CEM Connections - Sze Kin Yung

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Sze Kin Yung
2. Circa 1875. 3. Circa 1875
Pinyin & Chinese characters	Shi Jinyong 史锦镛
Variant Spellings & Other Names	S. C. Shih Shih Chin Yung¹ Sydney C. Shih
Other Chinese Name(s)	史瑞臣
Detachment	1
LaFargue No.	29
Date of Birth	1858
Place of Birth	Xiangshan, Guangdong Province
Age at Departure for US	15 (Lunar Calendar)
Date of Death	Before 1924
Place of Death	Shanghai
Place(s) of Residence in US	Monson, MA?
American Host Family/ies
School(s), with dates	Monson Academy, MA
Notable Activities/Awards in School
College/University, with dates	Sze had hoped to enter Yale’s Sheffield Scientific School in 1877 but was recalled to China for for misconduct. For details, see “Other” below.
Notable Activities/Awards in College
Degree/Diploma Obtained (date)
First Assignment in China
Later Positions	Business
Employment Sector(s)	Business
Final Rank, if in Gov't Service
Father's Name
Mother's Name
Wife/wives
Family Relations w/ other CEM Students
Children's Names
Descendants
Other	Sze was probably recalled for multiple misbehaviours. According to LaFargue, he was "expelled and sent home for running up a bill". This was unlikely for only one offence, but rather for a habit of overspending (each CEM student was given a monthly allowance by the Commission). Secondly, Qian Gang and Hu Jintao discovered from the archives of the current Wilbraham & Monson Academy that Sze had personal calling cards printed, bearing the title "Sydney C. Shih, Canton, China". This would suggest that he had adopted a more Westernized identity and led a busy social life, thus requiring higher expenses. He also rented a "Mailbox 109(?), Monson Mass." for his personal correspondence. Furthermore, he might have fallen foul of the Commissioners by: (1) participating in Christian activities, and (2) being too friendly with American women. Some letters addressed to American females that were discovered by Qian and Hu indicate such activities. On his way back to China, Sze cut off his queue and dressed in Western clothing, in an apparent gesture of defiance.²
Notes and Sources	1. Rhoads (2011), p. 51, Table 5.1. 2. For the LaFargue citation, see Rhoads (2011), p. 64 & fn 48. For the other details, see Qian & Hu (2003) , 84-87; Qian & Hu (2004), 94-97.