Letter from M.T. Liang, Tientsin, to Alfred E. Stearns, July 25, 1920
Dublin Core
Title
Letter from M.T. Liang, Tientsin, to Alfred E. Stearns, July 25, 1920
Subject
Letter from M.T. Liang, Tientsin, to Alfred E. Stearns, July 25, 1920
Transcription
Dear Dr. Stearns,
I take the liberty to advise the sailing of 5 Chinese boys and 1 girl viz:-
Author K. I. Sun ( age 20 )
Charles K. H. Sun (age 13 )
Thomas K. J. Sun ( age 12 )
Miss Mary Sun ( age 15 )
Quincy Q. S. Sheh ( age 16 ) and
Frank O.F. Lin ( age 17 )
on 23rd August next from Shanghai by s/s Nanking which is due at San Francisco on 25th. September
These youngsters are the children of some of our prominent citizens here whose fathers desire me to place them entirely in your charge, the acceptance of which, I need hardly assure you, would very deeply appreciated by all concerned. If, on the other hand, pressure of work would not permit you to undertake the guardianship of them, any one you may appoint in this behalf would equally oblige us here. As stated above, these youngsters are timed to arrive at San Francisco on 15th. September in company of a large batch (80) of Students from our Tsing-hua College. According to the present arrangement come to, they are to stop over at San Francisco for 3 or 4 days when they would rail over to Chicago and there separate, going to the different schools that have assigned them. The children of my friends referred to will join the party destined for Boston which they expect to reach on or about 25th. September and on arriving there, will wire you the date and time of their arrival at Andorver [sic] when, if convenient to you, some one may be sent to the station to take charge of them. This is thought advisable here as these youngsters have never before been away from China, all of these young people have had some years of English schooling here but how far advanced they are and what schools they should enter you would be the best to form an opinion after seeing them and knowing the courses they have been through.
They may be put into any institution you may think best to assign them and if they have to take board and lodging outside of their schools it is the wish of their parents here that they join some Christian homes and be given a training that would tend to strengthen their character, both morally and intellectually. Although they are from well-to-do families, the people desire them to practice economy and thrift as American boys are enjoined upon to do at all times.
Briefly, as they are handed over to you, your authority over them, will be undivided in every respect. Friends from China may occasionally visit them during their sojourn in the States but any suggestion or advice which these friends may proffer will have effect only upon your approval.
After the completion of their preparatory course they may enter any college or Scientific institution as you may select for them after learning the profession for which they are best fitted. On this, their parents anticipate in due time suggestions from you.
The parents of these young people will write you themselves, on the departure of their children enclosing drafts which will be sent along with them. The amount so sent will suffice for their 6 months expenses, with further remittances following to meet their requirements.
To minimize correspondence in respect of these youngsters, it is suggested that you only communicate with Mr. Chang Pah Lung, Russo-Asiatic Bank, Tientsin, China, when he would attend to all matters pertaining to them at this end. This Mr. Chang Pah Lung, you will recollect, is also to have his boy, Chang Shao Ling in your charge about which I wrote you about 2 months ago.
Now Dr, Stearns, the parents of these children are fully aware of the work they are imposing upon you by asking you to take charge of them during their educational course in America and the reason for their taking this liberty is the perfect assurance that with them in your hands they would be best moulded for their future usefulness. I therefore, bespeak for them the favor of your kind offices.
With very kind regards to your goodself, Miss Clement and the children.
Yours very truly,
P. S.
After the closing of the letter, the parents of the children desire me to reiterate that they most fervently wish that their children, at least the younger ones and in particular the girl, be put at first in some Christian families to enable them to learn and be early impressed with the ways of American home life which they so much admire. However, whatever you may decide for their best will have their entire approval here.
I take the liberty to advise the sailing of 5 Chinese boys and 1 girl viz:-
Author K. I. Sun ( age 20 )
Charles K. H. Sun (age 13 )
Thomas K. J. Sun ( age 12 )
Miss Mary Sun ( age 15 )
Quincy Q. S. Sheh ( age 16 ) and
Frank O.F. Lin ( age 17 )
on 23rd August next from Shanghai by s/s Nanking which is due at San Francisco on 25th. September
These youngsters are the children of some of our prominent citizens here whose fathers desire me to place them entirely in your charge, the acceptance of which, I need hardly assure you, would very deeply appreciated by all concerned. If, on the other hand, pressure of work would not permit you to undertake the guardianship of them, any one you may appoint in this behalf would equally oblige us here. As stated above, these youngsters are timed to arrive at San Francisco on 15th. September in company of a large batch (80) of Students from our Tsing-hua College. According to the present arrangement come to, they are to stop over at San Francisco for 3 or 4 days when they would rail over to Chicago and there separate, going to the different schools that have assigned them. The children of my friends referred to will join the party destined for Boston which they expect to reach on or about 25th. September and on arriving there, will wire you the date and time of their arrival at Andorver [sic] when, if convenient to you, some one may be sent to the station to take charge of them. This is thought advisable here as these youngsters have never before been away from China, all of these young people have had some years of English schooling here but how far advanced they are and what schools they should enter you would be the best to form an opinion after seeing them and knowing the courses they have been through.
They may be put into any institution you may think best to assign them and if they have to take board and lodging outside of their schools it is the wish of their parents here that they join some Christian homes and be given a training that would tend to strengthen their character, both morally and intellectually. Although they are from well-to-do families, the people desire them to practice economy and thrift as American boys are enjoined upon to do at all times.
Briefly, as they are handed over to you, your authority over them, will be undivided in every respect. Friends from China may occasionally visit them during their sojourn in the States but any suggestion or advice which these friends may proffer will have effect only upon your approval.
After the completion of their preparatory course they may enter any college or Scientific institution as you may select for them after learning the profession for which they are best fitted. On this, their parents anticipate in due time suggestions from you.
The parents of these young people will write you themselves, on the departure of their children enclosing drafts which will be sent along with them. The amount so sent will suffice for their 6 months expenses, with further remittances following to meet their requirements.
To minimize correspondence in respect of these youngsters, it is suggested that you only communicate with Mr. Chang Pah Lung, Russo-Asiatic Bank, Tientsin, China, when he would attend to all matters pertaining to them at this end. This Mr. Chang Pah Lung, you will recollect, is also to have his boy, Chang Shao Ling in your charge about which I wrote you about 2 months ago.
Now Dr, Stearns, the parents of these children are fully aware of the work they are imposing upon you by asking you to take charge of them during their educational course in America and the reason for their taking this liberty is the perfect assurance that with them in your hands they would be best moulded for their future usefulness. I therefore, bespeak for them the favor of your kind offices.
With very kind regards to your goodself, Miss Clement and the children.
Yours very truly,
P. S.
After the closing of the letter, the parents of the children desire me to reiterate that they most fervently wish that their children, at least the younger ones and in particular the girl, be put at first in some Christian families to enable them to learn and be early impressed with the ways of American home life which they so much admire. However, whatever you may decide for their best will have their entire approval here.
Creator
M.T. Liang
Publisher
Phillips Academy
Date
July 25, 1920
Rights
All Rights Reserved by Phillips Academy
Language
English
Type
Correspondence