Гроздья гнева

           Intheirlapelstheinsigniaoflodgesandserviceclubs,placeswheretheycangoand,byaweightofnumbersoflittleworriedmen,reassurethemselvesthatbusinessisnobleandnotthecuriousritualizedthieverytheyknowitis;thatbusinessmenareintelligentinspiteoftherecordsoftheirstupidity;thattheyarekindandcharitableinspiteoftheprinciplesofsoundbusiness;thattheirlivesarerichinsteadofthethintiresomeroutinestheyknow;andthatatimeiscomingwhentheywillnotbeafraidanymore.

           Andthesetwo,goingtoCalifornia;goingtositinthelobbyoftheBeverly-WilshireHotelandwatchpeopletheyenvygoby,tolookatmountains—mountains,mindyou,andgreattrees—hewithhisworriedeyesandshethinkinghowthesunwilldryherskin.GoingtolookatthePacificOcean,andI’llbetahundredthousanddollarstonothingatall,hewillsay,"Itisn’tasbigasIthoughtitwouldbe."Andshewillenvyplumpyoungbodiesonthebeach.GoingtoCaliforniareallytogohomeagain.Tosay,"So-and-SowasatthetablenexttousattheTrocadero.She’sreallyamess,butshedoeswearniceclothes."Andhe,"Italkedtogoodsoundbusinessmenoutthere.Theydon’tseeachancetillwegetridofthatfellowintheWhiteHouse."And,"Igotitfromamanintheknow—shehassyphilis,youknow.ShewasinthatWarnerpicture.Mansaidshe’ssleptherwayintopictures.Well,shegotwhatshewaslookingfor."Buttheworriedeyesarenevercalm,andthepoutingmouthisneverglad.