Letter from Alfred Stearns to Chung Ying (C.Y.) Sun, Tientsin, April 16, 1921
Dublin Core
Title
Letter from Alfred Stearns to Chung Ying (C.Y.) Sun, Tientsin, April 16, 1921
Subject
Letter from Alfred Stearns to Chung Ying (C.Y.) Sun, Tientsin, April 16, 1921
Transcription
My dear Mr. Sun:
Your very kind letter of February 7 reached me sometime ago and should have been answered earlier. I always find it difficult to write to those to whom I have more than the usual amount to say, and hence I have deferred my answer to your letter in the hope that I could find the time to treat it and the other problems as they deserve. As it is I must make the best of the limited time at my disposal and hope for better luck later.
In response to your suggestion I am asking for duplicate reports of the work of the three younger children in the public schools. Unlike the reports of Phillips Academy which are sent direct to parents and guardians for preservation if desired, the reports from the public schools are sent for inspection only and must be returned to the school authorities. These reports have regularly come to me, and after inspection and signing have been returned. I am glad to say that they have been uniformly good and that the record has been confirmed in such conversations as I have had from time to time with the teachers, themselves. Just at present I am corresponding with the authorities of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in regard to Arthur's admission next fall. If the Institute will allow him credit on some of the history and language work he has had in China, his present schedule will shape up in a very satisfactory way. I am hopeful that these concessions will be granted.
Let me take this opportunity also to thank you for your most generous but wholly unnecessary thought of me and the other members of the family circle in the remembrances which you advised me are being sent to us through your friend, at present, I believe, in Europe. Your generosity is altogether too great, for I can assure you so far as I am concerned it has been only a pleasure, and an increasing one at that, to have these youngsters in my own family circle. The strain, such as it is, comes entirely upon Miss Clemons who has charge of my house and who watches with care the children, themselves, and provides as best she can for their special needs. The generous and friendly cooperation which they, themselves, regularly give makes the task, while strenuous at times, far from disagreeable. Of course there are still some of our American ways which the children find it hard to accept, but it has been our endeavor to insist only upon those things which we are accustomed to regard as essential in this country for well brought up girls and boys alike. I do hope, therefore, that merely because the children are under my roof you will not feel that you are obligated in any way to me for their care and oversight beyond the definite charges which the actual expense involved seem to make necessary. Very deeply as I appreciate your generous thought of me, I should be distressed to believe that this could in any way prompt you to feel yourself under special obligations.
On the whole the children have been in the best of health. Mary is just recovering from a cold which while not at all serious prompted Miss Clemons to hold her in bed for a couple of days as a precaution merely. Charles had a week's setback in the form of pink eye or conjunctivitis which did not seem to yield readily to treatment. To make sure that he was being handles in the best way, I sent him to an excellent oculist in a neighboring city where by the aid of special instruments it was discovered that the trouble had arisen from the presence of a slight piece of foreign matter in the boy's eyeball and directly over the pupil. This was removed and fortunately no ill consequences resulted. The oculist feared a possible infection because of the presence of the conjunctivitis and the consequent inflamed condition of the eye, and it was a great relief to us all when the period of danger passed without serious results. While he was in this condition, Charles remained at the school infirmary, both because of the care he could receive there and also to avoid the possibility of contagion for the rest of the family.
Arthur continues to work hard, but finds some of this studies, notably the languages, very difficult. His instructor in Mechanical Drawing, on the other hand, reports that his work in that subject entitles him to rank among the very best boys in the class. I am constantly urging Arthur, as you have requested, to meet all of the school requirements promptly [illegible] no disposition to neglect his school obligations.
Again assuring you of my very deep and genuine appreciation of your thoughtfulness and with personal regards, believe me,
Very sincerely yours,
Your very kind letter of February 7 reached me sometime ago and should have been answered earlier. I always find it difficult to write to those to whom I have more than the usual amount to say, and hence I have deferred my answer to your letter in the hope that I could find the time to treat it and the other problems as they deserve. As it is I must make the best of the limited time at my disposal and hope for better luck later.
In response to your suggestion I am asking for duplicate reports of the work of the three younger children in the public schools. Unlike the reports of Phillips Academy which are sent direct to parents and guardians for preservation if desired, the reports from the public schools are sent for inspection only and must be returned to the school authorities. These reports have regularly come to me, and after inspection and signing have been returned. I am glad to say that they have been uniformly good and that the record has been confirmed in such conversations as I have had from time to time with the teachers, themselves. Just at present I am corresponding with the authorities of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in regard to Arthur's admission next fall. If the Institute will allow him credit on some of the history and language work he has had in China, his present schedule will shape up in a very satisfactory way. I am hopeful that these concessions will be granted.
Let me take this opportunity also to thank you for your most generous but wholly unnecessary thought of me and the other members of the family circle in the remembrances which you advised me are being sent to us through your friend, at present, I believe, in Europe. Your generosity is altogether too great, for I can assure you so far as I am concerned it has been only a pleasure, and an increasing one at that, to have these youngsters in my own family circle. The strain, such as it is, comes entirely upon Miss Clemons who has charge of my house and who watches with care the children, themselves, and provides as best she can for their special needs. The generous and friendly cooperation which they, themselves, regularly give makes the task, while strenuous at times, far from disagreeable. Of course there are still some of our American ways which the children find it hard to accept, but it has been our endeavor to insist only upon those things which we are accustomed to regard as essential in this country for well brought up girls and boys alike. I do hope, therefore, that merely because the children are under my roof you will not feel that you are obligated in any way to me for their care and oversight beyond the definite charges which the actual expense involved seem to make necessary. Very deeply as I appreciate your generous thought of me, I should be distressed to believe that this could in any way prompt you to feel yourself under special obligations.
On the whole the children have been in the best of health. Mary is just recovering from a cold which while not at all serious prompted Miss Clemons to hold her in bed for a couple of days as a precaution merely. Charles had a week's setback in the form of pink eye or conjunctivitis which did not seem to yield readily to treatment. To make sure that he was being handles in the best way, I sent him to an excellent oculist in a neighboring city where by the aid of special instruments it was discovered that the trouble had arisen from the presence of a slight piece of foreign matter in the boy's eyeball and directly over the pupil. This was removed and fortunately no ill consequences resulted. The oculist feared a possible infection because of the presence of the conjunctivitis and the consequent inflamed condition of the eye, and it was a great relief to us all when the period of danger passed without serious results. While he was in this condition, Charles remained at the school infirmary, both because of the care he could receive there and also to avoid the possibility of contagion for the rest of the family.
Arthur continues to work hard, but finds some of this studies, notably the languages, very difficult. His instructor in Mechanical Drawing, on the other hand, reports that his work in that subject entitles him to rank among the very best boys in the class. I am constantly urging Arthur, as you have requested, to meet all of the school requirements promptly [illegible] no disposition to neglect his school obligations.
Again assuring you of my very deep and genuine appreciation of your thoughtfulness and with personal regards, believe me,
Very sincerely yours,
Creator
Alfred Stearns
Publisher
Phillips Academy
Date
April 16, 1921
Rights
All Rights Reserved by Phillips Academy
Language
English
Type
Correspondence