Letter from Dr. Alfred E. Stearns to Commander H.K. Tu, February 5, 1925
Typed letter sent from Dr. Alfred E. Stearns to Commander H.K. Tu. Paid up several accounts. Enclosed statement. Hopes additional remittances will be sent. Explains cost of living and education in America has increases significantly in recent years. States son is working hard.
February 5, 1925 Commander H.K.Tu Admiralty House Nanking, China My dear Mr. Tu: Your boy is considerably exercised over his financial prospects, for, as you may well imagine, the money which you sent him has been very largely spent already in meeting obligations considered at the outset of his American career. I have recently paid up several accounts for him which were based on loans made by friends when he was awaiting funds from home and legitimate bills contracted since his arrival here have been paid so far as the funds permitted. I am enclosing a statement so you may see where the money placed in my hands has gone to date, and I shall be glad to send you, if you desire, the receipts covering these expenditures which I hold in my files. Under the circumstances I hope that we shall receive further and early remittances from you, for I don’t like to let bills run and I dislike exceedingly to borrow funds in behalf of individual boys. It is pretty difficult for these in China to realize the enormous increase in the price of living and everything else that has taken place in America during the last few years. It is certainly no exaggeration to say that it costs Chinese boys who come to us in these modern days at least double as much for the necessities of life and for their educational expenses as it cost the boys who used to come to us fifteen or twenty years go and for whom I acted as American guardian at that times. We all regret that this is so, but cannot do anything but accept the plain facts that surround us. I have every reason to think that your son is working very hard to prepare himself to meet the requirements which will enable him to take a regular place in the school next year and complete with us his preparation for the higher institution and more advanced work. He seems most responsive to whatever suggestion I am disposed to make to him and very eager to do the right thing by us all. Very sincerely yours.
Letter from Dr. Alfred E. Stearns to Commander H.K. Tu, January 5, 1925
Typed letter from Dr. Alfred E. Stearns to Commander H.K. Tu. Acknowledges receipt of check for son. Attempting to sort out son's financial situation. States son accumulated bills almost equal to check. Paid most pressing such as tuition and board. Believes son would do better in another school, as lack of English made advancement at Andover impossible. Explains placement in smaller school will work better than the current arrangment of a tutor.
Commander H.K.Tu Admiralty House Nanking, China My dear Sir: I am in receipt of your most friendly and courteous letter of November 26. With it comes your check for 600.00 in behalf of your boy. This amount I have deposited to the boy’s account am endeavoring now, as requested by you, to straighten out his financial affairs and induce him to meet the situation in a business-like way and with the determination to limit all expenditures to absolute necessities. This I hope to accomplish in due season. The boy has been on a very awkward position because of lack of funds, and I find that he has already contracted bills, largely for tuition, board, and room, amounting,as nearly as I can figure, to almost the sum of your remittance. This means that he will have very little to go on for the next few months and without further remissions from home will have to run up additional bills, something which none of us likes to contemplate. I am paying at the moment those bills which have been longest overdue and seem most pressing, such as board, tuition, etc., and will pay the others so far as the funds permit. I shall hope to enclose with this letter a brief statement showing the extent and nature of disbursement to date. It is my strong conviction that the boy would do much better for the balance of the year to enter some school rather than to attempt to go on as he has been doing here. As ha has doubtless advised you, his lack of English made it impossible for him to continue the Phillips Academy connection for he couldd make no progress in his classes with us owing to this deficiency. His case is very similar to the cases of many Chinese boys we have had to recent years. Always under such circumstances these boys have been advised to invest their first year in America in a small school, where they could place all the emphasis on the English language and receive special and personal guidance in their work. This is practically impossible in a school as large as ours. Such a plan your son vigorously objected to for some reason, and he has consequently been living here in town and taking special instruction with a most reliable man, for many years principal of the high school at Groton, Mass., and during the war a regular instructor on our own force. The arrangement is a good one in many ways, but I can’t help feeling that the atmosphere and regular environment of a regular school would be better. I appreciate your thoughtfulness in sending me as a token of your friendship the image of the God of Happiness to which you refer. The gift has not yet arrived, but I am sure that I shall value it most highly when it does come, both for itself and for the good will which lies behind it. Trusting that the New Year may bring you health, prosperity, and happiness in fullest measure, believe me Very sincerely yours
Letter from H.K. Tu to Mr. & Mrs. Stearns, November 26, 1924
Typed letter sent from H.K. Tu to the Stearns. Thanks them for looking after his son. Sent 600 American gold. Asks to keep costs low and scrutinize usage. Sent a gift as thanks.
