Letter from H.K. Tu to Dr. Alfred E. Stearns, May 17, 1928

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Title

Letter from H.K. Tu to Dr. Alfred E. Stearns, May 17, 1928

Subject

Letter from H.K. Tu to Dr. Alfred E. Stearns, May 17, 1928

Description

Typed letter sent from H.K. Tu to Dr. Alfred E. Stearns. Will comply with son's wish to pursue studies on his own. States son appears more willing to work towards education. States if work interferes with Kong's education, Stearns is free to give money as necessary. Sent letter to K.Y. Tu. Fears Tu's association with bad influences. Thanks Stearns for what's been done.

Transcription

Tientsin, March 17th , 1928

Dr. Alfred E. Stearns,
Philips Academy,
Andover, Massachusetts,
U. S. A.

My dear Dr. Stearns,

I have received your letters of February 14th and 20th respectively for which please accept my hearty thanks. I have also received from Kong a letter dated February 14th

Both your letters and his indicate that it would require a strict order from me to get Kong back to China. Since he is determined to earn an education by his own efforts rather than at my expense and since you have advised me to allow him another chance, I consider it wise to comply with his wish and let him pursue his studies in his own way for a time. It appears that he is more in earnest than before about the preparation for his life work and he would study harder from now on. If I view the matter in this light, I am somewhat encouraged. But I hope that you will continue taking an interest in the boy.

If he can get along without my assistance, well and good. It is just as well for Kong to learn some hard realities of life while he is still under the care of his father and of your good self as his guardian. But if you think that his earning the way through high school would retard his educational progress or would injure his health, you may give him whatever amount of money you deem necessary. I leave the welfare of the boy entirely in your hands, for I have the greatest confidence in your sound judgement.
Upon your advice I am writing to the boy today by the same mail and giving him a few words of encouragement. I herewith enclose copy of my letter to him for your information. Although Kong was brought up under Chinese roof and accustomed to discipline and obedience, I believe that his stay in the United States of America where there is more freedom for boys of his age than in China, has somewhat modified his views, and believing it, am trying to adapt myself to the new situation, I hope that my letter to him written in a new spirit may move him to exert even greater efforts for learning.

I want to thank you for what you have done for the boy in the past and for what you may do for him in the future. As he is now away from Andover and staying at Boston, he will need more vigilance or watchfulness from you. What I am afraid most is the possibility of his associating with bad people and such fear did not exist in my mind when he was near you, I hope that I shall still have the honor to hear from you from time to time as to the progress of his studies and as to the kind of friends he makes.
Thanking you again for all you have been doing for us.

Yours very truly.

Creator

H.K. Tu

Publisher

Phillips Academy

Date

May 17, 1928

Rights

All Rights Reserved By Phillips Academy

Language

English

Type

Correspondence

Collection

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