Note from Dr. Alfred E. Stearns to Mr. Joseph A. Rand, February 11, 1928
Typed note from Dr. Stearns to Joseph A. Rand at Andover Steam Laundry. Thanks Rand for pointing out the mistake. Asks if there are outstanding charges for K.Y. Tu.
February 11, 1928 Mr. Joseph A. Rand Andover Stearn Laundry Andover Mass. My dear Mr.Rand Thanks for your note and for calling my attention to my error. I must have crossed my wires somewhere when I sent you that check. Have you any charges outstanding against my ward K. Y.Tu? Faithfully yours.
Handwritten letter sent from K.Y. Tu to Dr. Alfred E. Stearns. Explains plan to earn high school diploma and dentistry work experiences. Has job in a doctor's office for 3 hours a day. Can get room and board free. Is studying at Boston English High School. Will not go home without finishing high school diploma. Asks Stearns to relay plan to his father.
Letter from Dr. Alfred E. Stearns to K.Y. Tu, February 14, 1928
Typed letter sent from Dr. Alfred E. Stearns to K.Y. Tu. Plans to write Tu's father about the situation. Admires K.Y. Tu's spirit and hopes Tu can accomplish his goal. States if father approves of situation, Stearns can use the funds Tu's father provided.
February 14. 1928 Mr. K. Y. Tu c/o Mr. Peter Kiang 72 Mount Vernon Street Boston. Massachusetts My dear Tu: Thank you for your last letter. I like your spirit and do hope you can succeed in accomplishing your purpose, though of course I cannot help having my doubts. I shall write your father anyway and tell him just what you are doing and why. and shall urge him to give you this further opportunity if he deems it advisable. Of course if he approves and gives me authority to do so. I shall be ready and glad to use the funds which I already hold, at your father's request, to help you in going on with your studies. With all best wishes, believe me Very sincerely yours.
Letter from Dr. Alfred E. Stearns to Admiral H.K. Tu, February 14, 1928
Typed letter sent from Dr. Alfred E. Stearns to Admiral H.K. Tu. Explains why Tu's earlier instructions for his son, K.Y. Tu, to return to China weren't followed. States K.Y. Tu pleaded to stay and complete his high school diploma and attend dentistry school. Allowed K.Y. Tu to stay at local high school but did not make progress. Explains Tu traveled to Boston and stated he's found a job in a doctor's office with free room and board, is studying at Boston English High School. Explains withouth permission from H.K. Tu, Stearns could not provides funds. Asks H.K. Tu for his opinion and decision on the situation. Is unsure whether K.Y. Tu will finished a high school diploma. Is also unsure whether Stearns can convince K.Y. Tu to return to China.
February 14. 1928 Admiral H.K.Tu c/o H. K. Tong Chilili River Commission Tientsin. China My dear Mr. Tu: You are doubtless wondering why your earlier instructions have not been carried out to date and Kong returned to you. There is a rather long story involved, but I will touch on it only briefly that you may have a clear understanding of the essential factors in the situation. When I gave Kong your message he was greatly distressed and pleaded with me for another chance, suggesting that he could continue work in our local high school where the demands would not be so severe as at Phillips Academy, and in the hope of securing eventually a high school diploma which would enable him to enter a college or graduate school where he could get special training in dentistry. As I have already written you, we could find no dental school worthy the name that would admit a pupil with less than a complete high school course. I finally yielded to Kong's urgent pleadings and arranged with the principal of the local high school for the boy to begin work there. After a few weeks one of his teachers came to see me and reported that she was sure the boy could not do the work. To give him every chance in the world, however, I allowed him to continue several weeks longer, at which time the principal, a personal friend of mine - told me frankly that he could not properly allow Kong to remain there longer as he was not able to do the work even with the outside help which some of his teachers generously give him. I sent for Kong, therefore, and told him that I did not see how I could do anything else but follow your earlier instructions and require him to return to China. He was greatly depressed, naturally, and assured me that he could and