Letter from Tsai Ting-kan to Dr. Alfred E. Stearns, November 8, 1926
Dublin Core
Title
Letter from Tsai Ting-kan to Dr. Alfred E. Stearns, November 8, 1926
Subject
Letter from Tsai Ting-kan to Dr. Alfred E. Stearns, November 8, 1926
Description
Typed letter sent from Tsai Ting-Kan to Dr. Alfred E. Stearns about his children's education in America. Is happy the children were placed in excellent schools. Discussed his time as a student in America. Provides information about Helen and Alfred Tsai. Explains Alfred is hard of hearing due to one fully ruptured ear drum and the other partially. States it may explain his inattention. Asks to provide Alfred with glasses if needed. Wants the children to have physical exercise for health, but no intense athletic training. Leaves matter of monthly allowance to Stearns. Relays advice and warnings given to the children. Includes rules for skating and swimming. Wants children to interact with English speaking students. Enclosed check for expenses. States Dr. Sze also has a check for expenses and the remainder will be sent to Stearns for the children.
Transcription
Peking, November 8, 1926
Dr. A. U. Stearns,
Principal, Phillips Academy,
Andover, Mass.
My dear Dr. Stearns,
Your kind and welcomed letter dated October 6, arrived safely. It was good news from afar! When I translated it to my wife and children they were overjoyed and congratulated Helen and Alfred for their good fortune in being placed in such excellent schools.
When I was 14 years old I studied in Lowell, Mass. On my arrival in New England (1873) I was first placed in Springfield, Mass., for little over half a year. I was never in New Hampshire but I know it is the native state of Daniel Webster.
When I made up my mind to send the children to the States I wrote to Dr. Sze to assist me in placing them in proper schools and to avoid Immigration difficulties. He kindly promised so I gave him full power to act.
Helen is physically strong, and democratic in spirit. She is never fussy about food or clothing. She is also a good mixer. I do hope that Mrs. Russell will be more than a teacher to her. Being so far from home and now deprived of her mother's guidance I do pray that Mrs. Russell will be a mother to Helen who needs all kinds of advice and counsel as a young woman naturally needs. My wife may write to Helen but writing from a distance is not to be compared with personal talk on the spot.
Alfred is also active and enterprising but not so strong physically as his sister. One of his ear drums is entirely destroyed and the other partially so. He is hard of hearing until Dr. Hammond, an American doctor, attended him for a year and improved his hearing somewhat. I inform you of this fact so that in case he does not catch on with what the teachers say or seems to misunderstand what is told him this physical defect may explain his apparent inattention. Will you kindly let your brother, the principal of the Mont Vernon school, know the fact so that Alfred's ears may be attended to from time to time, or whenever necessary to consult the doctor. His eyes also troubled him at one time and if he needs the wearing of glasses, please fit him with a pair.
I want the children to have all the physical exercise they need for health but intensive training like that for a professional athlete I do not recommend. I have never
known a prize winner in athletics to be an octagenarian and the reason seems to be that in his training days had overstrained, certain vital parts, not feeling the effects till later on in life. Heart strain seems to be the chief result.
Winter is now coming on and a pair of skates for each would be gratifying to them.
I have no suggestion to make about their monthly allowance as pocket money. It is too far away to judge and things have changed since I was there as a school-boy, I leave the matter entirely to your good judgment to settle with the children themselves. Sufficient but not too much to encourage extravagance, and not too little to appear niggardly - the Golden mean is the Golden rule. For Christmas allowance please give them something extra, sufficient for them to treat their chums and school-mates with a sense of good fellowship. This special extra I again leave to your good judgment.
In the matter of skating I have already written to them not to get on the ice too early because it may be too thin. In the early spring they should not get on too late because the ice may then be thawing,
I learnt swimming in the Concard river, I have formulated two rules for them to follow. First: when learning to swim never go into water deeper than the chest. The Chinese adage is this: If you do not want to drown be sure to have your hands and feet touch the bottom and your nose out of the water. Second: When learning to swim always begin on a sloping bottom. Avoid an abrupt bank which invariably indicates that the scouring force of the river there is great and the current is swift.
Sliding down hill in winter is a delightful pastime but I was once knocked unconscious in Hartford in a winter night.
I am glad the children are not associated with many Chinese students. They will now not be able to talk Chinese together to interfere with their English studies. If it is possible to arrange for them to meet once awhile they will consider it a great treat. Mrs. Tsai and myself will be grateful to you, to Mrs, Russell and to Mr, Stearns, your brother, for all parental considerations to the children. They need every kind of advice, help and suggestion. Between intellectual efficiency and moral rectitude I prefer that they acquire the latter. Perhaps some of the tips and wrinkles in this letter may be shown to Mrs. Russell and Mr. Stearns, your brother. I will write to both soon.
I enclose a check for two thousand dollars U.S. Currency which kindly place under the account for the children’s education. Some months ago, before the children sailed for the States I remitted to Dr. Sze four thousand dollars gold for the children's education. He wrote me that he intended to hand over all the money to you after deducting certain sundry expenses which they may incur while in Washington.
