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Reno County: The Yellow Wallpaper

May 19, 2021 by Jim Potter 4 Comments

 

http://jimpotterauthor.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/Reno-County-The-Yellow-Wallpaper.mp3

The Yellow Wallpaper

•

In the late 1870s, Samuel Field Conant, of Maine, developed a system of disease elimination by Vapor Baths. Unknown year of advertisement. Thanks to “dvery1” from ancestry.com.

It’s Monday, June 21, 1897, at 102 East Sherman Street, in Hutchinson, Kansas. Julia Latimer Whiteside, 29, is visiting with Alice Lewis Smith, 36, at Alice’s business of cure baths.

*

As Alice prepared the cure bath for her first customer of the day, she heard the whistle of the departing Hutchinson & Southern train.

Meanwhile, Julia felt like she was on olfactory overload. What are those different smells? thought Julia. Peppermint? Ginger? Cinnamon? Cloves?

Advertisement in The Hutchinson News, July 5, 1897.

“Yesterday, I lost my gold-framed glasses in front of Silsbee & Scott’s grocery,” said Alice. “I placed a notice in today’s paper in case someone found them.”

“I hope a Good Samaritan returns them,” said Julia. “Houston and I will be leaving for California in two weeks, but I wanted to stop by and see how your cure therapy is working.”

“A lot of people have given it a try,” said Alice. “Most, but not all, are encouraged. It’s a combination of compound vapor fuming and liniment bathing. It helps cure rheumatism, asthma, eczema, chronic neuralgia, and other nervous troubles.”

Click to open link: Dr Conant vapor bath image and ad

“I have a friend who normally isn’t hysterical, but hasn’t been doing well recently,” said Julia. “She’s been having emotional problems since the birth of her baby. Her doctor told her to follow the Rest Cure.”

The Invalid, a painting by Louis Lang (ca. 1870), depicts the treatment of bed rest for women. Image from Wikipedia.

“The Rest Cure can be helpful, but not every woman has the luxury of a full-time nurse while she stays in bed for weeks or months,” said Alice.

“It’s been weeks,” said Julia, “but she’s been forced to stay in bed 24 hours a day. It seems harsh and too isolating. There are better ways to get fresh air than by opening windows.”

“Have you been able to visit her to form your own opinion?” asked Alice.

“Her husband forbids visits from family and friends,” said Julia. “Even brain work, like writing, is prohibited because it might lead to nervous strain and interfere with recovery.”

“Do you know if the doctor sees the woman as hysterical?” asked Alice. “As you know, every patient is different, but so is every doctor. Dr. Silas Weir Mitchell is known nationally for his pioneering work on nervous disease, especially neurasthenia (physical and mental exhaustion) and hysteria, but even a Rest Cure can be overdone.”

“Agreed,” replied Julia. “You sound like you’ve been to a recent lecture by Charlotte Perkins Stetson.”

“I wish,” replied Alice. “She’s brilliant. She’s successful in many areas: lecturer, author, poet, and social reformer.”

“With her untiring leadership, someday we’ll have the vote,” said Julia. “Mrs. Addison, state president of the Women Suffrage Association, has arranged for Charlotte to deliver a number of lectures around the state over the next month. I haven’t heard if she’s coming to Hutchinson.

“The Yellow Wallpaper,” edition 1899. Image from Wikipedia.

“I’m thinking about Charlotte’s short story, ‘The Yellow Wallpaper.’ It was published a few years ago in The New England Magazine. Do you know it?”

“I haven’t read the story,” said Alice, “but if Charlotte Perkins Stetson wrote it, she’s probably not sharing tips on hanging wallpaper or decorating the house.”

Julia and Alice both laughed. They were bright women, much more than “just” wives and mothers. They recognized Charlotte as a social reformer with courage.

“Charlotte wrote ‘The Yellow Wallpaper’ after her own complete nervous collapse and recovery,” said Julia. “When she fell into a psychotic depression, she came under the care of Doctor Mitchell.

“Her short story’s about a woman who is suffering from nervous depression, but the narrator also has a marriage that’s not working. Her husband, John, is her doctor. He recommends a treatment of inactivity, for her to rest and stay in her room, and not even write.  However, she longs for a stimulating conversation and physical activity.

“After too much time isolated in the bedroom, she’s disturbed by the yellow wallpaper that’s irritating and torturing her with its formless pattern and hideous color. It smells and begins to shift, depending on the lighting. By moonlight, it begins to resemble bars.

“The point of the story is to caution that patients, often women, may be physically pampered but emotionally starved,” said Julia. “The treatment was causing, not correcting, her further mental breakdown because she wasn’t being respected and allowed to make decisions regarding her own lifestyle and health.

“Charlotte Perkins Stetson recovered after traveling west to California,” continued Julia. “That’s ironic because Dr. Mitchell promoted a rugged ‘Go West’ cure for men, while women were typically stuck in bed resting when they preferred congenial work, with excitement, and change.”

