Letter from Charles Sun, c/o Frank Lin, MIT Dorm, to Alfred E. Stearns, July 24, 1927
Dear Dr. Stearns: These last three or four days nave formed the most eventful weekend in Boston so far this summer. On Friday I listened at the Sharkey-Dempsey fight over the radio, and was greatly interested to hear that the latter won. This victory means that the championship bout to be held sometimes in the coming fall will be one of the best attended boxing match in the history or the boxing world. On Saturday I had the opportunity of seeing that much-talked-about and attractive American aviator, Charles Lindbergh. I was only one of the many thousands of Bostonians, who came out to greet their national idol of the air. The city for two or three hours was in a feverish uproar when a great part or her citizens were expecting the arrival of this man, but in the wink of the eye all is quiet again. How quick "Lindy” passed by! It is a long time since Amherst College closed for the summer, and I think that by this time the recorder must have mailed out the grades for our final examinations. So if you have already received my report and have no more need or it, please kindly send it to me, for I am very desirous to know I have made out last year. Thank you, Sir, in advance. On the nineth [sic] of this month Arthur and Quincy left Boston for Seattle, thence they sailed for China on the nineteenth. By now they are pretty near Japan, and in less than a week they will sight, the land which was absent from their eyes for seven long years. They must feel very strange to get back. Since Arthur a departure Tom and I are still staying in the M. I. T. dormitories, and Frank, of course, is with us. There is nothing much for us to do except exercise and play. I am not doing any studying save reading myself plays of Shakespeare. In rainy weather we would play card games or go to the moving picture show; in good days we would play tennis, or soccer, or football to suit our taste. I call this a very easy way of passing a summer, too, too easy. Next year I shall take care to find something worthwhile to do during the summer. Some time ago this month I met one of the Andover boys. He said that he was been up in your camp for a short stay with the Hoppers. The fishing is not good, according to him, but just the same it tickled me to death to near things about the old camp. It is really one of my dreams to go up to the Diamond Stream for a week of fishing sometimes before I go back to China. I would do it not for the fishing alone out for the sake of tasting for the last time real American wild life. Do you think my dream will come true? Faithfully yours,
Letter from Alfred E. Stearns to Charles Sun, c/o Frank Lin, MIT Dorm, July 26, 1927
Dear Charlie: Your letter reached me only a few hours after my return from Connecticut Lake where I have been for the past two weeks with my own boy. The old place has not changed much, though on account of logging operations the fishing on the Diamond has been very poor for the past two years. I share your hope that you will have an opportunity to see the old place again, enjoy a good tramp in the woods, and get a few old-fashioned fly bites before you go back to China. Your records from Amherst reached me some time ago, and I at once forwarded them to you and, if I remember correctly, using Arthur's mail box address in Boston. If you have not received the record by this time, I would suggest that you inquire at the Boston Post office for I think I sent several documents to you and Tom at that address. I am sorry that you are not finding more to do this summer that seems really worth while, though I know that a good rest won't hurt you. Tom assured me that he was to take regular courses at Boston University. If he is not doing this, he certainly should let me know. With best wishes to you both, believe me Always sincerely yours
Letter from Alfred E. Stearns to Hsu Shian Lin (father of Frank Lin), Japanese Concession, Tientsin, December 27, 1922
Letter from Alfred E. Stearns to Hsu Shian Lin (father of Frank Lin), Japanese Concession, Tientsin December 27, 1922
My dear Mr. Lin: Let me acknowledge the receipt of your kind letter of November 18. Frank and Arthur Sun have both return to us for the holidays and are members of the group at the house who have now become almost a part of my family. The other Suns and Quincey Sheh are with us, of course, and Chien Chang has come on from Troy, New York, to join the group. So you see we have quite a Chinese atmosphere about the house at this time. The boys, I feel sure, have enjoyed this Christmas season together, just as I have certainly enjoyed their presence. Frank apparently finds his work at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology pretty hard; but he tells me that he expects it to come easier for him from now on, and I hope that this will prove to be the case. He seems in pretty good health and in the best of spirits and the holiday rest and chance for wholesome out-of-door life and recreation will no doubt put him in the best of condition for the work of his winter term. You may be sure that, even though the boy has gone to another institution to continue his studies, I think he feels, as I earnestly wish him to feel, that he can always find in my home the real American home of his own where he will be gladly welcomed and counted almost as one of the family circle. Wishing you the compliments of the season and a happy and prosperous New Year, believe me always Very sincerely yours,
Letter from Hsu Shian Lin (father of Frank Lin), Japanese Concession, Tientsin, to Alfred E. Stearns, November 18, 1922
Dear Sir, I beg to acknowledge with thank receipt of your kind favour of Sept. 27th. advising receipt of chairs and also conveying the news of my boy’s admission to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. I am delighted to note your remark concerning Frank’s behaviour during his stay in your house and am sure that his good conduct is the result of his close contact with you, but he will be henceforth the loser for not having your fatherly care and protection as in the past, so I pray that you will treat him in a likewise manner wherever he has an opportunity of calling on you again in the future. Thanking you for your kindness to my son and wishing you the compliments of the season, I beg to remain, Yours sincerely,
Letter from Hsu Shian Lin (father of Frank Lin), Tientsin, to M.T. Liang, Tientsin, May 16, 1921
Dear Mr. Liang, My son, Frank C.F. Lin, is at present studying in Phillip's Academy, Mass, where Mr. Stearns is the Principal. As I am not acquainted with this gentle man, I shall therefore be obliged if you will kindly write to him to act as Guidance of my boy. I would have to see you personally, had I not been called away to Peking for some important mission. Thanking you in anticipation, Yours sincerely,