8. If He Tells the Truth He Would Starve (historical & literary background of Nuff Sed)

This is the eighth installment in a series of posts delving into the rich historical and literary background of my novel, “Nuff Sed: A Novel of Desert Steve.”

In this chapter, titled “If He Tells the Truth He Would Starve” we journey back to 1907 and 1908, which takes place in the town of Coffeyville, Kansas. The chapter reveals the birth of Steve and Lydia’s first child, Thurman, and Steve’s subsequent encounters with church leaders, culminating in a significant confrontation.

Historicity and Fiction

The doctor who delivers Thurman is fictional, but the birthdate is historical (September 19, 1907). We also get some foreshadows into Steve’s view of society, culture, and his increasing difficulty being a pastor of a church in a small town.

The scene where Steve greets his parishioners as they leave church after service is fictional, of course, but some of the frustration Steve experiences are historical. The reference to the upcoming baseball World Series with the Tigers and the Cubs is historical.

Bishop Shaun is fictional, but the structure of the church, the authority of the bishops, is historically accurate. The problems that the bishop sees in Steve’s work are historical, as is Steve’s response to being reprimanded.

Desert Steve’s Quotes

The title of this chapter is derived from Desert Steve’s small booklet titled Philosophy and Sayings of Desert Steve. This particular quote originates from a section titled “Steve’s Dictionary,” where an entry for “Preacher” is found. The complete definition reads,

PREACHER—if he tells the truth would starve if he wasn’t shot.

Obviously, this old writing of Steve’s displays his frustration with having been a preacher.

Other Historical Events

• On October 12, 1907, the Chicago Cubs clinched their first World Series Championship with a 4-0-1 series victory against the Detroit Tigers, defeating them 2-0 at Bennett Park.
• Steve’s sister, Rose Adele Ragsdale, marries Roy William Knox in Coffeyville on October 29, 1907.
• The Panic of 1907 was triggered by a run on banks following a run on the Knickerbocker trust company on October 22.
• On November 16, 1907, Oklahoma officially became the 46th state of the United States.
  

Continued Journey

The next chapter, titled “California, Twixt the River and the Sea (1908),” explores Steve’s decision to move the family to the Palo Verde Valley in East Southern California to grow cotton.

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