would in some way secure training in dentistry which would enable him to realise your ambition for him. I tried, but without success, to explain to him that I felt this would be a mistake and that it seemed to me that he probably ought to consider a totally different kind of occupation, possibly business, in which he might very naturally meet with success. A day later I heard from the boy that he had gone to Boston to consult a Chinese friend and would advise me a bit later of his plans. This morning I have a letter from him in which he says, - "I am working about three hours a day in a doctor's home and I can get my room and board free and besides that I get a little amount of money, so I think I can get along without my father's help. I am studying at Boston English High School and take four subjects. I try to study as hard as I can. I am not going home before I finish high school. I wish you would tell my father what are the plans I have in my mind when you write to him." When Kong left me I told him that in view of your instructions I could not properly use the funds you had placed in my hands to meet his further expenses in this country unless authorised to do so by you. but that I would gladly follow your instructions in the matter so soon as these were known to me. The boy seemed to appreciate my position and readily accepted the situation, assuring me that he would find some kind of a job to earn for himself needed funds. Whether he can make enough to get along on from his present job. I am not prepared to say. His spirit and earnestness in the matter, however, seem to be of the best. I am really at a loss to know what to do under the circumstances, and must ask again your advice. If Kong can accomplish his purpose I shall be only too delighted, and will be ready to congratulate him and you most heartily. On the other hand in view of the judgments expressed by our own teachers at Phillips Academy and those in our local high school, I cannot, of course, feel that the boy is going to be able to reach his goal. I am a bit anxious, too, lest he became thoroughly discouraged and despondent. I do not see how I can do otherwise, therefore, than state the situation to you just as I see it and await your further advice. If you decide that the boy should go forward in his attempt, I am sure that a word of encouragement from you will help him greatly. On the other hand whether I alone can persuade him to return to China without some pretty definite and persistent instructions from you, I seriously doubt. Please understand, however, that I am as willing and eager as always to do everything in my power for the good of the boy and to help you realise your highest desires for him. Say I take this opportunity to thank you most heartily for your welcome and generous Christmas gift, which I shall always praise most highly. In view of the seemingly little which I have been able to do for Kong, the gift seems all the less deserved. Very sincerely yours.
Note from F.S. Tu to A.E. Stearns, January 27, 1928
Typed note sent from F.S. Tu to Dr. Alfred E. Stearns. Sent $600 on behalf of his brother for his nephew.
January 27. 1928. Route Joseph Frelupt, 148. Fok Sui Li. Shanghai. A. E. Steams Esq. Philips Academy. Andover, Massachusetts. U. S. A. Dear Sir. On behalf of my brother, I beg to enclose a cheque for $600.00 through the usual channel, for the use of his son and shall be much obliged if you will acknowledge receipt on arrival. With best wishes from us. Yours very truly;
Note from Dr. Alfred E. Stearns to Mr. F.S. Tu, February 20, 1928
Typed note sent from Dr. Alfred E. Stearns to F.S. Tu. Acknowledges receipt of January 27th letter and $600 check.
February 20, 1928 Mr. F. S. Tu R oute Joseph Frelupt No.148 Fok Sui Li Shanghai, China My dear sir: I am this morning in receipt of your letter of January 27 with enclosed check for $600.00 sent on behalf of your brother and to be used for your nephew as indicated. I am depositing the check to your nephew’s account and am advising him of its receipt. Very sincerely yours
Letter from Dr. Alfred E. Stearns to K.Y. Tu, February 21, 1928
Typed letter sent from Dr. Alfred E. Stearns to K.Y. Tu. Explains Tu's father approved another chance for Tu's education. Advises Tu to cut all outside work not involved with education or gaining experience. Requests Tu would visit in order to discuss the situation. Enclosed catalogue of Springfield Training School.
