Dorothy Clark Haskin grew up on the stage and in the motion pictures. She became a dancer in her fourth year and as a dancer and child actress she ap peared on the stage in New York, in many of the leading eastern cities and went to Hollywood to appear in motion pictures with Mae Murray, Mary Pick- ford, Richard Dix and others. A friend introduced her mother to Christian Science. Mrs. Clark studied it for many years and dabbled in Unity, Theosophy, N um erology, Palmistry, Rosicrucianism and related metaphysics. She went from one to another because in none of them did she find peace of mind. A Hungry Heart in Hollywood B IFE as a teen-age motion picture actress was heady. Days before the camera were high-pitched and nerve-exhausting. I appeared in Billy West comedies, in a number of Mary Pickford pictures, in Rex Ingram’s pic tures, and among others, a picture di rected by Paul Bern. Shortly afterwards he married Jean Harlow, and within a few months, committed suicide. Socially I went around with a group of young, potential stars. I remember how excited we all were when one of the group, Elinor Fair, ran away and married Bill Boyd. They were both playing leads in “ The Volga Boatman” and were the current Hollywood sen sation. We thought nothing of the fact that she was becoming his second wife. And now, having been divorced from Elinor, Boyd has married for a third time and become famous as “ Hopalong Cassidy.” Many of my week-ends were spent at Tia Juana, Mexico. It was the popular place to go. In the Club House one could see almost all of the motion picture stars of the day betting on the horses and watching the races. After the races, the crowd would go to the Foreign Club for dinner and the evening. Sometimes Tom Mix would ride his horse onto the dance floor. And of course, they drank liquor, and so did I. I lived up to the
standard of the group in which I had been brought up. It was exhilarating to go around with the glamour crowd of the day, and yet I was the most restless, unhappy person in the world. Nothing about my life was wrong on the surface. I was young, popular, successful and earned consider able money. And I spent it. Mary Pick- ford had loaned me enough money to make a down payment on a home in the hills of Hollywood. Yet a yearning for something, I knew not what, gnawed at my heart. The usual Hollywood scandals broke out from time to time in the newspa pers. Dr. Gustave Briglieb, prominent Presbyterian minister of the day, started a campaign to clean up Los Angeles. Immediately, to ally herself on the side of public right, Mother decided I should attend his church. She went with me the first time, and after that, I attended a number of times, alone. The church was way across town so I did not go too often. But one Sunday my inner dissatis faction reached the place where I de cided I must do something about it. The church seemed to be the right place to find the answer to my problems. Mother was not interested in going, so I would go alone. This day, which was to be special, I dressed in my best. I remember this out fit especially because I thought it was quite chic. I -\frore spike heel shoes, of course, sheer stockings, a black corded silk dress, trimmed with bands of cerise velvet and monkey fur, topped by a black turban trimmed with iridescent beads. I am certain I looked worldly and self- satisfied, but I was only a girl of eight een and my heart was very hungry. I cannot help but wonder, now that I am a Christian and know many Chris
tians, how you would treat someone dressed like that who came to your church. Would she be made to feel wel come? Maybe you do not even approve of make-up. But I wanted to look my best to go to church so I undoubtedly used more make-up than usual. That was the glamour standard which I had been taught. I drove across town and went up stairs to the young women’s class. The teacher was kind and greeted me warmly. The young girls spoke to me, but they were interested in their friends, in their own affairs and paid no special attention to this heathen in their midst. I know, too, that the teacher meant to reach me and that she taught a funda mental gospel. But it was all so new and strange to me that I understood little, far too little, of what she said. When the teacher spoke of one’s being a Christian that did not bother me be cause I knew I was a Christian. I was not a Jew and as far as I knew, anyone who was not a Jew, was a Christian. And I had been taught in the Christian Science Sunday school that I was a child of God. Consequently, I did not compre hend her message. After Sunday school, I went down stairs to the church service. It was com munion Sunday but I did not partake of the elements. Somehow, I sensed that it was not for me. Dr. Briglieb preached about Jesus, the Son of God. I am con fident that he meant to make the deity of Christ clear. All I can say is that I did not understand. When he spoke of the Son of God, I thought it was fine that Jesus had been such a wonderful Person. But I could not follow Him and be as good as He had been. I knew it was not in me to be that good. Also, He had died nearly 2,000 years ago, and even if He had
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