The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1921-12-18
Bullets from, the Love- Mad
Comedian Drop Pretty
Cecile BARLEY, the Actress,
In the Center of the Stage
Three Real

yvTHEN Jack Grubb shot pretty Cectle
NJ BARLEY and then killed himself
the other day II was the most
natural thing In the world thai the double
tragedy should have occurred righr 10 rhe
oenne Of the stage In the biggest theatre
in Hamilton. Ontario with the orchestra
playing soft music and with the footlighls
full, IN his lace.
Why because Grub. an actor with
true dramatic instinct thought that his
troubles were sufficiently tragic to deserve
the most spectacular setting possible He
knew that OF the stage. as nowhere else
his desperate act would be purpied by ali
the mimic tragedies associated by every.
one with the theatre. Crazed by thwarted
love, the wicked plan OF killing the pretty
actress IN the very stage on which she
ha; bsen rendered her greatest triumph
assumed unnatural proportions in his dis.
cas- Imagination and compensated him
for his wounded feelings.
Men have died and worms have eaten
tbera-but not for love-" somebody once
rose 20 remark but injured egotism has
filed many murderer and suicides grave
snd that seemed to be the trouble with
Grubb.
For years he cherished the ambition to
become o great tragic actor. He learned
all of Shakespeare by heart All OF his
spare time was spent in his hall bedroom
striding up and down as Hamlet or Othello
or Lear.
He was bound and determined to become
star, even Il the managers and his own
associates were equally certain he would
We an unknown "supe" OF hanger.on to the
last day of his life. His great weight,
more than 200 pounds. made him ridiculous
|, The eyes of the producers and audience
alike; so that whenever he would appear
on ihe stage to deliver tragic line he was
generally laughed of again before he could
begin to talk in the deep tones he had
faithfully rehearsed the night before.
This attitude was reflected by his
friends back.stage. all OF whom calico him
Jolly john which made any show OF dig
NJ v impossible At last they began TO
make SO much fun OF his ambitions tina
the despairing actor quit the cast and
hit another job, this time In musicai
comedy.
1he show was called Under the Apple
T ee. and the manager was so amused at
the big actors appearance that he offered
him the comedians contract at once. But
the idea of being lown was so repug
nrpt to the unfortunate tragedian that he
regarded It as an insult, and here, ASIDE
lore, he became a stage hand jest for the
privilege of walking out on the stage In
the last act OF the show as down-trodden
nob,eman to say. Here's your pocket book,
bdy; you dropped it, 1t wasn't much. out
With his makeup and voice he thought he
had achieved fine note Of tragedy.
Undoubtedly Grub would have been
content with his lot II pretty Cecile BARLEY
had not Joined the show In New York.
Cecile was q young girl of quick sympa.
thies and exceptional talent. She had gone
ON the stage in opposition to her mothers
wishes, and in a very short time had
achieved recognition and small success
that forecast future stardom Audiences
liked the pert tilt of her head and the
quick little gestures of her hands as che