Letter from Dr. Alfred E. Stearns to Admiral Tsai Ting-Kan, October 6, 1926
Dublin Core
Title
Letter from Dr. Alfred E. Stearns to Admiral Tsai Ting-Kan, October 6, 1926
Subject
Letter from Dr. Alfred E. Stearns to Admiral Tsai Ting-Kan, October 6, 1926
Description
Typed letter sent from Dr. Alfred E. Stearns to Admiral Tsai Ting-Kan about becoming the Tsai children's guardian during their time in America. Explains he been a guardian for 25 years to 60-70 Chinese boys. States his experience with girls is limited and Mary Sun was his first female ward. States the children will spend a year at home-school environment, with focus on English. Explains Alfred Tsai is at The Stearns School in Mont Vernon, New Hampshire. Explains Helen Tsai is at Whittier School in Merrimac Massachusetts. Apologizes for not finding schools in the same town, though they are close by.
Transcription
Admiral Tsai, Ting-Kan
9 Ma Ta Jen
Huting, East City
Peking, China
My dear Mr. Tsai:
At the request of your minister to this country, Dr. Sao-Ke Alfred Sze, I have welcomed the opportunity to act as American guardian for your two children while they are studying in this country. My experience with girls has been limited, thought I have served in this capacity during the past twenty-five years for some sixty or seventy Chinese boys. Mary Sun of Tientsin, who is my ward at the present time, is the only Chinese girl I have hitherto had the opportunity to direct. However, with Mrs.Sze’s generous help I shall be ready and glad to do what I can to aid Helen in making the most of her American experience.
Both the children came to Andover, at my request, about two weeks ago. Up to that time I knew nothing of their previous school work or what kind of work would be required for the current school year. After talking with them, I was clear that they heeded, as so many of our Chinese students have required, a year each in a small school that we term the home school style, where special stress would be laid on the English language, both spoken and written. It seemed evident that they would be wholly unable to carry the ordinary work of a large school without this foundation. Consequently, plans were made for them on this basis and I trust you will approve.
Alfred has been placed at my brother’s school in Mont Vernon, New Hampshire, a home school of some thirty or thirty-five boys where the family atmosphere that prevails will undoubtedly help make the year a happy and profitable one for him. Several of our Chinese boys have started in this same school and have then come to us for the higher work and well qualified to meet the higher tests. I feel sure that this will prove true in Alfred’s case, for he seems exceptionally eager to learn and to make the most of the opportunities you have offered him here.
Helen has been placed in another home school of about twenty-five girls, known as the Whittier School and located at Merrimac, Massachusetts, a small town about fifteen miles from Andover. The atmosphere of this school is particularly wholesome, Mrs. Russell, the principal, being one of the old-fashioned wholesome New England type, a woman of culture and refinement and real Christian character. She had some experience with Mary Sun last year and so is fully prepared to provide for the wants of this newcomer.
I am sorry that I could not arrange schools for the two children in the same town, but it seemed out of the question to do this and at the same time provide for each the special type of school needed at the moment. However, they are not far away from each other or from me, and I feel confident that we shall be able to arrange occasional meetings which will tend to dispel tendencies to loneliness. Further, I am sure that both of the children are so naturally adaptable and of such unnaturally friendly and responsive deposition that they will readily and happily fit into the new surroundings with enjoyment and profit.
I know that I shall thoroughly enjoy the privilege of guiding and helping your children during their American life. Certainly in all my experience I have never met two who were at the outset more friendly and responsive than they have shown themselves to be. They are altogether delightful and I hope most earnestly that in their careers here they may realize your highest ambitions and hopes for them; Please feel perfectly free to criticize , suggest or advise me in any way that will help me to carry out to the best advantage your wishes for them.
Very sincerely yours.
9 Ma Ta Jen
Huting, East City
Peking, China
My dear Mr. Tsai:
At the request of your minister to this country, Dr. Sao-Ke Alfred Sze, I have welcomed the opportunity to act as American guardian for your two children while they are studying in this country. My experience with girls has been limited, thought I have served in this capacity during the past twenty-five years for some sixty or seventy Chinese boys. Mary Sun of Tientsin, who is my ward at the present time, is the only Chinese girl I have hitherto had the opportunity to direct. However, with Mrs.Sze’s generous help I shall be ready and glad to do what I can to aid Helen in making the most of her American experience.
Both the children came to Andover, at my request, about two weeks ago. Up to that time I knew nothing of their previous school work or what kind of work would be required for the current school year. After talking with them, I was clear that they heeded, as so many of our Chinese students have required, a year each in a small school that we term the home school style, where special stress would be laid on the English language, both spoken and written. It seemed evident that they would be wholly unable to carry the ordinary work of a large school without this foundation. Consequently, plans were made for them on this basis and I trust you will approve.
Alfred has been placed at my brother’s school in Mont Vernon, New Hampshire, a home school of some thirty or thirty-five boys where the family atmosphere that prevails will undoubtedly help make the year a happy and profitable one for him. Several of our Chinese boys have started in this same school and have then come to us for the higher work and well qualified to meet the higher tests. I feel sure that this will prove true in Alfred’s case, for he seems exceptionally eager to learn and to make the most of the opportunities you have offered him here.
Helen has been placed in another home school of about twenty-five girls, known as the Whittier School and located at Merrimac, Massachusetts, a small town about fifteen miles from Andover. The atmosphere of this school is particularly wholesome, Mrs. Russell, the principal, being one of the old-fashioned wholesome New England type, a woman of culture and refinement and real Christian character. She had some experience with Mary Sun last year and so is fully prepared to provide for the wants of this newcomer.
I am sorry that I could not arrange schools for the two children in the same town, but it seemed out of the question to do this and at the same time provide for each the special type of school needed at the moment. However, they are not far away from each other or from me, and I feel confident that we shall be able to arrange occasional meetings which will tend to dispel tendencies to loneliness. Further, I am sure that both of the children are so naturally adaptable and of such unnaturally friendly and responsive deposition that they will readily and happily fit into the new surroundings with enjoyment and profit.
I know that I shall thoroughly enjoy the privilege of guiding and helping your children during their American life. Certainly in all my experience I have never met two who were at the outset more friendly and responsive than they have shown themselves to be. They are altogether delightful and I hope most earnestly that in their careers here they may realize your highest ambitions and hopes for them; Please feel perfectly free to criticize , suggest or advise me in any way that will help me to carry out to the best advantage your wishes for them.
Very sincerely yours.
Creator
Dr. Alfred E. Stearns
Publisher
Phillips Academy
Date
October 6, 1926
Rights
All Rights Reserved By Phillips Academy
Language
English
Type
Manuscripts. Correspondence.