The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1937-06-15
BELIEVED STAR
REALLY LIKE
FILM ROLES

career of Jean HdrloD, finn
don'S platinum blonde. The
series DdS Uritten By AdelG
Rogers st. Johns, famous novel
iSt and ne,GSpGperiDonlGn
By ADELA ROGERS ST. JOHNS
One of the outstanding things
in my memory is and always will
remain the first talk 1 had with
Jean Harlow after Paul Bern shot
himself, leaving behind the note
which nobody could understand
I don't remember now exactly
how many days after the tragedy
it was, but I think two or three.
The shot that ended Paul Bern's
life had echoed in Hollywood and
shattered its peace as no other
single sound had ever done. Not
only was Paul Bern himself much
loved and greatly mourned. Not
only was every one touched by the
deepest pity for his young widow.
But, the mystery of it was so
deep, the shock so sudden and be-
wildering that for days there was
no other subject of conversation
on any studio lot nor in any Holly
wood home. More than that, there
was the future of Jean Harlow,
one Of the greatest screen stars in
the business, to consider.
- Career at Stake
What would be the public re-
action to the suicide of the man
To whom she had been married for
only two months? What would
be the Interpretation of the public
when that mysterious suicide note
was concerned? What did he mean
by the "frightful wrong" he had
done her-and what was the
scomedy" he wrote of that
occurred on the night of his
death?
IS At that time in every motion
picture theater in America, Jean
Harlow was playing in Red.
Headed Woman" 1t was the
part Of a cold, hard-boiled, fas-
cinating little siren who wrecked
y mans home remorseleSSly and
With malice. It was a part which,
et that moment, must typify Jean
Harlow in the imagination Of the
millions who packed the movie
houses to see it.
g 1t was one of the worst breaks
any girl ever got-that that par
ticular picture should be at the
height Of its popularity when such
q tragedy overlook her.
Explanation Asked
Would it ruin her career as q
star? Would she be driven from
the screen by the misunderstood.
ing Of the public? Would they
believe that in real life she was
that same kind of a girl and had
driven her husband to take his
own life?
No one knew. No one-not the
most expert in public reactions
dared guess.
And the one thing that seemed
essential was that Jean Harlow
should explain that note-explain |
that frightful wrong and that |
comedy-and in such a way that |
it would clean her of anything |
shat would have caused Paul's |
act.
That was when I went to see
her. To ask her for that expla-
nation. 49,:
went to dinner at her |
mothers home. I remember that |
we sat. Mrs. Bello and /, in the |
quiet homelike living room. She
booked, jeans beautiful mother,
worn and haraSSed, but somehow
she had managed to retain seren-
ity. Her baby" needed her,
needed her strength and her COM
fort-and jeans mother knew it
and while she suffered, as only
mothers can suffer, she kept her
self well in hand. White-hpped
and shaken as she obviously was,
she was serene for Jeans sake.
And then Jean came down the
stairs. She wore white. A simple
white skirt, I think, and a white
woolly sweater and a bright soft
scarf around her throat. She was
as white as the things she wore,
but she was quiet. Firm. And
the sorrow in her eyes, the hurt
about her lips, were her own bust.
ness and she would keep them
to herself.
Wouldn't Tell Secret
After dinner we went upstairs
to the room that was always kept
for her in her mothers home, even
when she went from it as Paul
Bern's bride, and talked for hours.
She broke down then and wept as
! have seen few women weep, as
though it would tear her to pieces.
Now. l have always believed
that Jean Harlow knew what that
note meant. 1 said it to her then.
wrote it then. So I am not in
any way betraying her now that
she is not here to speak. She
knew I thought that. I believe she
it perfectly. But
even when her honor and her fu-
tUre and her career and her work
upon it, she would not
tell.
She faced me squarely, and told