The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1904-04-10

for a second term. That was his first
experience OF public Office.
His entrance into politics was due sim
ply to his love for his old employer.
Judge Schoonmaker, who had been driven
Judge had been wronged and set out to
restore him to popular favor. So earnest
was his campaign that he soon became
recognized political factor in Ulster
couny, being favorite of Mr. 1nden and
Nj. Manning, who trusted an. consulted
him. In 1885 he was induced to become
chairman or the Democratic State Exeeu-
tive Committee, and in the campaign
which he managed David b. -Aill was
elected Governor. Mr.. Hill appointed m
to a seat on the Supreme court bench
when Justice Westbrook died.
ON SUPREME COURT BENCH AT 81.
When Judge Parker was thirty three
years old he was unanimously nominated
for the Supreme Court bench by the Dem
ocrats. The Republicans would not nomi-
hate an opponent Not vote was cast
against him. He served on sc Supreme
Court Bench until his election as p.
Justice OF the Court of Appeals in 1897,
by a plurality of about $4,000 votes.
During his nineteen years on the bench
h has ignored politics. In 1896 ana 1900
he voted for Mr.. Bryan, but IL YVES Wei
unC erstOod that he was a sound-money
man and merely accepted the will of the
majority in his party.
Judge Parkers wife was Miss Schoon-
maker, of Accord, a woman OF rare renne-
nlent and good Dutch I.evolutonal Y blood.
TEeir daughter married the Rev. Charles
M. Hale, rector OF an Episcopal church
at Kingston, which is within easy driving
distance of Esopus. The Judges son died
two years ago.
1t is on the farm at Esopus that Judge
Parker's personality has full swing Here
he writes his most important judicial
opinions Here, too, he works in his
fields, prunes his trees and cares for his
thirty registered red poll cattle, his full
hooded Poland China pigs and fine flock
of Shropshire sheep.
Rcsemont, for so the farm is called, is
a beautiful place, all up and down hill,
fronting the Hudson and extending on
e'IEer side OF the rocky road that spraws
in from the village of Esopus. Across the
great river is seen one of the new Van
dO bit houses. In the other direction are
the lovely wooded mountains leading to-
ward the Catskil!s.
JUDGE PARKER'S HOME LIFE.
The Judges house is modest but com
Portable wooden structure, standing on
the stone foundations of a -utch house
of colonial times. II is set on the side
OF hill among shade trees and fronts
the river. 1t is the abode of hospitality
and refinement, the typical home OF an
American gentleman. The pictures, the
books. the furniture the wide hall and
glowing fireplace, the sunny library and
the dinlng-room, with its long mahogany
table all show evid ances OF intelligent
tastes that were not developed in one
generation
Here Judge Parker walks among his
tulls and COWS, in top boots and pea
jacket, the incarnation of strength and
yirility He strides through the sorghum
and hay fields, visits the great barn, tends
the sick cow or fondles the latest calf,
and helps his men to clear up the leaves
or stubble. His cheeks glow, his eyes
shine, and he swings his arms like boy,
drinking in great draughts OF the pure
Gir or whistling a merry tune.
None OF his eight farm hands knows
half as much as he about the trees, the
cops, the cattle, sheep, pigs, chickens,
turkeys or ducks. Whether in the peach
or apple orchard, IN the COW pasture, barA
or sly. he is the master of all in knowl-
edge, as well as in energy. He VIII ply
his pitchfork or put his shoulder under
a heavy load with the best o. them, and
it is a good man W.. keep up WIN
him. He is modest enough, save when he
stards among his great red poll cattle,
the pride of his heart Then he swells
with conscious comradeship, for they are
like him-big, strong md genuine. There
is no finer sight in that part of the 'coun'
try than Judge Parker in the middle OF
his herd, calling to his great bulls and
laughing as they come to him.
There is tall silo and a cold-storage
house, built on the Judges plans. In the
storage house are apples, pears, cider and
all manner Of good things to eat, mostly
the products OF ROsemont Thrift. orderi-
ness and energetic management ale every
where in evidence.
In his home the gentle, lovable traits
of the austere Chief Judge reveal them
selves. TO his wife, the inspiration OF
his mature life, he is always like boy
ish lover. To his venerable mother he is
the dutiful son, smiling at her stern
sermons on temperance and humility, but
proud of her noble character.
He takes his little red-headed grandson
by the hands and swings around the We
randa with him like another child. He
catches up his baby granddaughter Mary
in his arms and dances up and down the
w:dc hall, whistling the while. And when
hi, name is mentioned to her she always
purses her rosy lips and tries to whis-
tie.
He drives his family to his son-in-law' S
church, at Kingston, every Sunday, and
sings heartily, so that strangers in the
congregation are apt to turn their heads.
Nor does he forget to have his domestic
servants. who are Roman Catholics, driv-
en- TO their own chrch regularly.
The Judge is a vestryman IN the KING
ston church, and although man OF very
moderate means, he is probably the
wealthiest man in the congregation. lie
is the practical pillar of the church and
takes an active interest in its charities,
is cooking and sewing and dancing
SCHOOLS, its physical culture class and its
basketball games for boys. He is also
contributor to the funds of the local