Letter from Alfred E. Stearns to John R. Freeman, Providence, Rhode Island, October 7, 1926 (regarding Arthur Sun)
My dear Mr. Freeman: I believe that you are personally acquainted with Mr. C. Y. Sun of Tientsin, China, whose four children have been under my care during their stay in America these past five years. The oldest of the group, Arthur Sun, hopes to secure his degree from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology this week and is seeking, at the request of his father, a position with some engineering firm in this country where he can gain practical experience before his return to the home land. Arthur Sun has recently applied for a position with the Metropolitan Water Supply Company of Boston, and, as he has been specializing in sanitary engineering, he feels, as do I, that a position of this kind would furnish him with just the best kind of an opportunity to put the finishing touches, so to speak, on his Technology training. I am wondering if a word from you to some of the officials of this Company would not carry a good deal of weight, provided, of course, your knowledge of and Interest in the Sun family would justify you in speaking a word in the boy’s behalf. Mr. Sun, Senior, has asked me to try to help his son secure a position of this kind and naturally I feel a good bit of responsibility in the matter without knowing exactly just how to accomplish the end desired. If the above suggestion is not practicable. I shall be ready and glad to receive any suggestions from you that may aid me in carrying out the father’s expressed wishes and in giving the boy his chance with some good American firm. Thanking you in advance for whatever help you may be willing to give me, believe me Very sincerely yours,
Letter from John R. Freeman, Providence, Rhode Island, to Alfred E. Stearns, October 14, 1926 (regarding Arthur Sun)
Dear Mr. Stearns: I am exceedingly glad that you wrote me about Mr. Arthur Sun. His father is a very remarkable man. When I found Arthur was a student at Technology I told Dr. Stratton about him, who sent out into the class room for him to come to the President’s office. I think the young man was somewhat astonished at the summons. I had not previously known that you were looking after the education of Mr. C. Y. Sun’s four children. I am glad to find them in such capable hands. The father impressed me as one of the finest characters that I met during my stay in China. Yours sincerely, JRF/AM
Letter from Alfred E. Stearns to John R. Freeman, Providence, Rhode Island, October 15, 1926 (regarding Arthur Sun)
My dear Mr. Freeman: Thank you for your prompt and most friendly reply to my recent letter in regard to Arthur Sun. Arthur has since written me that he has finally secured his degree at Tech, and for this I am supremely grateful chiefly because I realize what a keen disappointment failure would have brought to the boy’s father. Arthur is not the most promising of Mr. Sun’s four children, but he is pretty steady, though not brilliant, and I believe he will develop better as he grows in age and experience. I have also interested Mr. Spencer Murray in the case, and I am sure with the backings which the boy has from men like you and Mr. Murray, he ought to be able to find a good position in the not distant future. Sincerely and gratefully yours,
Copy of letter from John R. Freeman, Providence, Rhode Island, to Frank Winsor, Metropolitan Water Supply, Boston, October 14, 1926 (regarding Arthur Sun)
Dear Mr. Winsor: I wish to call to your friendly attention Mr. Arthur Sun, a citizen of Tientsin, China, whom I have met while a student at the Mass. Institute of Technology, from which he expects to graduate at about the present time. I understand he has applied for a position with the new Metropolitan Water Supply, and has been specializing in sanitary Engineering at the Institute. I am much interested personally in having young Mr. Sun find just the right kind of a position that will put the finishing touches on his Technology training, and help him to a field of future usefulness in China. His father is one of the most eminent citizens of the great city of Tientsin, and is very friendly to Americans. As you know, I have had several Chinese students for engineering assistants, and have found them each and all exceedingly faithful and attentive to their duties, and I have the utmost confidence that you would find Mr. Arthur Sun a valuable assistant who would show the keenest interest in performing to your satisfaction whatever duties you might assign him. Yours sincerely, JRF/AM
Copy of letter from John R. Freeman, Providence, Rhode Island, to Arthur Sun, Cambridge, Mass, October 18, 1926
Dear Mr. Sun: Inclosed please find copy of a letter from my friend Frank E. Winsor, which very much disappoints me. I am wondering if you would be in a position for a while to go on his staff as a volunteer observer without salary. I will write Mr. Winsor again suggesting this possibility. If you would be interested I would also write to Mr. X.[illegible] Goodnough, Chief Engineer of the Mass. State Board of Health, who has many very interesting problems continually put up to him from all over the state of Massachusetts. Mr. Goodnough would be under the same disadvantage as Mr. Winsor from Civil Service laws, but Mr. Kennison, if he had an opening, would be in position to pay a salary. Let me know how you make out, for I assure you I am desirous of helping. Yours very truly,
Copy of letter from Frank Winsor, Metropolitan District Commission, Boston, to John R. Freeman, Providence, Rhode Island, October 16, 1926 (regarding Arthur Sun)
Dear Mr. Freeman: I have your letter of October 14 calling my attention to the application of Arthur Sun for a position on this work. I have met Mr. Sun and have been favorably impressed with him, but unfortunately he is not a citizen of Massachusetts, nor of the United States, and the law contemplates giving preference to such. Under conditions existing at this moment, I cannot offer him a position, but if it should develop that we have difficulty in procuring a sufficient number of men with his training from among our citizens, I may be able to do something for him later on. I appreciate your letter and certainly shall bear his application in mind. Sincerely yours, Signed-Frank E. Winsor Chief Engineer
Letter from John R. Freeman, Providence, Rhode Island, to Alfred E. Stearns, October 18, 1926 (regarding Arthur Sun)
Dear Dr. Stearns: With reference to the enclosed bill against Mr. A. K. Sun, our records show that on September 25th, he paid $10.00, covering Condition Examinations in subjects #640 and 1.492, giving your check for $15.00. $5.00 was returned to him in cash. Examination in subject 1.493 was not reported to us until October 8- hence the enclosed statement. Very truly yours, Bursar HSF/W Enclosure - 1
Letter from Alfred E. Stearns to John R. Freeman, Providence, Rhode Island, October 19, 1926 (regarding Arthur Sun)
My dear Mr. Freeman: Thank you for your note of October 18 and for the copies of your letter to Arthur and of Mr. Winsor' s letter to you. You have been more than kind in this matter, and I deeply appreciate your interest, as I am sure Mr. Sun, Sr., will when he knows of it. Under the circumstances Arthur Sun ought, in my judgment, to accept the position regardless of any salary. I imagine that his father would be very willing to carry the minor expense of the boy’s living for another year in return for the valuable experience he would gain from a position of this kind. I am writing Arthur to this effect and trust that he will be governed in his further actions accordingly. Very sincerely yours,