Letter from Dr. Aflred E. Stearns to Admiral H.K. Tu, October 14, 1931
Dublin Core
Title
Letter from Dr. Aflred E. Stearns to Admiral H.K. Tu, October 14, 1931
Subject
Letter from Dr. Aflred E. Stearns to Admiral H.K. Tu, October 14, 1931
Description
Typed letter sent from Dr. Alfred E. Stearns to Admiral H.K. Tu. Is happy to hear Kong (K.Y. Tu) reached China safely. States the account was slightly overdrawn, but is willing to let the account stand until the exchange rate improves. Enclosed account statement. States K.Y. Tu did an excellent job in managing expenses and keeping them down. States the last expense was due a lost passport. Congratulates the Admiral on promotion to President of Naval College in Fukien. Hopes to communicate with Admiral Tu in the future.
Transcription
October 14, 1931
Admiral H.K.Tu
146 Fek Sui Li
Route Joseph Frelupt
Shanghai, China
My dear Admiral Tu:
Your interesting letter of September 18 reached me several days ago and I am delighted to learn from that Kong has reached his home safely. My hope is that he will be able to find a suitable position which he can feel with efficiency and credit. Some regular hours and steady hard work should help the boy immensely in developing proper habits of endeavor and stability of character. Please remember me most surely to him and give him my best wishes for success in meeting the new responsibilities which are to be this.
Yes, the boy did overdraw a bit on his account before he left, but I am glad to say that the amount is small. I am enclosing a statement covering the period since the last statement was rendered to you which will show the exact status of the account. May I also assure you that iwt will not be the least embarrassing to me to allow the account to stand as it is for a time if you desire to do so. In view of the very adverse exchange which you must face in remitting funds from China to this country, it would seem only fair to wait a bit in the hope perfectly free, therefore, to let the account stand as it is, for I shall not worry about it in the least, knowing that in due season it will be properly taken care of.
I think I ought to add a word in regard to Kong’s handling of his funds. In spite of all the difficulties we have encountered in our endeavors to xx Kong’s ambition for intellectual achievements. I must say that I think the boy has done remarkably well in keeping his expenses down. Certainly he has done far better than most of the Chinese for whom I have privileged to set as guardian during recent years. Occasionally he has asked for small amounts for things that perhaps were not absolutely essential, and yet which from the point of view of a large majority of boys of his age have been accepted as a matter of course. When he was about to leave for home, I gave him at his request a small amount to invest in presents for his family and friends, an investment which I felt that you under circumstances would approve. The final remittance of twenty dollars sent by wire to San Francisco was a result of telegram received from him just as he was about to sail from that port, saying that he had lost his passport and needed the extra money in order to carry through this program. I do feel, though, that they boy deserves commendation for the way in which in general he has kept his expenditures down.
I am delighted to hear of your promotion to the Presidency of the Naval College at Fukien. May every success attend your efforts and make this institution a real and helpful factor in the advancement of China. We all think of you these days and with feeling of deepest sympathy and pity as we note the extent and depth of the appalling catastrophe from which you are still suffering. My hope is that out of this affliction may come influences tending to unify and strengthen the nation as a whole in the development of a new and better spirit of altruism and good will.
Again let me assure you of my constant friendship and good will. While I fell that I have been sadly remiss in helping Kong to attain these high ideals which you have always cherished for him and with which I have sympathized so deeply, I feel that I have been more than rewarded for what little I have tried to do in coming thereby in contact with you and profiting as I have so definitely done by that rare spirit of friendly confidence and good will which you have manifested always. I do wish, and I dare hope, that our paths may again cross before we are called upon to surrender our earthly tasks.
With warm personnel regards and every best wish to you and yours. Believe me,
Very sincerely yours.
Admiral H.K.Tu
146 Fek Sui Li
Route Joseph Frelupt
Shanghai, China
My dear Admiral Tu:
Your interesting letter of September 18 reached me several days ago and I am delighted to learn from that Kong has reached his home safely. My hope is that he will be able to find a suitable position which he can feel with efficiency and credit. Some regular hours and steady hard work should help the boy immensely in developing proper habits of endeavor and stability of character. Please remember me most surely to him and give him my best wishes for success in meeting the new responsibilities which are to be this.
Yes, the boy did overdraw a bit on his account before he left, but I am glad to say that the amount is small. I am enclosing a statement covering the period since the last statement was rendered to you which will show the exact status of the account. May I also assure you that iwt will not be the least embarrassing to me to allow the account to stand as it is for a time if you desire to do so. In view of the very adverse exchange which you must face in remitting funds from China to this country, it would seem only fair to wait a bit in the hope perfectly free, therefore, to let the account stand as it is, for I shall not worry about it in the least, knowing that in due season it will be properly taken care of.
I think I ought to add a word in regard to Kong’s handling of his funds. In spite of all the difficulties we have encountered in our endeavors to xx Kong’s ambition for intellectual achievements. I must say that I think the boy has done remarkably well in keeping his expenses down. Certainly he has done far better than most of the Chinese for whom I have privileged to set as guardian during recent years. Occasionally he has asked for small amounts for things that perhaps were not absolutely essential, and yet which from the point of view of a large majority of boys of his age have been accepted as a matter of course. When he was about to leave for home, I gave him at his request a small amount to invest in presents for his family and friends, an investment which I felt that you under circumstances would approve. The final remittance of twenty dollars sent by wire to San Francisco was a result of telegram received from him just as he was about to sail from that port, saying that he had lost his passport and needed the extra money in order to carry through this program. I do feel, though, that they boy deserves commendation for the way in which in general he has kept his expenditures down.
I am delighted to hear of your promotion to the Presidency of the Naval College at Fukien. May every success attend your efforts and make this institution a real and helpful factor in the advancement of China. We all think of you these days and with feeling of deepest sympathy and pity as we note the extent and depth of the appalling catastrophe from which you are still suffering. My hope is that out of this affliction may come influences tending to unify and strengthen the nation as a whole in the development of a new and better spirit of altruism and good will.
Again let me assure you of my constant friendship and good will. While I fell that I have been sadly remiss in helping Kong to attain these high ideals which you have always cherished for him and with which I have sympathized so deeply, I feel that I have been more than rewarded for what little I have tried to do in coming thereby in contact with you and profiting as I have so definitely done by that rare spirit of friendly confidence and good will which you have manifested always. I do wish, and I dare hope, that our paths may again cross before we are called upon to surrender our earthly tasks.
With warm personnel regards and every best wish to you and yours. Believe me,
Very sincerely yours.
Creator
Dr. Alfred E. Stearns
Publisher
Phillips Academy
Date
October 14, 1931
Rights
All Rights Reserved By Phillips Academy
Language
English
Type
Correspondence