February 21, 1928 Mr. K.Y.Tu c/o Mr. Peter Kiang 72 Mount Vernon Street Boston, Massachusetts My dear Tu: You will be delighted to learn, I am sure, that I have just received a letter free your father in which he expresses hie approval of the further attempt you are making to prepare yourself for the study of dentistry. Additional funds have also been sent by his to be used at my discretion in helping you meet the necessary expenses connected with your work and endeavor. Under these circumstances I think you ought to cut out all outside work that does not directly aid you in securing training for the profession you have in mind. That time invested in hard study will be more valuable to you now than anything else. If in a doctor's office you can pick up knowledge that will help you in your studies, by all means keep at it and count that part of your education, but work simply for the sake of adding to your income should be dropped without question. I wish you would run out here some day and give me a chance to talk over with you the whole situation so that I can form a fair opinion as to what expenses you will be called upon to face and can advise your father accordingly. I am sending under separate cover a copy of the catalogue just received from the Springfield Training School, which I had sent for in the hope that wo might find something in it that would be of interest to you. I am afraid, however, that the work is altogether too advances, but even so you may be glad to look at the catalogue, the catalogue may prove interesting to you. Sincerely yours
Letter from H.K. Tu to Dr. Alfred E. Stearns, January 25, 1928
Typed letter sent from H.K. Tu to Dr. Alfred E. Stearns. Willing to give Kong Y. Tu another chance at a higher education in America. Prefers Kong move onto dentistry school or obtain practical experience. Leaves decision to Stearns. Thanks Stearns for being patient with Kong Y. Tu.
Dear Dr. Stearns, I have received your letters of November 26th and December 22nd respectively, for which please accept my hearty thanks. The reason for my failure to reply to your letter of November 26th earlier than this is the absence from Tientsin of my friend Mr. Hollington K. Tong for nearly a month. As you suggested I will give my son another chance to secure a higher and possibly professional education in your great country which I have no doubt will be of great assistance to him when he has to make a living for himself. I hope that Kong will do better this time and exert his utmost and I am also writing to him in this connection. It will be to his benefit if Kong can complete his high school education and then take dentistry in a school approved by yourself or learn some practical dentistry in a place where the theory is taught and at the same time he has the opportunity to have practice. But I leave the matter for the preparation of his future entirely to you. I want to thank you most sincerely for the great interest you have taken and will take in him. I have no doubt that his failure to pass examinations must have caused you keen disappointment, but in spite of this you have been so patient with him. It is unnecessary for me to say that I am very grateful to you. With greetings of the season. Yours very sincerely,
Letter from Dr. Alfred E. Stearns to Admiral H.K. Tu, February 20, 1928
Typed letter sent from Dr. Alfred E. Stearns to Admiral H.K. Tu. Acknowledges receipt of Tu's letter and check from Tu's brother. States he is glad Tu is willing to try new arrangement in regards to Kong's case. Believes the experience will be a learning experience for Kong.
February 20, 1938 Admiral H. K. Tu C/o H.K.Tong Chihli River Commission Tientsin, China My dear Mr. Tu: I am this morning in receipt of your good letter of January 25 as well as one from your brother of January 27. Your brother’s letter contains a check, for $500.00 to be credited to your son’s account. I am glad to secure from your letter the information needed to enable me to deal properly with Kong’s case. As I have just written you, the boy is now working in Boston, and I am sure he will be delighted when he learns the good news of your willingness to allow him to try out this new arrangement and to back him financially as well as you can while he does so. The boy had reached the point where he was ready to earn his way. If necessary, in the earnest endeavor to teach the goal which you had set him. I am still a bit skeptical as to what the outcome is to be, but at least I am sure that nothing can be lost by giving Kong this extra chance and that there will be some education to him in the experience itself. In the meantime we will continue to hope for the best. Please accept my heartiest greetings and good wishes for the coming New Tear. Very sincerely yours.
Note from Dr. Alfred E. Stearns to K.Y. Tu, February 28, 1928
Typed note sent from Dr. Alfred E. Stearns to K.Y. Tu. Plans to leave for Springfield the afternoon or evening of March 3rd. Asks if Tu can visit in the morning.
February 28, 1928 Mr. K.Y.Tu 407 Beacon St. Boston, Mass. My dear Tu: I have your letter of recent date. In all probability I shall be in Andover Saturday afternoon between the hours mentioned, about two to four o’ clock. I have to go to Springfield that same afternoon or evening, however, and may have to leave earlier than now anticipated. Would it not be possible for you to run out here Saturday morning? Sincerely yours,