C A R M E L M A G A Z I N E • S U M M E R / F A L L 2 0 1 5 219
Steinbeck wrote of the development of Cannery Row, "the flies were so thick, you could
walk on them…anything they do will probably be an improvement."
making the rounds of restaurants, trying to sell
the letter to raise enough to pay my tax bill.
The most I was offered was $400, which was
not enough. Then I remembered visiting the
Profiles in History gallery in Beverly Hills. I
called them and read the letter.
"How much do you want for it?" the
woman asked.
"$3,000," I replied.
"Well, I'm sure the owner won't pay that
much, but if you will send us a copy via Federal
Express, we will get you a prompt answer of
how much he might offer."
The next day I got a call from the gallery.
"We will pay you your asking price of $3,000.
Send us the original via Federal Express." The
check was promptly delivered and I paid the IRS
bill and breathed a big sigh of relief.
This is a public thank you to John Steinbeck
for paying my income taxes that year. This expe-
rience will hopefully inspire some other young
person to not be afraid to go to the original
source to ask questions, even if he is as well known
as Monterey County's most famous author.
