The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1911-08-30
ARDEN AN EDEN
FOR HARRY KEMP
TRAMP" POET TELLS or HIS
VISIT AT UPTON SINCLAIR
HOME,


New York, Aug. sO.-Harry Kemp,
the poet who has been made core
spondent by Upton Sinclair in the di-
vorce proceedings against his wife.
told his version of the affair yester-
day.
AT the age Of 16 he started around
the world, making his way. TheAtrip
occupied the next two years. and he
came back with a considerable knowi-
edge Of foreign lands. He completed
this spring course at the University
of Kansas.
Getting down to recent events, he
said:
Upton had given me an open invi-
tation to visit hom at Arden. NAV as
Wen admit that had misgivings about
going there--I felt that something was
going to happen. Anyhow, / did ac-
cept Upton's invitation.
Mrs. Sinclair conaeniaI.
Il went all of sudden. Upton gave
me tent near his cottage to live In
It was tent he used in the daytime
for writing in. At Arden Mrs. Sinclair
and myself were thrown together a
great deal She was the most con-
genial woman in Arden to me. and I
felt that we were temperamentalIy ad
justed to each other. We criticized
each others poetry and read together
and took long wolks. The present
situation evolved itself from these
things which have told you.
No Recriminatons.
This is an unusual situation" Mr..
Kemp continued, and If the persons
involved in it were of the usual sort
there probably would be attacks and
denominations and determinations. But
we are not of that Sort
He Is Only Original Abysmal Brute.
Kemp, his friends say, is a savage.
1t is said that he posed for Jack Lon
don's Abysnal Brute. He has no
habits except sleeping, eating, exercis-
ing and writing poetry. Although 2S
years old, he has the curiosity of a
child in every passing thing.
SIX years ago he dropped off rat
tier" at Lawrence, Kan, and pro-
ceeded to astound the Kansas univer-
sity professors with his knowledge of
the Greek and Latin poets.
The university authorities took him
in, but, as they expressed 1t later.
they understood at the time that he
was a domesticated human being and
not wild man.
Refused TO Wear Shoes.
The first modification of his eccen-
trtcities came one morning when Kemp
appeared without hat He said he
had come to the conclusion that hats
were insanitary and unnatural. The
next day he appeared without shoes. |
The faculty prevailed upon him to |
adopt a pair of sandals, it being main
tanned by the co-eds that his feet took
their minds off their lessons. Dav hv |
day Kemp shed the apparel of civilfza- |
ton until the faculty was finally com |
PEELED to call a halt This discounted
the poet SO that he disappeared for a |
couple Of months, to return submissive
all except as regarded the hat and
shoes. The faculty accepted the COM
promise.
For six years Kemp studied at the
university, writing everything from
rondels to epics and from farces to
dramas
Sense of Humor Primitive.
Students of evolution declare that his
sense Of humor is purely primitive
representative of the wild man in his |
first stage of speech. To give physical |
pain to someone struck him as being
sidesplitting. To push a friend in front
of a street car was to him the height |
of mirth. 1t took three men to pre- |
vent him on one occasion from shoot
ing fellow student in the leg, merely
ito see how funny he would look"
Not Sure Of Marrying.
Kemp, said today that he did not
know whether he and Mrs. Sinclair
ever would be married. The poet, who
has spent many years in travelling and
verse making, said he was content
with the present situation which he
said will be Strengthened out in a way
that will bring happiness to all con-
cerned.
Il wonder what they think Of me In
Kansas" remarked Kemp.
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