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

mere decorous or careful IN their dress
In spite of his passion for work and his
many pressing duties, he usually dresses
three times a day-for riding, LOT DUST
ness and for dinner.o And his clothes
fit him. which cannot be said OF most
men in public life.
DIGNITY WHICH SUGGESTS GREAT
POWER. %
There is a grave dignity and a sugges-
ton of immense power in Judge Parker
which go well with his DlacK SILK lope
when he presides in the Court OF APP
peals. He is the youngest man III the
row of Judges He is attentive TO argu-
ment and keeps his eyes steadily on the
lavyer who may be pleading. His cour-
tesy to lawyers is well known. Wheh ne
makes a ruling he does not waste words.
1t is useless to argue-the thlng Is done
All his associates say that he does every
thing in his power to save them from
unnecessary work, and it is Indicative of
his nature that he is the only member
of the Court of Appeals who is always
present when the court is open. The 9th
er Judges take their weeks o. regularly,
but Judge Parker serves every day OF the
session so that there shall always De
some one on the bench familiar with
every ruling or agreement made in court.
As the Judge sits high up in the great
oaken hall of justice, with It's promo
statue of Livingston and its panclled por-
traits of dead jurists-John Jay, IN ms
crimson university robes high above them
all-he can see through the windows the
Hudson River, which sweeps the shore or
his beloved farm at Esopus, sixty miles
away. where his family HIS crops and ms
herds await him at each weeh end. How
ever deeply his mind is immersed IN the
complex problems of his great office, his
heart is always in his farm; Tor he was
horn a farmer and will be one till he dies.
This familiar and practical knowledge Oh
farming and farmers is of great value
to the court in dealing with agricultural
cases. %
JUDGE PARKER'S WORKING TRAITS.
Considering the fact that within few
months Judge Parker is likely to be the
Democratic candidate for President, it is
worth while noticing his working traits
as a public officer. He goes at his task
without nervousness. 1t is hard to imagine
a less nervous man. He works with
msthod and deliberately. Unlike Presi-
dent Roosevelt, he does not lurch at
things in fury of energy, but makes
progress in an orderly and calm mood.
After debating an opinion he goes over
the sheets and strikes out everything I'M
necessary or rhetorical But his correc-
tons ordinarily relate merely to details;
he does not have to pull his work 10
pieces. Nor is there any one who ever
oil disani1rtpOnCfV I'm
anger to a subordinate His tact and nat
ural kindness make Things move smooth
ly. Yet there is an iron firmness about
him. o
HIS FARM AT ESOPUS.
At the end of every week and during
the summer vacation Judge Parker is TO
be found on his picturesque farm at
Esopus, which overlooks the Hudson
River. He has three farms in New York
State-one of $50 acres at Cortland, an
other of $50 acres at Accord and still an
other of 80 acres at Esopus. He manages
these three farms and makes them, on
the whole. pay. He is no dllettante stran-
ger to the country, playing with agricul-
ture as with toy, but real farmer
who directs the work, superintends the
ploughing and, in harvest time, goes out
in his shirt sleeves to work with his men
in the hay and sorghum.
A careful estimate of Judge Parker's
wealth places the value of all his pos
sessions at about $50, 600. This property he
has acquired mostly by saving and good
business judgment. His farm at Cortland
was born on it and worked along its
f,nIows as boy.
On his fathers side the Judge comes
of old English stock. His great grand
father, John Parker, was born IN 1I5l
at Worcester, Mass. He was hard
working farmer. When the war Tor in
dependence broke out he left his plough
and served as a private under Washing
ton until the American Republic was es-
tahlished. Little is known OF him except
that he was a man of pluck and inue-
perdence and was greatly respected by
his neighbors. His son, John Parker, was
an intelligent man, highly educated and
public spirited. In 1903 he came to New
York State and bought farm at Cort-
lond, the same farm which lis distin-
guished grandson owns and cultivates to-
day He had large family, and when h,s
health broke down the burden fell heavily
upon his son John, the father OF Judge
Parker. Those who remember the Judges
father say that he was man of studlous
habits. In spite of his bitter struggle
for life on the farm he read widely and
deeply. He was especially fond of COM
hitting rare passages to memory, and
every spare moment found him porting
over good book.
On his mothers side Judge Parker de-
rives good New England blood. HIS
white-haired mother, who lives at Derby,
Conn, is a woman of refinement, educa
ton and strong character. In the sum-
mer time she spends the Judges vacation
with him at Esopus. She is member
OF the Woman's Christian Temperance
Union. The giant sits before his mother
while she solemnly lectures him on tenn
perance, and being an abstemious man.
he smiles and promises to be good. Her
constant aim is to warn him against am
hiticn. When the newspapers grow too
loud in his praise he is sure to get
letter from his mother exhorting him to
be humble.
FARMER BOY AND SCHOOL TEACHER.
The Judge was born on the farm near
Cortland almost fiftytwo years ago He
attended the village schools aud worked
q l,pI1f no for civ old