25 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/914100f8dc6b5975179c9b164c2ba59f.jpg cce4761bd3dd059211b8f7b8aa041667 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 Charles Sun to Dr. A.E. Stearns, March 22, 1926 Subject The topic of the resource Letter from Charles Sun to Dr. A.E. Stearns, March 22, 1926 Description An account of the resource Typed letter sent from Charles Sun to Dr. Alfred E. Stearns. Requests additional money. Wants to take a job in restaurant to make up for extra money spent in the fall. Asks about the flu epidemic at Andover. States flu and scarlet fever hit his school. States dogs have suffered hydrophobia, biting several children. Asks how Mary is doing, since he hasn't heard much from her. Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Charles Sun 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 Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of 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 35 Woodside Ave Amherst, Mass. March 22, 1926 Dear Dr. Stearns: Next week I shall be very busy with my examinations; so I thought it will be well for me to write a letter now. My money is decreasing add I beg you to send my allowce for the spring term. This time three hundred dollars ought to do the work; I spent too much last fall and I like to make it up a little somehow. Next year, as you know, the college is going to have a restaurant of its own, and I have been thinking of working there. Do you think it is advisable? It wont be too much; other fellows do it all right; I don’t see why I can’t. In case it gets to be troublesome to my studies, I will drop the job, and I am sure there will be others to fill my place; so it will not be deserting the college. I heard from Prof Eastman that there has been an epidemic of inluenza at Andover; I hope that you are all well. I have not heard from Tom for quite a while, but I imagine he is all right too. In Amherst we not only had the flu but a little scharlet fever also; I luckily escape both thus far. Diseases not only attacked men alone but animals also, for the dogs around town here are many victims of hydrophobia. Several children were bitten but there were no serious consequences. Just today another dog got loose of charged a little girl and the policeman had to shoot it. Have you heard from Mary lately? I wrote her a good long letter in respond to her threatening message from Whittier School, later I sent her a card on her birthday, out I heard not a word from her. I don’t what is up now. She is really a mystry to me. Yours truly, Charlie Sun 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/2401a60d83cddd4844fed43816d3b739.jpg 6ee900a77e3de5534b5e163ca00de824 https://chinesestudents.andover.edu/files/original/6958c2ab5a6d2dcb945d8351af60e60e.jpg 92ab55fce32813ebc4d204611022f125 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 Mary Sun to Mr Stearns, March 14, 1926 Subject The topic of the resource Letter from Mary Sun to Mr Stearns, March 14, 1926 Description An account of the resource Handwritten letter sent from Mary Sun to Dr. Alfred E. Stearns. Plans to head to Washington for Easter vacation. Wishes to visit Andover to pick up clothes and talk with Stearns. Discusses schoolwork. Works hard but feels like she isn't learning enough. Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Mary Sun 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 14, 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 Mary Sun 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/09372894a8e5e692c6a4440113bfa396.jpg e3e4545cb9c7f0b48bc3990cd984a5df https://chinesestudents.andover.edu/files/original/d64bdbe6c609f0b7deba3003868d483e.jpg 1500ab4e6b416acf7925783b9eef8bb6 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 C.Y. Sun to Dr. A.E. Stearns, February 3, 1926 Subject The topic of the resource Letter from C.Y. Sun to Dr. A.E. Stearns, February 3, 1926 Description An account of the resource Typed letter sent from C.Y. Sun to Dr. Alfred E. Stearns. Wishes for Tom to have another year of prepatory work for college courses. Wonders if course in fine art or music would suit him better. Hopes cablegram to prepare Mary for college arrived in time. Prefers Mary goes to Welsley College. Leaves matter of Mary's college choice to Stearns. Approves Mary's wish to take a literary course. Disapproves Mary's intention to study nursing. Hopes Arthur joins a railway for some experience before returning to China. Discusses current civil war and fighting in China. Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource C.Y. Sun 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 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 My dear Dr. Stearns: I beg to acknowledge the receipt of your letter dated Dec. 18, last and the enclosed statement of accounts which I found all correct. Your timely letter has given me much enlightenment as to how all the boys and Mary are getting on with their studies. I am specially pleased to learn that all of them at present seem to be working with excellent spirit. Your kind caution to Quincy Sheh about his health and your request to the new physical director at Bowdoin to take a special interest in him are highly appreciated by his family. I am also extremely happy to learn your opinion about Charles. As time advances I suppose he may, by now, get used to his new surroundings and college life. With reference to Tommy, you had mentioned in your letter of Sept. 11 th