The Hongkong and Shanghai bank is well known in New York and Boston but if you have any difficulty in cashing the check Dr. Sze will no doubt put his signature to it to guarantee the transaction.
I have written to the children that they have your good will and that we all have high hopes of them. It is therefore imperative on their part to maintain this good will by hard study and good behavior. I thought they need a little encouragement. Don't you think so?
With renewed thanks for your kind - interest in the children and for placing them in such excellent schools and with best wishes.
Yours very sincerely,
Tsai Ting-kan
Dr. A. U. Stearns,
Principal, Phillips Academy,
Andover, Mass.
My dear Dr. Stearns,
Your kind and welcomed letter dated October 6, arrived safely. It was good news from afar! When I translated it to my wife and children they were overjoyed and congratulated Helen and Alfred for their good fortune in being placed in such excellent schools.
When I was 14 years old I studied in Lowell, Mass. On my arrival in New England (1873) I was first placed in Springfield, Mass., for little over half a year. I was never in New Hampshire but I know it is the native state of Daniel Webster.
When I made up my mind to send the children to the States I wrote to Dr. Sze to assist me in placing them in proper schools and to avoid Immigration difficulties. He kindly promised so I gave him full power to act.
Helen is physically strong, and democratic in spirit. She is never fussy about food or clothing. She is also a good mixer. I do hope that Mrs. Russell will be more than a teacher to her. Being so far from home and now deprived of her mother's guidance I do pray that Mrs. Russell will be a mother to Helen who needs all kinds of advice and counsel as a young woman naturally needs. My wife may write to Helen but writing from a distance is not to be compared with personal talk on the spot.
Alfred is also active and enterprising but not so strong physically as his sister. One of his ear drums is entirely destroyed and the other partially so. He is hard of hearing until Dr. Hammond, an American doctor, attended him for a year and improved his hearing somewhat. I inform you of this fact so that in case he does not catch on with what the teachers say or seems to misunderstand what is told him this physical defect may explain his apparent inattention. Will you kindly let your brother, the principal of the Mont Vernon school, know the fact so that Alfred's ears may be attended to from time to time, or whenever necessary to consult the doctor. His eyes also troubled him at one time and if he needs the wearing of glasses, please fit him with a pair.
I want the children to have all the physical exercise they need for health but intensive training like that for a professional athlete I do not recommend. I have never
known a prize winner in athletics to be an octagenarian and the reason seems to be that in his training days had overstrained, certain vital parts, not feeling the effects till later on in life. Heart strain seems to be the chief result.
Winter is now coming on and a pair of skates for each would be gratifying to them.
I have no suggestion to make about their monthly allowance as pocket money. It is too far away to judge and things have changed since I was there as a school-boy, I leave the matter entirely to your good judgment to settle with the children themselves. Sufficient but not too much to encourage extravagance, and not too little to appear niggardly - the Golden mean is the Golden rule. For Christmas allowance please give them something extra, sufficient for them to treat their chums and school-mates with a sense of good fellowship. This special extra I again leave to your good judgment.
In the matter of skating I have already written to them not to get on the ice too early because it may be too thin. In the early spring they should not get on too late because the ice may then be thawing,
I learnt swimming in the Concard river, I have formulated two rules for them to follow. First: when learning to swim never go into water deeper than the chest. The Chinese adage is this: If you do not want to drown be sure to have your hands and feet touch the bottom and your nose out of the water. Second: When learning to swim always begin on a sloping bottom. Avoid an abrupt bank which invariably indicates that the scouring force of the river there is great and the current is swift.
Sliding down hill in winter is a delightful pastime but I was once knocked unconscious in Hartford in a winter night.
I am glad the children are not associated with many Chinese students. They will now not be able to talk Chinese together to interfere with their English studies. If it is possible to arrange for them to meet once awhile they will consider it a great treat. Mrs. Tsai and myself will be grateful to you, to Mrs, Russell and to Mr, Stearns, your brother, for all parental considerations to the children. They need every kind of advice, help and suggestion. Between intellectual efficiency and moral rectitude I prefer that they acquire the latter. Perhaps some of the tips and wrinkles in this letter may be shown to Mrs. Russell and Mr. Stearns, your brother. I will write to both soon.
I enclose a check for two thousand dollars U.S. Currency which kindly place under the account for the children’s education. Some months ago, before the children sailed for the States I remitted to Dr. Sze four thousand dollars gold for the children's education. He wrote me that he intended to hand over all the money to you after deducting certain sundry expenses which they may incur while in Washington.
The Hongkong and Shanghai bank is well known in New York and Boston but if you have any difficulty in cashing the check Dr. Sze will no doubt put his signature to it to guarantee the transaction.
I have written to the children that they have your good will and that we all have high hopes of them. It is therefore imperative on their part to maintain this good will by hard study and good behavior. I thought they need a little encouragement. Don't you think so?
With renewed thanks for your kind - interest in the children and for placing them in such excellent schools and with best wishes.
Yours very sincerely,
Tsai Ting-kan
Creator
Tsai Ting-Kan
Publisher
Phillips Academy
Date
November 8, 1926
Rights
All Rights Reserved By Phillips Academy
Language
English
Type
Manuscripts. Correspondence.