Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-06-23
CROKER STOCK FARM
IA Miniature Castle in ireland of
White Granite.
ITS INTERIOR FURNISHINGS
Conventional Requirements Of .
Wealthy Country Gentleman.
AN EARNEST HOME RULER
Some Of His Horses seen-Thinks
Bryan VIII Be Put Up by
Democrats.

Bryan Will Be Put Up by
Democrats.
g. BIZ WILLIAM r. CURTIS.
Special Correspondence Of The Star and the
Chicago Record Herald.
DUBLIN. June 18. 1908.
Mr.. Richard Croker. late Of New York.
lives on a beautiful farm of 500 acres
overlooking the Irish channel. about nine
miles south Of Dublin. about two miles
from the coast and four miles north Of
| the ancient town of Bray. which has been
celebrated many times in song and story.
1t is an ideal country seat. Mr.. Croker
has shown the highest degree OF taste
| and Judgment in selecting the site and
improving the property. He calls 1t
"Glencairn." and the name Is chiseled
upon two massive pillars that support a
pair Of iron gates. These gates are
usually open. for Mr.. Croker retains his
democratic habits and is an excellent ex-
| emplar of Irish hospitality. Following a
| short drive between masses Of rhododen-
drons. laburnuI1s and hawthorn trees
with friezes and wainscotings of glow
ing flower beds. one soon reaches hand
some and we'll proportioned miniature
| castle Of white granite, Of pleasing archi-
| tectural design. and from a flag pole
that rises at the top OF the tower MIR.
Croker sometimes unfolds the Stars and
Stripes.
Several people have told me that there
| Is no finer place for it's size, and Mr.
Cookers home Is estimated among the
first dozen of country seats in Ireland.
1t was a rough tract of land when he
bought 1t from one Of the Judges of the
~lAh L., <nI Eos
many years. At a large expense and a
great amount of labor Mr.. Croker has
turned it into a little paradise. What
was formerly a wild waste is now one of
the loveliest landscapes you can imag-
inc. The house Is surrounded by lus-
trous lawn and a garden of flowers and
foliage plants. and behind it Is a series
OF large hothouses. in which Mr.. Croker
Is raising orchids and early fruits and
vegetables. About 100 acres are in wheat,
oats potatoes and other crops; about ten
acres in garden and the remainder Of the
sou acres in meadow and pasture.
Its Interior Furnishings.
The interior of the mansion is hand
| somely furnished, according to the con-
ventional requirements of a wealthy coun-
try gentleman, and the walls are hung
with paintings representing racing incl
dents and famous race horses Of the pres
ent and the past. At one end Of the por-
ticO at the main entrance Is large
| screen Of white canvas, covered with
cryptograms of Egypt. cartouches Of the
Pharaohs, and other designs which Mr..
visit to the Nile last winter. And in the
main hall are several other Egyptian
| souvenirs.
All of the work upon the place has been
done by local artisans, and all of the en-
ployes of the stock farm belong to fami-
lies in the neighborhood. for Mr.. Croker
believes in practical home rule. His chief
| trainer Is an Irishman like all his grooms.
his horses this year. John Reiff. a famous
American jockey. rode Orby when he
won the Derby. and Mr.. Croker will not
trust any but American Jockeys in his
however. is Irish. And Mr.. Croker has
been a veritable fairy godfather to the
poor people in his neighborhood, although
his old friends In New York will agree
that he does not look the part. He has
not only given employment at good wages
to almost every man in that locality but
has assisted several families in a SUBJ
stantial manner. His generosity seems to
be boundless. and 1t would amuse you to
hear the enthusiastic terms in which hi
neighbors praise him for his good heat.
and his good works.
He takes very little part in local poN-
tics. although his sympathies are very
at the last parliamentary election in 1!Np
he contributed generously to the campaign
fund and on election day loaned his auto
mobile and his carriage to haul infirm and
lazy voters to the polls. The contest was
between Walter Long. an Englishm1n
who had been defeated for parliament by
an English constituency and was s.nt
over here by the conservative leaders in
and a labor leader named Haaelton,
who had been nominated by the national
list party. Mr.. Croker took an unusual in
terest in the fight because from his point
OF view it was not only an impertinence
but an indignity to set up an Englishman
for the votes Of an Irish constituency.
And he was even the more indignant when
Long was elected, as he claims. by the
votes and influence of the officials and
pensioners Of the government and the SOL
diers of the garrison.
He critfcises the management of the ma
tionalist committee for not looking after
the registration of their voters. The reg
istration laws are very strict over here,
and many of the poorer classes are dis
franchised for not complying strictly
with them. Mr.. Croker says that If the
contest had been in New York the Tam
many leaders would have got out every
vote and Long would have been defeated
Next time he will undoubtedly give the
nationalist campaign managers some
hints as to how an election should be
conducted.
An Earnest Home Ruler.
Mr.. Croker is an earnest home ruler,
although he would prefer to see Ireland
a republic, but says that he does not in
tend to get mixed up in Irish politics. He
considers his political career as finished,
and he intends to spend the rest of his
life in the quiet seclusion of his present
home with his horses and intimate friends
He says that the Tammany people I'm
New York do not bother him much with
political matters. Occasionally he receives
a cablegram or a letter asking his advice
or his influence. and occasionally some
body comes over to confer with him, but
he considers himself entirely out of it.
and does not want to be bothered" Lewis
Nixon was here the other day and made
brief stay. Mr.. Croker met him upon
the arrival of the London boat with his
automobile. took him to "Glencairn" and
enjoyed couple of days visit with him
very much. and he admits that they
talked a good deal OF politics. but 1t was
only friendly call and had no serious
significance whatever.
Mr.. Croker thinks that Bryan will be
nominated again. He does not see how 1t
ho fod