last that " he is hardly fitted for a regular College Course and that perhaps a business Course after all will be the best thing for him” and again in your letter of Dec.I8th last that ”a business Course seems just now to be probably the best thing for Tom to aim at and that which is most likely to fit in with his individual abilities and needs.” Judging from these statements it seems to me that he has not the qualification to take up a regular College Course. After so much trouble and expense on my part and the untiring kind attention you have given him I certainly wish that he ought to have the required qualifications for a regular College Course even though he may choose the business Course as the only alternative. I would feel inclined to give him another year of preparatory work for entering College if that is necessary. As a second thought I wonder if a course in fine art and music or the like would not develop and meet better his natural inclinations, seeing that his talent and intelligence are not on the equal with other boys. However, you shall always have my full authority to decide as to what is best for him or what profession and college course he ought to take. Concerning Mary’s taking up a college education I hope my cable in January (prepare Mary for College. Sun.) has reached you in time to make the necessary adjustment about her preparatory studies. Regarding to the choice of College I would, indeed, respect your views. There now are many returned girl students from your country. Those Chinese young ladles as well as American ladies whom I have met, the majority of them are from Wellesley College. It is also interesting to note that the American College fraternity spirit is already enjoying its due significance and the Wellesley graduates have a good representation out here. Should Mary be qualified to enter Wellesley she would find, upon her return to China, many fellow collegians which may mean a good deal to her future. With her natural reserved inclination, perhaps her disposition will not be effected by the radical elements of Wellesley College if she is to enter that college. I should, however, still leave the matter to your decision. Sometime ago Mary had written about her intention to take up a literary course with the object to teach and later she had intimated that she hopes to study nursing. She may take up a literary training or a course in Arts and Science but her intention to study nursing is not approved. I suppose Arthur will graduate in the fall. If so, I hope you will be kind enough to arrange for him to join some railway so that he may acquire the necessary practical experience for one or two years before he comes home. Knowing that you are deeply interested in the welfare of China I have much pleasure to inform you that because of the unceasing foolish civil war the merchants all over the country has through the Chambers of Commerce taken concerted action to invite the contending militarists to meet at a conference in Shanghai where they will be pressed to stop fighting and to settle their difference in a gentleman way. Though too much hope can not be attached to the success of such a step nevertheless the merchants and the people are making themselves known that they have a like share and equal voice in the affairs of the State. They are also awakening the militarists to realize the strength of the peace loving merchants. With my highest regards and many thanks to your invaluable kind attention. Yours very Sincerely, - I have instructed certain London Bank to remit you five thousand dollars gold before Jan.10th and hope the same has reached you. As all the other boys except Tom and Mary have a big credit balance I hope you will divide this sum in such a way so that each of them will have an equal amount of available fund in credit. I have just received word from Dr.Alfred Sze our Minister to Washington to the effect that he & his Wife wish to ask Mary to spent the next Summer with them, if by that time they are still in America. With your approval please tell Mary to accept their invitation, provided she may not have to give up the Summer Class to prepare her for the College examination. C.Y.Sun 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/929962955b6e51b7ffefdc12cdd3698e.jpg db2aa85390d4bd6cd93852aa6df1b187 https://chinesestudents.andover.edu/files/original/1cc4a2984fd57fdd1849b7fb5c81b0be.jpg e5f3e0582b9f6210fe33df016166dfe4 https://chinesestudents.andover.edu/files/original/c37e3e4bed698e106cc31af82e30c897.jpg 89cf4ae558b9c4e390ed2fdc25236869 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 Mary Sun to Mr. Stearns, March 5, 1926 Subject The topic of the resource Letter from Mary Sun to Mr. Stearns, March 5, 1926 Description An account of the resource Handwritten letter sent by Mary Sun to Dr. Alfred E. Stearns. Apologizes for the previous letter. States she misunderstood Mrs. Russell in regards to the no visitors on schooldays rule. Explains she had no idea Miss Shapleigh and others from Abbot were planning to visit. Wishes to speak in person about events, since she cannot express herself adequately in writing. States she has no time to do her writing except on Sunday. Asks what Mrs. Russell has said about her work. Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Mary Sun 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 5, 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 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