“I know that economically she promotes women making their own living and feeding themselves,” said Alice. “I’m familiar with her lecture, ‘The Heroes We Need Now.’ She begins by making it clear that heroism is made up of strength, courage, and love. Heroism always means doing something for other people, making sacrifices for others.”

“Yes,” agreed Julia, “Charlotte encourages women to go beyond being a wife or mother, to understand that we have a duty to the entire world. Despite being abused and despised, women need the courage to keep learning and living a new life.

“She ended the lecture reminding people, especially women, that a danger to progress is to try and please everyone. That’s impossible.

Charlotte Perkins Gilman photo by Frances Benjamin Johnston, copyright 1900. Image from Wikipedia.

“According to the newspaper article I read,” continued Julia, “Charlotte cautioned that you’ll be criticized and slandered whether you sit still or whether you do the work for social change. At the end of the lecture she asks, ‘Why not find the courage to make a difference?’”

“We’re fortunate to have our lives,” said Alice. “And congratulations on being awarded first prize at the closing Jubilee concert for the best contralto solo. Your beautiful vocal solos make Hutchinson proud.”

“Why, thank you,” responded Julia.

“You’re welcome here anytime,” said Alice, “just let me know if I can be of help. I hope you, Houston, and the children have a nice trip west. How old are Houston, Jr. and Ada now?”

“Houston, Jr. turned six last week; Ada is four. How about Harry and Susie?”

“Harry’s ten, Susie’s eight,” stated Alice. “Julia, thanks for reminding me how Charlotte Perkins Stetson continues to be a risk-taker, speaking her mind, helping improve the world. She’s a model for the rest of us.”

“Not everyone thinks she’s talented,” answered Julia. “Some people, including newspaper editors, think she’s just another hysterical woman out of touch with reality, trying to change the male-dominated social order.”

“I’m reminded how fortunate I am,” said Alice. “While Fay is busy at the courthouse, I’m working outside the home, here and with rentals. I thank God I’m not trapped in bed, staring at yellow wallpaper.”

*

Until next time, happy writing and reading.

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Filed Under: Blog posts Tagged With: Alice Lewis Smith, Anidrosis, Ben Zuber Swanson, Charlotte Perkins Gilman, Charlotte Perkins Stetson, Compound Vapor Fuming, Dr. Silas Weir Mitchell, Frances Benjamin Johnston, Go West Cure, Hutchinson Kansas, Hutchinson News, Jim Potter, Julia Latimer Whiteside, Kansas Authors Club, Liniment Bathing, Reno County, Reno County Sheriff, Rest Cure, Samuel Field Conant, Sheriffs of Reno County, Silsbee & Scott's grocery, The New England Magazine, The Yellow Wallpaper, Vapor Baths

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Alex says

    May 19, 2021 at 8:57 am

    Strong women and thinkers who are still role models for current times!

    Reply
    • Jim Potter says

      May 20, 2021 at 7:47 am

      Charlotte Perkins Stetson Gilman was “rediscovered” during the Women’s Rights Movement in the 1960s & 1970s. She is deserving for taking a stand and speaking her mind.

      Reply
  2. Marilyn Bolton says

    May 19, 2021 at 10:02 pm

    Fascinating–and important!!

    Reply
    • Jim Potter says

      May 20, 2021 at 7:50 am

      Some men were more likely to keep their spouse “locked up” in the house for a couple of reasons. One was the genuine desire for her health, safety, & sanity, but sometimes there was another reason. The hubby didn’t want to be embarrassed that he was married to a hysterical, crazy woman.

      Reply

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What People Are Saying

Denise Low, author of Jackalope (Red Mountain Press)

Jim Potter is a cop, retired, but he brings deep understanding of this job to his novel Taking Back the Bullet: Trajectories of Self-Discovery. This layered novel has literary dimensions as characters explore crisis situations. Congratulations to this fine writer for his debut novel.

Rebecca from Proud Police Wife

Taking Back the Bullet is an emotional, yet captivating novel. Jim Potter does a superb job of intertwining each character and putting their individual identities on display. All law enforcement storylines are a true reflection of Potter’s years as a police officer because they are realistic and relatable. This is a book I highly recommend.

Dennis Perrin, educator

Masterful storytelling, exquisite character development, so real as to HURT and HOPE, a real page turner. Begs for stage, screenwriters, and visual episodic development a.k.a. TV series . . . Thanks Jim Potter for telling it like it is AND providing us visions of how it could be. Well done!

Rebecca Schillaci

As a former law enforcement officer, I found the story very relatable as it details the life of a law enforcement officer and the struggles some face throughout their careers. . . Taking Back the Bullet is a journey of understanding, respect, and forgiveness . . .

