[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 137 (Thursday, October 17, 2002)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1918-E1919]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


 HONORING JOHN STEINBECK ON THE CENTENNIAL ANNIVERSARY OF HIS BIRTHDAY

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                            HON. LOIS CAPPS

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, October 16, 2002

  Mrs. CAPPS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today with my California colleagues 
to recognize the remarkable contributions that John Steinbeck made to 
literature on the occasion of the Centennial Anniversary of his 
birthday. Below is one of my favorite passages from ``The Grapes of 
Wrath,'' which commemorates the beauty of California.

       They drove through Tehachapi in the-morning glow, and the 
     sun came up behind them, and then--suddenly they saw the 
     great valley below them. Al jammed on the brake and stopped 
     in the middle of the road, and, ``Jesus Christ! Look!'' he 
     said. The vineyards, the orchards, the great flat valley, 
     green and beautiful, the trees set in rows, and the farm 
     houses.
       And Pa said, ``God Almighty!'' The distant cities, the 
     little towns in the orchard land, and the morning sun, golden 
     on the valley, A car honked behind them. Al pulled to the 
     side of the road and parked.
       ``I want ta look at her.'' The grain fields golden in the 
     morning, and the willow lines, the eucalyptus trees in rows.
       Pa sighed, ``I never knowed they was anything like her.'' 
     The peach trees and the walnut groves, and the dark green 
     patches of oranges. And red roofs among the trees, and 
     barns--rich barns. Al got out and stretched his legs.
       He called, ``Ma--come look. We're there!''
       Ruthie and Winfield scrambled down from the car, and then 
     they stood, silent and awestruck, embarrassed before the 
     great valley.

[[Page E1919]]

     The distance was thinned with haze, and the land grew softer 
     and softer in the distance. A windmill flashed in the sun, 
     and its turning blades were like a little heliograph, far 
     away. Ruthie and Winfield looked at it, and Ruthie whispered, 
     ``It's California.''

     

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