The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1904-08-09
PARKER AS A BOY.
Slow to Think, But Firm When He
Made Up His Mind.

q Siuu>tl III tlIe Noltldllu NOIllldl
school, back in the early seventies,
che OF his best friends was Professor
J. L. Lusk. now principal of tn high
school at Union. says the Bingham
ton. \. y, Press. They had many
good times together. and the friend
ship which was begun then has last
ed through oil OF the years since.
During a recent visit to Albany.
Prof. Lusk called on Judge Parker
and talked with, him Of the days when
as young men they went to school at
Cortland together.
when Alton Parker entered the
normal school, said Professor Lusk.
he was as plain country boy as
ever attended village school. Moth
ing about his dress. manner or school
work would indicate that he would
ever make his mark in the world
Not brilliant in his studies, without
ability as debater, he was outclass-
ed by dozens OF other young men in
the school. But there was one fac
ulty that he possessed in a marked
degree, and thar was the ability to
reason. His judgment was surpass-
ed by none. He was slow to think,
but when he made up his mind, moth
ing could change him.
He loved to tell his life at home
on the farm ano\ lis experience
breaking steers andEes ng other work.
Then he would speak with pride of
his experience as country school
teacher. He was good fellow
among all Of the boys and partici
pated with them in all Of their sports.
He was an inveterate pool player and
every night would be found with the
boys in a pool room. When he lost
he paid uncomplainingly-and he lost
frequently.
Zone day his father came down
from the farm to see how he was get
ting along in his studies and to make
short visit. Following his usual
custom, young Parker went to the
pool room at night and his father
went along with him. They began
olaying and the future jurist lost
>very game. That night when they
were going home, his father said:
q" Alton. l see that you lost quite
often in your pool games
Yes replied Alton. I don't
seem to have very good luck
And when you lose do you have
TO pay?'
Why, yes, that's the rule you
<now-to pay when you lose, and Of
course I pay when the game goes
wrong
Well, Alton,' said his father,
YOU know the resources of the farm
are small; nd we have to earn all OF
the money that we get and that it
takes it all to pay your expenses in
school. It is for you to decide wheth-
er this money is to be spent in play
ing pool or in getting an education.
You can either stop playing pool or
leave school,
WELL answered Alton, I guess
you are right, but l never looked at
it in that light before. But as long
as I am a student in this school I
will never play another game of pool
And he never did.
Parker was very fond of athletics
and never was very ambitious stu
dent. No one in the school thought
much about the quiet young fellow,
except in a friendly way. He knew
how to win friends and how TO keep
them"
Judge Parker did not continue his
studies in the normal school until
graduation, but accepted All invitation
TO take charge OF the school at Ac-
cord. His work was successful as
teacher and he made hosts of friends
in the neighborhood. There were
two young women in the neighbor-
hood for which young Parker form
ed strong attachment. They were
members of the Schoonaker family
in which there were distinguished iur-