The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1904-07-22
JUDGE ALTON BROOKS PARKER.
. Sketch of the Life, Character and Policies of the
Man Chosen to Lead the Democratic Hosts.
cBy James oreelman. in New York wo-ld.)

Alton Brooks Parker, chief Judge OF
the court Of appeals OF New York, was
50 years old on May IA. He 5 six feet
tall, weighs 1S6 pounds and has great
physical strength.
His countenance is that of a country
bred gentleman, strong and full Of fresh
color. The appearance OF the man u
gests power n courage
The brown eyes are large and SIN
cere. The nose is aQuiline, the nostrils
well curved. the jaws are large, the
chin round and formidable, h upper
teeth are big and white and a heavy
lower lip protrudes under a coarse,
tawny mustache.
From the wide, tranquil brow the
forehead slopes back finely without &C.
centricity, to the back head, suggesting
successfully penetration, energy benev-
olence, reverence and frmness. The
head is very wide above the ears. The
hair is reddish brown.
There is no sign OF cunning, vanity
or selfshness to be found in the SYM
metrical "a or u~nwrinkled face.
Every line expresses common
determination and cheerful content
ment-a healthy mind in a healthy
body.
When he spaks to .uu he looks
straight into your eyes.
The tall figure drops evenly from the
broad shoulders and chest to the feet
which have a light step. One sees In
his firm. quick movements the results
of hard work on the rarm an ddatiy
horseback riding.
Judge Parker is always well-dreSSed.
Few men are more careful in their at
tire or more simple in their tastes.
His Character.
Of all the generations Of men who
have sat il authority at Abany-that
centre of cynical politics and brutally
frank corruption-it is certain that no
one has borne a more unsulied name
than the judge who presides over the
court of appeals.
There is about him an unpretending
dignity and sober sincerity, a hearty
decency in everything, so that men of
all parties, men in all walks Of life in
st~inctively urn to him with confidence.
Strong-willed, kindly, charitable in
his speech, loyal in friendship, loving
work for it's own sake. patriotic, neigh
borly-these are some of his traits.
He does not boast. He shrinks from
ne ISSdIOS olC
the arts of the demagogue.
On his farm or in his judicial robes
he is ever the same even-tempered,
wise, modest man; rock-lke in his in
tegrity and his convictions.
His every faculty is disciplined. His
low of law is a part of his natural
low of order.
His broad democracy comes of hf
instinct for fair play in the struggle of
life.
He lives too close to the soil n is
too plain a man to sympathize with
theories of classes or caste.
He is a man of cautious temperament,
patient in his search for facts and slow
to reach conclusions; but when he has
found what he believes to be the truth
nothing can drive him from it.
He does not owe a man for being poor
any more tina he hates a man for be-
ing rich.
His idea is that if there were less
talk and more work the country would
be a good deal better off.
His Origin.
Judge Parker was born on his faith
er's farm near the village OF Cortland,
N. Y. in 1852. On his fathers sid he
comes of ond New England farmer
stock. His great grandfather, John
Parker, was born at Worcester, Mass,
in 1751. He was a farmer, well konwn
for his honesty, industry and patriot
ism.
This great-grandfather shouldered a
musket under Washington, and, as a
private soldier helped to win the indie
pendence of the republic. Then he went
back to the farm and spent the rest OF
his days there. He was a man OF mark
ed independence of character. d.
The son of the farmer patriot. also
John Parker, was a man of great in
telligence, superior education and pup
lei sirit. To better himself he moved
to New York state in 1903, n bought
a farm at Cortland, on which the DEM
ocratic candidate for. president of the
United States was born. Judge Par
ker still OWNS and c~ultivateS that farm.
The second John Parker had a large
family. When his health failed the
family burden fell upon his son John,
the father Of Judge Parker. He was a
man Of ~singularly studious habits for
a struggling farmer. The battle for
existence was a hard n and yet in
spite of his trials he made time to e
such a range of books that his neiSh-
bors came to ooh upon him as a learn
ed nan
From his mother Judge Parker de-
rives a fine old strain OF New England
blood. 1.-The venerable widow still lives
at Derby, Conn.,. She is a woman OF
marked education and 1neme
strong in character, deeply religious
and a member Of the woman's Chris
tar Temperance Union. Her nfiuence
upon her sons character has been
great. Her constant exhotation TO him
is to be humble.
His History.
The judge went to the village schools
and worked about the farm etween
times. after the fashion of other farm
ers' sons. He was a strong boy. and
excel!ed in sports. But there was little
time for play. When about is years
dc he saw that he was a burden to his
hard-pressed father. 50 he trudsed to
a neighboring village. applied for the
position of school teacher and obtained
it.
Then he was a school teacher IN
Birmingham, and later on he taught
in the school at Accord, earning 50 a
day.
His ambition was to So TO Cornell