The Irish standard., 1903-06-13
A Democrat by Birth, His Grandfather was
Jeffersonian and His Father a
Jacksonian Democrat
He is a Wholesome, Healthy Type of the
American Gentleman and Cares
Little for Ceremony.

In reply to several inquiries would
say that Parker of New York, who is
so generally mentioned as candidate
for the Democratic nomination for
resident, is not a wealthy man; nor
is he a poor man, says William e.
Curtis in the Chicago Record-Herald.
He was a poor boy and was never
able to raise money enough to pay for
a college education, but in the earlier
part of his practice as a lawyer he
received good fees and had liberal
income, while his salary as member Of
the judiciary during the last seventeen
years has been sufficient to pay all his
expenses and allow him to lay by a
considerable sum Of money. He now
receives $14,500 year.
He lives on a farm he calls Esopus,
a few miles from Kingston, where he
has handsome, old-fashioned, COM
modious mansion, surrounded by gen
erous porches and fine grove of elms
and oaks. The front windows COM
mand magnificent view of the Hud-
son. Running back from the river
he has farm of 40 acres. About
100 acres are under cultivation, the
remainder is given up to meadow and
pasture, upon which are grazing herd
of red poll registered cattle which he
has bred. Several of them are prize
winners. The products of his dairy
are sold in the town of Kingston.
Judge Parker takes great pleasure in
his cattle and his farm. During nine
months of the year he is kept in AL
bany for five days of the week, and
often six, attending the sessions of the
court of which he is a member, but
usually about or o'clock on Fri
day afternoons lie takes a train for
home and spends Saturday directing
work upon the farm, riding horseback
about the country and playing with
his grandchildren. During the sum-
mer vacation he usually settles down
at Esopus for solid enjoyment. He is
not so much of a fisherman as Grover
Cleveland but often spends two or
three weeks camping in the Catsllills
or the Adirondacks.
Judge Parker is feet 10 inches in
height, weighs 1S5 pounds, is broad
and deep about the shoulders, and has
a strong. well-molded neck. His hair
is a reddish brown, and he is inclined
to be bald. His moustache is some
what lighter-almOSt sandy. He as
few gray hairs His eyes are brown,
with merry, genial expression, in
dicative of his disposition, which is
cheerful, generous, amiable and un-
ostentious His cheek bones are prom
inent, and he has a fine square chin,
which is, perhaps, the strongest Of his
features and indicates resolution and
strength. His voice is low, but dis
tinct; he grasps the hand in a hearty
manner, and, while he is usually bub-
bling over with humor, never loses his
dignity or forgets that he is member
of the highest tribunal of New York
state, even when he is in his fishing
camp. His complexion is clear. There
is considerable color in his cheeks,
which indicates his good health. In
deed. he has never known sickness.
Since he was first appointed to the
bench in 1885 it is said that he has
never been detained by sickness from
q single session of the court. which
speaks we'll for his constitution and
habits of life. He is temperate
eater. never drinks anything except
a glass of wine when he dimes with
a friend or when he offers hospitality
to a guest He smokes moderately. is
fond of reading. and, while not a col
lector of books. has accumulated a
valuable library of general literature
as well as the usual authorities to be
found on the shelves of a lawyers
office.
Altogether Judge Parker is whole
some, healthy type of the American
gentleman, equally at ease in a suit
of overalls, the gown of justice or
the conventional garb Of society. He
cares little for ceremony, although he