Sheryl Remar

I enjoyed the different stories of this book because Tom, James, and Suanna, the three main characters, represent in their own way the different struggles with themselves and society’s idea of what is normal.

John & Cindy Morrill, 20 years Air Force retired, 17 years law enforcement

I enjoyed your book. When I am looking for a new read, I always read the first page, last page and choose a random page somewhere in the middle before I decide to buy it. You had me on all three pages. I also like reading a book where you can relate to the characters and the settings in which they live and work. It makes a story more realistic if you can say, I am familiar with the area; I know where that town is or I have traveled that street. It was easy to relate to the characters. In one way or another, I have met them all somewhere in my journeys.

Judy Hawk

. . . I was impressed with the Native American information as well as the depth of character development . . . .

Wynona Winn, PhD, retired school superintendent

Three main characters walk different paths but with the same destination – each coping with his or her self-discovery, self-identity, and self-realization. Much like their earlier counterparts – Huck Finn and Holden Caulfield – their journeys are often joyous, often tedious and often tragic.

Diana Dester

Good story line, building the characters along the way. Great job!

Deb Theis, LSCSW, clinical therapist/hypnotherapist

Jim Potter has done it again! After his book, Cop in the Classroom: Lessons I’ve Learned, Tales I’ve Told, Jim has written another great work. In Taking Back the Bullet: Trajectories of Self-Discovery, Jim Potter takes us on an insightful journey into the lives and relationships of numerous characters. Jim is such a talented storyteller that the reader quickly becomes immersed and has a ‘bonding experience’ with each of the characters, feeling their joy, fear, passion and pain. Jim’s novel speaks to the empowerment of persistence with the characters as they work through their trials. As a therapist, I appreciated the heartfelt struggles from each of the characters and their diversity. I also found value in the novel’s understanding of society’s misunderstanding of both mental health and other conditions in which people struggle. The novel contains rich exposure to various realities that many of us do not know about . . . but should. When I finished this captivating novel, I was wanting to read the sequel! It was an honor and a wonderful, mesmerizing experience reading this book. Congratulations, Jim!

Jane Holzrichter

I finished it last night around midnight. What a great piece of work. It kept me intrigued all the way to the end.

Sean McArdle, Winchester, England

Retired police officer Potter’s novel centres on very disparate characters and through the tried and tested means of gradually introducing each one, builds a sense of anticipation about what is going to happen to them. This often used methodology is not easy to do well but is superbly handled by Potter who knows how to give enough detail to bring the characters to life, yet not too much so as to slow down the pace of the developing story. A climactic event affects the main characters and it is at this point Potter’s deep knowledge of people and police procedures really hits home; page by page we read how a seemingly simple, though terrible occurrence, can have huge consequences. To Potter’s credit the story does not have a completely conclusive or simplistic ending. Instead it leaves the reader thinking about how the events of a single minute can affect lives forever. I would whole heartedly recommend this book not as a crime novel or even as a novel about crime but as a beautiful and positive affirmation about what it is to be human and how ultimately it is relationships which matter more than events.

Morgan Penner

Taking Back the Bullet is a novel that provides the reader with a window into the world of law enforcement. As the novel unfolds, the reader is able to see how split-second decisions alter the lives of the main characters in the story. Taking Back the Bullet also explores how humanity is impacted by mental illness. One of my favorite quotes from Taking Back the Bullet is “We’re all just a critical moment from being disabled or mentally ill, and we don’t want to think about it.” The novel also provides the reader an opportunity to gain a better understanding of how mental illness impacts the individuals, their family, friends, and society. Taking Back the Bullet is a story of forgiveness and overcoming life’s struggles and tragedies.

Steve Becker

I’m impressed. It was an excellent read. . . . I hope you continue with more projects in the future.

Larry Kruckman, anthropologist

Jim Potter displays ethnographic skills in Taking Back the Bullet: Trajectories of Self-Discovery, creating vivid scenes and fascinating characters. The Greeks had a word for subcultures and people’s behavior: ‘ethos,’ or ‘ways of being.’ In colorful, sometimes marvelous detail, this novel captures various people and settings . . . the ethos of rural Kansas: a jail, art fair, powwow, rehab center, courtroom, albinos, and even someone in the throes of postpartum depression. So detailed are the descriptions that they must be drawn from the author’s personal experience. Besides the artfully created characters such as the struggling jailer and husband Tom Jennings, local artist Jesse Thomas, and Native American Joe Morningcloud, there is a tight story line that grabs your attention and won’t let go. Human tensions, love, conflict, joys and sorrows are all there. Magically, all the many pieces come together in a final crescendo, giving hope that even when we find ourselves in big trouble we can survive. This is a novel I highly recommend!

Larry Kruckman
Anthropologist
Karleen Wilson-Moon

Terrific story relevant to today’s social issues . . . well written . . . likable characters . . . insightful perspective from an insider in law enforcement.

Karleen Wilson-Moon

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