Letter from Alfred E. Stearns to Helen Tsai, Whittier School, Merrimac, Mass. , April 30, 1928
My dear Helen: I am enclosing your allowance for May plus $10.00 which your father has asked me to send you as a birthday present from your mother and himself. He writes me, by the way, that the three children, two sons and a daughter, of his friend Mr. Chang wish to come to Andover next year and be under my charge. Your father suggests that the girl follow you to Whittier for a year and the boys follow Alfred to Mont Vernon. I do not know the Changs, of course, but I have written your father this morning that I would be glad, as usual, to do what I could to guide them in their American life and work. Charlie, who is staying with me just now, as he has changed his business to Boston, took your stamp order in with him a day or two ago and tells me that he has delivered it to the Boston agent of Scott Stamp Company who will see that it is executed promptly. With all good wishes, believe me Very sincerely yours,
Letter from Alfred E. Stearns to Tsai Ting-Kan, Dairen, Manchuria, April 30, 1928
My dear Mr. Tsai: I have your very interesting letter of April 3. Helen and Alfred spent a portion of their Easter holidays here in Andover, and I had a chance to see a good bit of them during that time. Both seemed in the best of health and from their own as well as from the reports from their schools I have reason to believe that they are making steady and satisfactory progress. Alfred really seems to be making up to his responsibilities and more ready than formerly to make good use of the opportunities afforded him. I am very hopeful now that he will be able by next September to undertake our work at Andover with good prospect of carrying it successfully. Naturally, I shall be able to follow him more closely and report to you more intelligently as to his promise and progress than I have been able to do while he has been at school elsewhere. I am immensely interested to know that my old friend Mr. M.T. Liang is planning to be in America at about this time. I certainly shall hope to see him, and I trust that he will be able while he is here to take in the celebration of our 150th Anniversary scheduled for May 18 and 19th next, and which I am sure he will find extremely interesting. As you perhaps know, the President of the United States, Mr. Coolidge, who was an old college mate of mine, has accepted our invitation to be present and to speak. We shall also welcome the heads of practically all of our leading universities. [illegible] scientific schools of the East, as well as other distinguished guests including the Head of Wellington College in England, who is coming over on our special invitation. I note what you say about Helen’s birthday and will send her a check for $10.00 at once as a gift from her mother and yourself. I see no reason why I should not be able to act as American guardian for the three Chang children mentioned in your letter; at least I shall welcome the opportunity to do as much for them as I have tried to do for Alfred and Helen, though I realize my limitations because of the fact that I am living more or less a bachelor’s existence in my own home and hence cannot make quite the full use of that home in their behalf that I should love to do. Anyway, I can promise the newcomers that they will be as welcome there as my other Chinese friends have always been and that I hope that they will use it as freely as Alfred and Helen are disposed to do, even though they may have to reside temporarily at the Inn next door. I am inclined to raise the question as to the wisdom of placing both Chang boys at the same school at the start, when it so essential that a strong foundation in English be established. I leave that, however, to the judgment of Mr. Chang, Senior, and yourself and will be guided by whatever instructions you care to send me. With kindest personal regards, believe me always Very sincerely yours,
Letter from Tsai Ting-Kan, Dairen, Manchuria, to Alfred E. Stearns, April 3, 1928
Letter from Alfred E. Stearns to Helen Tsai, Whittier School, Merrimac, Mass., April 24, 1928
Dear Helen: I have your note with the stamp advertisement in it and will endeavor to get you the stamps, as requested. What you write me of Mr. M.T. Liang’s proposed visit is most interesting. If he is to be in this vicinity in May, we must certainly plan to get him up here for our big Anniversary celebration which is scheduled for May 18 and 19. The exercises will bring here many very distinguished men, including the President of the United States himself, and I know Mr. Liang would enjoy it all. The last time he was in this country he was my guest at the house for several days. With all good wishes, believe me Sincerely yours,
Letter from Helen Tsai, Whittier School, Merrimac, Mass., to Alfred E. Stearns, April 22, 1928
Letter from Alfred E. Stearns to Helen Tsai, Whittier School, Merrimac, Mass., April 11, 1928
Dear Helen: Thanks for your note and the accompanying bills. I have already paid the Filene’s account but am glad to have the list of items. This is only a note, as I am leaving shortly for Washington. Have your any friends down there? Ever sincerely yours,
Letter from Helen Tsai, Whittier School, Merrimac, Mass., to Alfred E. Stearns, April 9, 1928
Letter from Alfred E. Stearns to Tsai Ting-Kan, Dairen, Manchuria, April 10, 1928
My dear Mr. Tsai: Many thanks for your kind letter of March 10, which happened to reach me during the Easter holiday and at a time when I have been able to see quite a little of both Alfred and Helen. They spent part of their vacation here in Andover and the balance with Dr. and Mrs. Nye in South Weymouth and seemed happier, if anything, than usual. We had some very pleasant times together and it was a real delight to have them about. I think they have come to feel perfectly at home at my house and that they realize that I am in earnest in wishing them to treat it exactly as they would their own home, though, as they understand, I am not able to make it possible for them to reside with me at present since I am living alone. They come and go freely, however, and that’s just what I most welcome. From a remark which Helen dropped, I was led to fear that that you had never received my letter acknowledging the receipt of and thanking you most heartily for your all too generous gift of the beautiful silk. I wrote you at the time, but my feelings have not cooled, and if the letter failed to reach you, please understand that it was sent, at least, and that in it I endeavored to convey some slight measure of my gratitude, gratitude which could hardly be fully expressed in words. I hope, however, that you will never feel under any obligation whatever to send gifts suggesting repayment for what little I have attempted to do for your children. The fun and satisfaction that I derive from the slight service that I am able to render them and you are payment enough, and more. Don’t worry about Alfred’s early thoughts in connection with the choice of college. There is ample time for that decision to be made and on far better bases than can now be found. Further, the work for the next two or three years, at least, would be the same in any case and regardless of the college or university ultimately chosen. With warm personal regards, believe me always Very sincerely yours,
Letter from Tsai Ting-Kan, Dairen, Manchuria, to Alfred E. Stearns, March 10, 1928
Letter from Helen Tsai, Whittier School, Merrimac, Mass., to Alfred E. Stearns, March 21, 1928