Letter from Alfred E. Stearns to M.T. Liang, Tientsin, February 8, 1921
Dublin Core
Title
Letter from Alfred E. Stearns to M.T. Liang, Tientsin, February 8, 1921
Subject
Letter from Alfred E. Stearns to M.T. Liang, Tientsin, February 8, 1921
Transcription
My dear Mr. Liang:
Your welcome letter and the New Year’s card you were good enough to send me reached my desk this morning. As to-morrow is the date of your own Chinese New Year, you certainly timed your missive well. Many thanks for both the card and the letter, and most of all for the friendly spirit back of then.
We are planning to give the Chinese boys here something in the way of entertainment, and that will help them to remember the day, though apparently their memories need no jogging in that respect. I want them to feel, however, that though they are in a far away land, it is possible to do something that will make the day a bit different from the ordinary days of the American school year.
The four members of the Sun family who are under my roof are an increasing delight and source of satisfaction to us all. They have come to fit into the family in a way that would make us feel very much lost without them. Arthur of course rooms only at the house and is primarily engaged in his school affairs, but he is responsive, always a gentleman, and in every way a desirable boy to have in the house. The three younger children are all that could be asked for. They are interested and earnest in their studies, responsive, and friendly to a unique degree. They are ready to fit in in every way and every time developments or an occasional emergency may demand, and so good natured and willing about it all that they have won the good will and affection of us all to an increasing degree. I really don’t know just how I would get along without them. Quincey Sheh, the last comer, is quiet and a bit shy as yet, but in every way an acceptable addition to the home circle. Frankly though, I do not feel that it is altogether wise to have so many of these Chinese boys under the same roof, merely because they aren't so ready to pick up their English. It is mighty easy for them to talk Chinese when they are together, and one can hardly blame them, but at the same time it does not improve their knowledge of English with the consequent lightening of pressure in their studies which the gain in English would insure. The present arrangement was the best I could work out for the boys at this time, but I will try to figure out something better before the next school year begins.
I mean to write Mr. Sun in a few days, enclosing financial statements for all four of his children up to the beginning of the present term. This is the one item which troubles so, for I have found it very difficult to determine just what the children at the house should be charged. I do not wish to make anything out of the transaction, but at the same time it is of course necessary for me to cover the actual outlay and that is hard to determine. Rooms in private houses regularly bring $7 a week now, and board in the best private boarding houses is $12 per week. These two items alone would amount to $19 per week, therefore, on the basis of similar charges made to our boys in shcool [sic]. It is not possible for one in my position to give board at the same outlay on my par that would be true of a boarding house keeper who caters to a large number of boys, and by buying in wholesale lots can secure lower prices. On the other hand, I think I may fairly say that the board at my own table is as good as that supplied in the houses in question, for it is of course necessary for me to keep up a standard which is probably higher than I should think of indulging in were not the necessity constantly forced on me of entertaining guests of the school. Farther, the advent of these young friends at my house brought me immediately face to face with a demand from the kitchen for an increase in wages. I do not think any one in China can conceive of what the servant problem here is like. My two maids alone at the present time get as much money per week as I was accustomed to pay my highest priced cook a month only two or three years back.
Of course in addition to these two main items the wear and tear item is a very considerable one, but a very difficult one to estimate. Miss Clemons devotes most of her time and thought to the household and seldom leaves it, and it seem to me that if a way could be worked out, it would be only fair to include in the charge an item, though I know she would insist that I would be a comparatively small item, to cover the extra time and labor which she has so generously given to the work. I do not mean to imply that she does not enjoy it thoroughly, but I happen to know that she has given up many out of town and other trips simply because she did not feel that she could safely dispense with the responsibility even for a limited time.
I am going to send you a copy of the letter which I write to Mr. Sun, and I am going to ask you to be absolutely frank with me in criticizing any statements or conclusions made therein. I would give anything if I could sit down and talk out the matter face to face with you and Mr. Sun, especially when conditions in the two countries are absolutely different, as they are at the present time.
I do hope that your country is going to weather its present conditions and that by the time the winter is over at least will face a greatly improved economic condition and a freedom from the internal strife and turmoil that have been so injurious to China and so beneficial to her enemies. America is doing something for the relief of your suffering people. Would that she would do more.