My dear Mr.&Mrs. Stearns, Not knowing how to thank you for your ever kindness in looking after my son’s welfare and education, I can only assure myself that I have true friends in the great Republic of America and for this friendship they are having extra troubles and burden, in looking after a son of their friend, who feels he is greatly honored in person and deeply thankful in heart. I am remitting you by Commercial Bank the sum of 600.00 American gold (six hundred A. gold) which I trust will reach you safely in due time, I desire to repeat again that you be kind enough to strickly scrutinize his usage, to the limit of absolute necessities, as luxuries are bad for a boy, and besides we are having hard times in China unless unity and pease is restored. I take this opportunity to forward you, by parcel post as a small token, which is made of Foo-chow Lacquer, the image of the God of Happiness, for my sincere gratitude, and would be ever so glad to here from you at any time. With kind regards and best compliments of the season. From, Yours very sincerely
Shipment contract of Mr. J.Y. Tu from Trans-Continental Freight Company
Shipment contract between Hansen Bros. Traf. Co and Trans-Continental Freight Company to ship 2 packages of K.Y. Tu. Items to be shipped from Seattle, Washington to Andover, Massachusetts. Items includes a box and trunk.
Draft of telegram sent from Tu to Liut Whang
Draft of telegram sent from Tu to Liut Whang in Admiralty Nanking. States no money and to cable Stearns at Phillips Academy immediately.
Telegram sent from K.Y. Tu to Dr. Stearns, September 22, 1924
Telegram sent from K.Y. Tu to Dr. Alfred E. Stearns. Received father's telegram to head east. Requests money for fare and expenses on train. Draft of Dr. Stearns response written underneath. Wired money for trip and to buy own ticket
Draft of telegram sent from K.Y. Tu to Dr. Stearn, September 22, 1924
Draft of telegram sent from K.Y. Tu to Dr. Alfred E. Stearns. Received father's telegram to head east. Requests money for fare and expenses on train. Draft of Dr. Stearns response written underneath. Wired money for trip and to buy own ticket
Dear. Stearns Received my father’s cable stating he has remitted you money for my expenses and told me to go east immediately. Sorry have not got money for fare. Please arrange with railway company. Notify their office here. Let me go east and pay fare at destination. Send me Fifty Dollars by telegraphic remittance for expenses on train. Please answer by telegram. K.Y.Tu 4633 21 N.E. Seattle, Wash.
Note from Dr. Alfred E. Stearns to K.Y. Tu, June 16, 1926
Typed note sent from Dr. Alfred E. Stearns to K.Y. Tu. Answers Tu's questions from June 10 letter. States there are no dental schools in Andover. Sent Andover catalogue. Suggests writing to Harvard Dental School or Tufts Dental School.
June 16, 1924 4022 Brooklyn Avenue Seattle, Washington My dear Tu: We have no dental schools whatsoever in Andover our work is wholly preparatory work for entrance to the various colleges and scientific schools. We have mailed to your address a copy of our catalogue which will give you a description of the courses we offer I would suggest that you write for information to either the Harvard Dental School, Boston or to Tufts Dental Soilage, Boston Very truly yours
Bill heading from Genesee Wesleyan Seminary for K.Y. Tu, November 22, 1926
Bill heading sent from Genesee Wesleyan Seminary to Dr. Alfred E. Stearns on behalf of K.Y. Tu.
Receipt from Genesee Wesleyan Seminary for K.Y. Tu, December 6, 1926
Receipt from Genesee Wesleyan Seminary sent for K.Y. Tu's second quarter elocution. Paid October 6, 1926 by Dr. Alfred E. Stearns.