STAR’S MOTHER TAKES POISON

Evening Star, Issue 19804, 1 March 1928, Page 3

STAR’S MOTHER TAKES POISON

RECONCILIATION AT BEDSIDE Hollywood lias stopped a moment •from its frantic whirl ot work to reflect on the narrowly-averted tragedy of a well-meaning mother who gave her daughter to the Moloch of the movies (says a ‘Sunday Chronicle’ writer). Her ambition on behalf of the tiny mite ended in a deep draught ot the poison cup, following the shattering ot the frail bonds of domestic happiness. The star in question is Virginia Lee Corbin, who at seventeen is well on the way to become a front rank screen star. Mrs Corbin was the wife of a Californian chemist, and shortly alter her child was born she became bitten by the movie fever.

Mrs Corbin, Unvaried by age from her own desire to face the kleig lights, determined that her daughter should become a film actress at the earliest opportunity. Accordingly, when Virginia was a mere four years of ago, she was toddled down to the nearest Studio. Siie won fame as a child actress even at that age. Her doling parent spent all her time in the studios, with the result that Mr Corbin objected. There was a final quarrel over the child, and the pair parted, with Virginia still continuing screen work. When last year Mr Corbin died a broken, aged man, he left a will lor the world to read, saying how he regretted that his daughter should have been robbed of her ordinary childhood and sacrificed to an idea rather than to an ideal. following the revelation of that tragedy there came rifts between the little star and her over-affectionate mother. At the age of seventeen, having spent the greater part of her life in the hard, matter-of-fact atmosphere of the studios, it was natural that. Virginia resented being treated entirely as a child. To her mother’s eyes, however, she was never anything else.

Quarrels began over minor matters, until one arose that could never be settled amicably—that of a film artist’s salary, which was further fanned by the mother asserting her parental right to prevent Virginia going to some of Hollywood’s splendid parties. One night Virginia ran away from home to go to a party. While she was enjoying herself she received a telephone message .saying that Mrs Corbin had. swallowed poison. The girl rushed to the hospital, and a reconciliation took place at the parent's bedside. She has since recovered.