Letter from Thomas Sun, New Haven, Conn., to Alfred E. Stearns, March 25, 1931 (includes detailed financial account November 8, 1930 to March 24, 1931)
Dublin Core
Title
Letter from Thomas Sun, New Haven, Conn., to Alfred E. Stearns, March 25, 1931 (includes detailed financial account November 8, 1930 to March 24, 1931)
Subject
Letter from Thomas Sun, New Haven, Conn., to Alfred E. Stearns, March 25, 1931 (includes detailed financial account November 8, 1930 to March 24, 1931)
Transcription
My dear Dr. Stearns,
By the contents of the enclosed papers, I am sure, you immediately came to the conclusion that I am again asking you for some more money. In truth, I am.
College bills took most of the last amount you sent to me last time, and everyday expenses took the rest, I still have some left in the bank, but not a very substantial amount--about fifty dollars. With the approach of Easter vacation, I hope to go away for a few days, and my present finances will not permit me to do that, I am also having my pictures taken for the first time for a long time, I shall leave it all to you as regards to the amount you will send to me, but I hope it shall not fall below three hundred dollars. With that I hope to last through the year.
I have heard several times from home during the past month, but I failed to find anything concerning the prospects of my going home this summer. I looked into my diary the other day and calculated that you wrote to Father about the first of February and Mary wrote about a week later. If that is true, no answer will probably be received till the middle or the end of next month. Furthermore, I think Father will delay answering such a request for some time allowing him time to think the matter over.
Mary is rather expectant and practically sure that I will be going home with her. In fact, I am hoping secretly that I may go myself. However, I am making preparations for further study, because in case I can not go, it will not be too much of a disaapointment [sic] with me, and on the other hand, I will be able to embark with more enthusiasm.
Mary is still uncertain as to the time she is going to leave. She is waiting to hear from home about my prospects, and in case I can go with her, she will probably decide a time sometimes during the latter part of July or the first part of August. I could get nothing definite from her, and she is constantly changing her plans concerning when to quit her position, and when to sail. I think, though, she has decided that she will not want to go home by way of Europe. I hope to see her to-morrow night, and if I can, I shall try to get her to decide definitely regardless of me.
In the meantime, if you hear anything from Father, I shall be most anxious to learn of it.
Weighing the situation from all angles, I am afraid that Father is not very keen on my going home this summer. And if he should decide in my favor, I think he will ask me to come back after a year’s stay. Looking at the facts away from the sentimentalities of homesickness, Father is rather insistent on my getting a Doctor’s degree. He wrote to me several times that his desire is to see me come home a most "learned scholar". The meaning of his intention is apparent, and if he is stubborn, I see no way out of staying here for two more years and may be three.
Frankly, I am rather fed-up on studying. I want to get out and work. Although, my age is tender, I think I have seen enough of life to make me to want to SETTLE DOWN. During the course of my college days I have become rather frank and willing to look at things in a rather counter- conventional standpoint, as against the customary run of things. However, I am not in anyway radical--not even socialistic. But just modern. With that in view, I hope my viewpoint of things may be better understood. With that, I think I prefer to leave that particular remark more or less in-the- air.
With kind regards to Miss Clemens and Marjory.
Sincerely yours
P. S. I am sending to you my complete account, an itemized graph from day to day, so that you can see just where my money is going, and also you will be able to understand my expenses by looking at the continuity and average of expenditures. I hope the "tables" will help you to “connect up" from one day to another my expenses.
By the contents of the enclosed papers, I am sure, you immediately came to the conclusion that I am again asking you for some more money. In truth, I am.
College bills took most of the last amount you sent to me last time, and everyday expenses took the rest, I still have some left in the bank, but not a very substantial amount--about fifty dollars. With the approach of Easter vacation, I hope to go away for a few days, and my present finances will not permit me to do that, I am also having my pictures taken for the first time for a long time, I shall leave it all to you as regards to the amount you will send to me, but I hope it shall not fall below three hundred dollars. With that I hope to last through the year.
I have heard several times from home during the past month, but I failed to find anything concerning the prospects of my going home this summer. I looked into my diary the other day and calculated that you wrote to Father about the first of February and Mary wrote about a week later. If that is true, no answer will probably be received till the middle or the end of next month. Furthermore, I think Father will delay answering such a request for some time allowing him time to think the matter over.
Mary is rather expectant and practically sure that I will be going home with her. In fact, I am hoping secretly that I may go myself. However, I am making preparations for further study, because in case I can not go, it will not be too much of a disaapointment [sic] with me, and on the other hand, I will be able to embark with more enthusiasm.
Mary is still uncertain as to the time she is going to leave. She is waiting to hear from home about my prospects, and in case I can go with her, she will probably decide a time sometimes during the latter part of July or the first part of August. I could get nothing definite from her, and she is constantly changing her plans concerning when to quit her position, and when to sail. I think, though, she has decided that she will not want to go home by way of Europe. I hope to see her to-morrow night, and if I can, I shall try to get her to decide definitely regardless of me.
In the meantime, if you hear anything from Father, I shall be most anxious to learn of it.
Weighing the situation from all angles, I am afraid that Father is not very keen on my going home this summer. And if he should decide in my favor, I think he will ask me to come back after a year’s stay. Looking at the facts away from the sentimentalities of homesickness, Father is rather insistent on my getting a Doctor’s degree. He wrote to me several times that his desire is to see me come home a most "learned scholar". The meaning of his intention is apparent, and if he is stubborn, I see no way out of staying here for two more years and may be three.
Frankly, I am rather fed-up on studying. I want to get out and work. Although, my age is tender, I think I have seen enough of life to make me to want to SETTLE DOWN. During the course of my college days I have become rather frank and willing to look at things in a rather counter- conventional standpoint, as against the customary run of things. However, I am not in anyway radical--not even socialistic. But just modern. With that in view, I hope my viewpoint of things may be better understood. With that, I think I prefer to leave that particular remark more or less in-the- air.
With kind regards to Miss Clemens and Marjory.
Sincerely yours
P. S. I am sending to you my complete account, an itemized graph from day to day, so that you can see just where my money is going, and also you will be able to understand my expenses by looking at the continuity and average of expenditures. I hope the "tables" will help you to “connect up" from one day to another my expenses.
Creator
Thomas Sun
Publisher
Phillips Academy
Date
March 25, 1931
Rights
All Rights Reserved by Phillips Academy
Language
English
Type
Correspondence