Letter from C.Y. Sun to Dr. A.E. Stearns, February 3, 1926
Dublin Core
Title
Letter from C.Y. Sun to Dr. A.E. Stearns, February 3, 1926
Subject
Letter from C.Y. Sun to Dr. A.E. Stearns, February 3, 1926
Description
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.
Transcription
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.
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.
Creator
C.Y. Sun
Publisher
Phillips Academy
Date
February 3, 1926
Rights
All Rights Reserved By Phillips Academy
Language
English
Type
Correspondence