Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1911-12-30
POET KEMP NOT
A HOME BREAKER
Tells Story CT His Romance
With Mrs. Sinclair.
HON: WAS NOT HAPPY
Says He Found Upton Wanted 81.
vorce When He Visited Arden, So
He Just Stayed Around.


He Just Stayed Around.
Harry Kemp the poet. who Is living
with Mrs. Upton Sinclair In a bungalow
West Point Pleasant. y. j.. for which
he pays $40 month, furnished, told
the entire story OF his romance with
the wife OF the radical author, Upton
Sinclair.
The poets story of his stay at Ar
den. where he fell in love with Mrs.
Sinclair. was told simply and frankly
to inform the world that he did not
break up anybody's happy home.
Now | want TO tell this complete
story OF the romance of Meta and my
self. Kemp said.
1T will show us in the true light
and disprove the nasty statements Up
ton has been making. went down to
Arden last July upon Uptons invita-
ton. When | got there found the
Sinclair home was broken up. Upton
had told Meta he wanted divorce and
had driven her nearly wild by his &C.
tions. lie showed her no affection.
Upton. you know. preached free
love" Kemp went on. He declared
that Meta and he began To read poetry
and walk together. and finally grow to
love each other. He finally went to
Sinclair and asked II he were paying
too much attention to Meta, and Sin
clair said. No. go ahead. and If you
can. make her happy
Then Upton came to me and want
ed me TO promise that | would play
square. lie did not know-he came too
late | thought he would realize that he
had driven his wife to desperation I'M
til she didn't know what she was do
ing. Meta was not to blame. Upton.
who had been n radical. then began to
take the advantages of the convention
husband Just as ii he had loved his
wife and as IL had deliberately alien
ated her affections.
Then Meta went TO New York.
decided to follow her. came to New
York and went to Metals mothers
home The next thing we knew Upton
came In on us suddenly one evening.
We talked awhile and then he went
away.
so we fled and went to Elizabeth.
Upton got his divorce case filed. He
had detectives on our trail and had
lot OF evidence He thought the testi-
mony was To he scaled and he said a
LOT OF untrue things about us that he
thought wouldn't get out And when
saw that | was to be pictured as
home breaker | thought I might tell
how il seems To- me. II may not seem
the same way To other people, but !
believe that If they think 1t over they
will see that the affair came out the
only possible way.
Upton has changed color many
times. He still processes friendship
for me. month or so ago. when
heard he was all worried and felt bad
about this. ! wrote him letter saying
that we had both been good and bad.
and suggested that we did not have
any hard feolin $. That was before he
had testified TO what is untrue in his
divorce suit He wrote back that he
felt all right about it,"
Harry Kemp produced the letter. It
follows
"a; Claremont Avenue. New York,
Nov. %.
Dear Harry received your letter
and appreciate your writing. | have
never felt any personal anger toward
you | was sure you would see the
thing differently in the course of time
and realize that | did all could to
keep you out The subject is neces-
sarily painful one. and II takes time
10 wear off the effects. | hone to go
abroad soon. and that when we meet
again il may be to happier ends. In
the meantime ! wish you success. and
am interested in your work as ever.
Sincerely. UPTON SINCLAIR.
Harry Kemp has weekly allowance
of 81 so from a Chicago man who 10
interested in his work. He and Mrs.
Sinclair are living on $40 a week. He
is making little money from the sale
Of poems.