Letter sent from Dr. Alfred E. Stearns to K.Y. Tu, March 30, 1926

StearnsBox28Folder0003_067a.jpg
StearnsBox28Folder0003_067b.jpg

Dublin Core

Title

Letter sent from Dr. Alfred E. Stearns to K.Y. Tu, March 30, 1926

Subject

Letter sent from Dr. Alfred E. Stearns to K.Y. Tu, March 30, 1926

Description

Typed letter sent from Dr. Alfred E. Stearns to K.Y. Tu. Apologizes for delay in sending money. Explains he was out of town when the telegram came. Tells Tu to give more notice when funds are needed. Sent $50, rather than request $95. Believes there is no need to visit Ann Arbor. States Tu had spend $2,927 the previous year. States Tu must curb expenses. Suggests taking a room in Lima for the vacation.

Transcription

March 30, 1926
Mr. K. Y. Tu
Genesee Wesleyan Seminary
Lima, N. Y.

My dear Tu,

I am sorry to have thrown you into such a panic by my delay in sending money to you, as requested, for vacation expenses. It is the old story, however, and really you are the only one to blame.
I have constantly urged you boys to let me know well in advance what your needs are to be, for I can’t be counted on to be sitting right here on the job every minute prepared to send checks within an hour or with in a day of the receipt of the requests for the same. As a matter of fact, your recent request came when I was out of town, I had been in the West for a week, was away over the week-end following, and then had to make an unexpected trip to Washington, from which I returned on Friday, the day school closed. Our final faculty meeting consumed all that day, and I had no time whatever to tend to other matters. As soon as I could I sent you a check, but for $50,00, only, and not the $95.00 requested.

The reason for the smaller amount is due to the fact that I do not feel that you have any right to take on this extra expense involved in the trip to Ann Arbor. This would mean practically $100.00 for the short vacation, an absurd sum considering the limited time involved; further, I checked over year accounts before I sent the money and found to my amusement that during the single year from January, 1925, to January, 1926, you had spent $2,927,00, an amount far in excess of that spent by any of my other Chinese wards, even though the Suns, at least, are supposed to have ample means to meet all necessary expenses. Your father urgently requested me to see that you kept your expenses within proper bounds, and if you are not willing to do your part, I must write your father to release me at once of the responsibility of attempting to guide your expenditures.

I know that a vacation in a school or college town, when nearly everyone has gone away, is anything but attractive. Many boys, however, and especially those of limited means, have to face vacations of this kind. I had to myself occasionally, in my younger days, and I know that it is no deadly hardship. Certainly you could easily secure a room and board in Lima or nearby for a small sum and thereby save considerable money for necessary expenses later. I am surprised that this plan did not suggest itself to you at once as the proper one to adopt. Since I have noted the actual amount you have spent to date, I am more than over determined to try to carry out your father’s urgent request and see that you keep expenses within bounds.

Very sincerely yours,

Creator

Dr. Alfred E. Stearns

Publisher

Phillips Academy

Date

March 30, 1926

Rights

All Rights Reserved By Phillips Academy

Language

English

Type

Correspondence

Collection

Tags