The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1904-08-25
woMAN's VIEW OF PARKER.
He Is Able To Convere Brilliantly OF
Many and Varied Topics.

He Is Able To Convere Brilliantly on
Many and Varied Topics.
(Margaret H. Mann, in Chicago NeWs.)
Talk? Judge Parker talk? OF
course he can talk. Go to Esopus-on-
the-Hudson, and thence along
country road that leads over wooded
hills to Rosemount if you would hear
Judge Parker talk. Even then he
may not say much about ponucs-
probably won't-but he VIII tell you
about his farm and his cattle and his
sheep, and point out to you the fine
garden and chicken-yard back of his
house, and reel off to you stories about
the early history of Esopus, and dilate
upon the important part played by
Esopus island when the British were
bothering about New York. Esopus
island spreads its length in the Hud-
son directly opposite the big White
house on the hill where the ParkerS
live, and the visitors eye naturally
rests upon that after seeking out the
beauties of the opposite shore line.
Judge Parker has that view down pat,
and he knows just how to switch
too importunate questioner off on that
track at the first signs of oVerZealous-
ness in finding out things. The Judge
certainly is eloquent on the subject OF
that view.
In general, Judge Parker talks
very we'll indeed. He is big, strong
man. and he has a big, strong, we'll
modulated voice. and he laughs good
hearty laugh. There is nothing reti-
cent or taciturn about the Judge. he
likes to tell a good story and he is
fond of people. The crowds that gath
er about him now are nothing new.
| II oil
summer visitors out from New York
In proof of this, the family say they
ate just one meal alone at Rosemount
last summer. They marked the meal
because it seemed SO unusual. Every
other day throughout the summer
there had been visitors, so that now
the hordes who happen in at all hours
and stay to lunch or dinner or break
fast are more numerous, perhaps, TINS
summer, but not lenough so to cause
annoyance or surprise to the Judge
or his family. Usually, before, these
guests have been friends or acqualnt-
ances at least; now there are all these,
plus curiosity-seekers. The Parker
home at Kingston was always a nos
pitable place, and whatever trulh
there was in the report that mrs.
Parker's health was delicate came
from the fact that in Albany the So
cial demands upon her were so great
that she did fly to the country for
rest and recuperation after the trying
winter seasons. And could a man who
was thus genuinely fond of enter
tanning and having people about MN
fail to be of the sociable sort? His
''good-morning' is hearty salutation,
with a strong emphasis on the morn
ing. and he has an earnest way OF
grasping a mans hand that makes a
friend of him at once. one promln-
ent characteristic of the Judge, ac-
cording to those who know him best,
is his power of concentration.
"When my father studies or reads,
said Mrs Hall, 1--WE never have to keep
quiet on his account. He SIMPLY
never hears what we are saying, how
ever interesting the subject may be-
And it is so with any subject he at
tacks-he puts his whole mind upon
it, / never knew q person who could
so absolutely shut out everything else
except the one thing in hand"
In spite of innumerable Interrupt
lions the Judge carries out pretty
definitely arranged programme for the
day. About o'clock in the morning,
rain or shine he may De seen ruShlnS
down the bank at Rosemount enVei-
oped in a long rubber coat. which he
throws aside at the dock and plunges
into the water. 1t is really true that
he does swim every morning, usually
staying in the water about 10 minutes.
He wears a dark-blue jersey bathing
suit with white stripes, if any one
should ask Formerly he swan alone,
but now his friend, Judge BraWley, is
at Rosemount for the summer, ana
now two black heads may be seen
bobbing up and down in the water
where before there was only one. IT
is only when wet that the Judge
head looks black, however. At all
other times it is red streaked with
gray-auburn, rather, for the red is
the darkest Shade-and his complex
ion is fiorid. The high judicial brow
extends way up to the Judges crown,
and no hair appears to speak of until
you get back Of the forehead. In
other words, the Judge is bald, but
that adds rather than detracts from
his distinguished appearance. While
| his expression is open, frank and kind
", he has q way of drawing his eye
! brows together that produces plain
| tive little pucker when he is bored
or bothered or when the light hurts
his eyes or questions get too pointed.
The plaintive little quicker usually
portends a change of subject when
| the Judge is talking
| And clean-he is fairly reeking with
| cleanliness when you meet MN IN
the morning. He breakfasts early ana
either then or directly before dinner
he appears in his riding togs ana
mounts his beloved bay horse Tom for
a canter. Correspondents, newspaper
men and those on other business pent
who seek to forestal this ride receive
from the Judge a polite but 1lrm
"Glad to see you, sir but not till l
get back"
Mrs Parker accompanies him usu-
aIlv. also on horseback; and guests, II
there be any staying at Rosemount'
are taken for a drive. Down through
| tho town of EiSnnuS they come some