Elson Verandah with Firecrackers

Item

Title
Elson Verandah with Firecrackers
Caption
Firecrackers at Endicott home when leaving for Canada
Identifier
AEJ_138
Description
The Elson verandah with a group of unidentified missionary women and a Chinese soldier with his back turned. Long sticks with firecrackers lean up against the porch awaiting the moment to launch the send off salute.
Creator
Alfred Johns
Date Created
1910
Location
Chengdu, Sichuan; Chengtu, Szechwan (30.658799593305872, 104.06988893551647)
Source
Ken Johns
Provenance
Johns Family Archives
Publisher
SIUE
Record Date
2024-11-15
Contributor
Cory Willmott
Type
Still Image
abstract
The Johns arrived in Chengdu in early 1911, but Endicott left there in 1910. Elson left Chengdu in June 1911, so would have overlapped with the Johns.

Fireworks was a Chinese ritual greeting and farewell tribute to those they deemed important people, which frequently included missionaries. Given the size of their house it is not surprising Chinese would have that impression.

Linked resources

Items with "Relation: Elson Verandah with Firecrackers"
Title Class
Elson's Farewell Firecrackers Image
Resource class
Image