun, therefore, if he would carefully consider the facts I had stated and write me fully and definitely what I should do. Several days ago, and prompted by the receipt of my letter, Mr.Sun cabled me the brief messages, - “Prepare Mary for college”. I confess that the message distressed me a good bit, for I did not like the idea of making another change only two or three months before Mary would have completed the Abbot course, but under the circumstances and in view of the detail with which I had explained in my letter to Mr. Sun, I could see no alternative but to support the decision and follow instructions. I took several days to search carefully and make numerous inquiries among college and school authorities as to a suitable school, and finally decided on the Whittier School at Merrimac, about fifteen miles from here, a home school of some twenty-five or thirty girls with a distinctly cultured and Christian atmosphere, and where I am told excellent work can be counted on. Then I made the change, the purposely rather abruptly because it seemed to me that Mary’s distress would only be intensified if the strain was prolonged. I also withheld from Mary for the first two days a flood of letters from her former schoolmates and teachers, the receipt of which at the very outset of the new venture would only have been disconcerting. This I explained to Mary by telephone, and forwarded all the letters in question that same day. I mention this last merely because Mary showed in a note which she wrote to me that she felt that unduly severe measures were being taken by me, but for what reason she could not seemingly understand. I am really very troubled over the whole situation, for I cannot help feeling that Mary is perfectly justified in being greatly distressed over the sudden and unexpected turn in affairs, and yet I cannot see how I could have acted otherwise in view of Mr.Sun’s definite instructions. Had I been able to talk with Mr.Sun in person and explain all the ins and outs, I have no doubt that we could have come to a mutually satisfactory decision as to the best course to pursue. The long distance between us and the extensive time which most elapse between the sending and receipt of letter complicate the problem immensely. It has been very hard, therefore, for me to reach satisfactory decisions and to carry them out, feeling, as I do, that the wisest setps may not always been taken in this way and that a clearer understanding on my part of Mr.Sun’s exact wishes and a clearer understanding on his part of the factors and complications involved at this end would very probably prompt us to decisions somewhere different from these arrived at. I hope you will pardon this long and somewhat detailed letter, but since Mary has evidently placed her case before you, I think it is only fair that you should understand the reasons for the action which Mary herself could hardly regard with anything but questionings and distress. The last report I had from the school indicates that Mary’s intense reaction has lessened distinctly and I hope and believe that within a reasonable time she will enjoy the new surroundings and friends and be able to settle down to definite and hard work of preparing for college in accordance with her father’s expressed wishes. With personal regards and the assurance of my readiness to consider carefully any suggestions you may feel disposed to make in this matter, believe me, Very sincerely yours, https://chinesestudents.andover.edu/files/original/93df8a059f019441a78227c88d3d3967.jpg c275fca4e89226a5de139f74389af4e6 https://chinesestudents.andover.edu/files/original/70f01324ae9aac97d2d3959c302ebb49.jpg f37d1fe0c98121df4fc375c57fa4a5e5 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Box 28 Folder 1 Mary Sun, Head of School (Stearns) Records Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Letter from Dr. Alfred E. Stearns to Miss Mary Sun, March 3, 1926 Subject The topic of the resource Letter from Dr. Alfred E. Stearns to Miss Mary Sun, March 3, 1926 Description An account of the resource Typed letter sent from Dr. Alfred E. Stearns to Mary Sun. States he doesn't want to deprive her of friends and if Mrs. Russell feels a visit is proper, he has no issue. Explains the group of Abbot girls, including Miss Shapleigh, tried to visit without proper arrangements or checking in with the headmaster of the school they were visiting. Believes her time should be dedicated to schoolwork, since the college prep work is different from her previous courses. States visits are for vacations. States all he has done was based on her father's instruction. Does not appreciate Mary's notion that Stearns has been unfair. Believes allowing Mary to attend Abbot was mistake, as authorities there disregarded his instructions from the beginning. Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Dr. Alfred E. Stearns Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Phillips Academy Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource March 3, 1926 Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource All Rights Reserved By Phillips Academy Language A language of the resource English Type The nature or genre of the resource Correspondence Relation A related resource March 3, 1926 Dear Mary Sun The Whittier School Merrimac, Massachusetts Dear Mary: Your note of March first has Just reached me. Probably this letter is unnecessary, as a letter which I mailed you only yesterday should have brought to you a dearer understanding of my attitude and feelings. The last thing in the world that I wish to do is to deprive you of good friends. If in this case Mrs. Bussell feels that a visit from one of the Abbot Academy girls is proper and can be arranged for a time that will not interfere your school work, I shall be perfectly willing to have the plan go through. On the other hand I strongly object to such a visit as Miss Shapleigh and a group of girls made you the other day, without taking the trouble to inquire from the head of the school whether it was proper or not or at what time visits were expected. Visits of that kind are completely upsetting to any school as well as to the girls concerned, and are not tolerated in any first-class school of my acquaintance. Was Shapleigh herself should have known that. The one object that I have in mind is that, in accordance with your father's definite wishes, you should give the bulk of your time and thought to the important work which is now yours, and which largely because of its novelty will require the most of your time and the best of your effort. The constant writing and receipt of letters and too many visits from friends would simply wreck the whole plan. Vacations are the times for such things, and they should be kept at the lowest limit in term-time. One of the reasons why I hesitated to choose a school so near at hand was just this very thing, and if we can't control it otherwise, I am afraid that we shall have to look for a school much farther away.  Frankly, Mary, I am getting a bit sensitive over your constant references to my seeming desire to deprive you of legitimate interests and deal unduly severely with you. Tour father has given me his confidence and asked a very definite thing of me. What I have tried to do for you through all these years has been wholly with a view to your best interests, and in the way that your father and I have felt those interests could best be attained. In many ways this has been a thankless job and a hard one, largely because of a seemly lack of appreciation on your part and a readiness to misinterpret my motives and aims. Since my instructions come almost wholly from your father, I do not see how you can entertain this feeling but that it is there has been very apparent, and increasingly so in recent months. Evidently I made a very serious mistake when I allowed you to go to Abbot as a boarder, for the tendency of the authorities there from the start has been to disregard my feelings and desires and arrange your affairs with little, if any, consultation with me. I feel that this is largely at the basis of your present unrest, and if I did not believe that that same influence would continue in a measure from that source, I should recommend with far greater satisfaction the prospects of continued contacts with your old friends there. Regretting deeply the necessity of writing you in just this vein, but in the belief that it is necessary for me to be in a measure severely frank because of the numerous insinuations contained in your recent note, believe me always and with your best interests constantly in my mind, Very sincerely yours, Dr. Alfred E. Stearns Mary Sun