Believe me with warmest personal regards and kind remembrances to any of my good friends over there whom you may happen to meet.
Very sincerely yours,
Your welcome letter and the New Year’s card you were good enough to send me reached my desk this morning. As to-morrow is the date of your own Chinese New Year, you certainly timed your missive well. Many thanks for both the card and the letter, and most of all for the friendly spirit back of then.
We are planning to give the Chinese boys here something in the way of entertainment, and that will help them to remember the day, though apparently their memories need no jogging in that respect. I want them to feel, however, that though they are in a far away land, it is possible to do something that will make the day a bit different from the ordinary days of the American school year.
The four members of the Sun family who are under my roof are an increasing delight and source of satisfaction to us all. They have come to fit into the family in a way that would make us feel very much lost without them. Arthur of course rooms only at the house and is primarily engaged in his school affairs, but he is responsive, always a gentleman, and in every way a desirable boy to have in the house. The three younger children are all that could be asked for. They are interested and earnest in their studies, responsive, and friendly to a unique degree. They are ready to fit in in every way and every time developments or an occasional emergency may demand, and so good natured and willing about it all that they have won the good will and affection of us all to an increasing degree. I really don’t know just how I would get along without them. Quincey Sheh, the last comer, is quiet and a bit shy as yet, but in every way an acceptable addition to the home circle. Frankly though, I do not feel that it is altogether wise to have so many of these Chinese boys under the same roof, merely because they aren't so ready to pick up their English. It is mighty easy for them to talk Chinese when they are together, and one can hardly blame them, but at the same time it does not improve their knowledge of English with the consequent lightening of pressure in their studies which the gain in English would insure. The present arrangement was the best I could work out for the boys at this time, but I will try to figure out something better before the next school year begins.
I mean to write Mr. Sun in a few days, enclosing financial statements for all four of his children up to the beginning of the present term. This is the one item which troubles so, for I have found it very difficult to determine just what the children at the house should be charged. I do not wish to make anything out of the transaction, but at the same time it is of course necessary for me to cover the actual outlay and that is hard to determine. Rooms in private houses regularly bring $7 a week now, and board in the best private boarding houses is $12 per week. These two items alone would amount to $19 per week, therefore, on the basis of similar charges made to our boys in shcool [sic]. It is not possible for one in my position to give board at the same outlay on my par that would be true of a boarding house keeper who caters to a large number of boys, and by buying in wholesale lots can secure lower prices. On the other hand, I think I may fairly say that the board at my own table is as good as that supplied in the houses in question, for it is of course necessary for me to keep up a standard which is probably higher than I should think of indulging in were not the necessity constantly forced on me of entertaining guests of the school. Farther, the advent of these young friends at my house brought me immediately face to face with a demand from the kitchen for an increase in wages. I do not think any one in China can conceive of what the servant problem here is like. My two maids alone at the present time get as much money per week as I was accustomed to pay my highest priced cook a month only two or three years back.
Of course in addition to these two main items the wear and tear item is a very considerable one, but a very difficult one to estimate. Miss Clemons devotes most of her time and thought to the household and seldom leaves it, and it seem to me that if a way could be worked out, it would be only fair to include in the charge an item, though I know she would insist that I would be a comparatively small item, to cover the extra time and labor which she has so generously given to the work. I do not mean to imply that she does not enjoy it thoroughly, but I happen to know that she has given up many out of town and other trips simply because she did not feel that she could safely dispense with the responsibility even for a limited time.
I am going to send you a copy of the letter which I write to Mr. Sun, and I am going to ask you to be absolutely frank with me in criticizing any statements or conclusions made therein. I would give anything if I could sit down and talk out the matter face to face with you and Mr. Sun, especially when conditions in the two countries are absolutely different, as they are at the present time.
I do hope that your country is going to weather its present conditions and that by the time the winter is over at least will face a greatly improved economic condition and a freedom from the internal strife and turmoil that have been so injurious to China and so beneficial to her enemies. America is doing something for the relief of your suffering people. Would that she would do more.
Believe me with warmest personal regards and kind remembrances to any of my good friends over there whom you may happen to meet.
Very sincerely yours,
Creator
Alfred E. Stearns
Publisher
Phillips Academy
Date
February 8, 1921
Rights
All Rights Reserved by Phillips Academy
Language
English
Type
Correspondence