Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1920-04-24

Belfast, Me, April 23-Nine years
without q head covering of any kind,
in summers heat and winters cold,
in the changcable Maine climate, is
the record of John Parker. English
born but for more than SO years "a
resident of Belfast. Strangers in the
city often wonder at this rugged,
bareheaded man well past so but
looking much less. straigh. as rush
and always whistling, WITH the smile
of boy and a pleasant greeting for
7 all he meets. Why is he bareheaded?
they ask And this question was put
to him few days ago by repre-
sentative of this paper. His answer
was prompt.
Because it is so much more COM
Portable" he said. 1T was nine
years ago. last March that 1 first
thought of going without a hat or
cap | had been troubled with my
head perspiring, even in winter and
n consequent falling out of my hair.
Even though it was during one of the
coolest and toughest months of the
severe Maine winter, i decided to try
an experiment. Strangely enough I
did not catch cold and 50 like the
little boy who decided no. to say his
prayer because nothing got him the
first time he omitted it, made up my
mind that | would go hatless here
after
Il doubt if | ever wear a head COW
ering again for | have been so much
more comfortable and now that the
high cost of living has become such
a factor and hats cost so much, l am
saving good deal by going hatless.
My hair has been much moro
healthy. I never have cold in my
head nor n headache In my work
as janitor of many of the public
buildings in Belfast. l am out in
every sort of weather, the severest
of which l encountered during the
past winter. but never once did
cover my head or my ears. 70 am n
member of Mckeen's orchestra and
during the past nine years have
driven hundreds of miles when
the thermometer registered 10 OIL
more below zero and while others
bundled up, l still went bare headed |
and with bare ears, and l fancy !
was as comfortable as anyone.
have never frozen my ears but the !
exposure causes them to peel in
winter, my face also. just as it does
in summer from sunburn. l would |.
advise anyone troubled with head !
aches to try going bareheaded and ! !
believe too that they will avoid colds |
hXy6 nj 7 iofy
the flu and grip have passed me by |
and the haberdasher knows me no
more"
Mr.. Parker was born in England |
and was one of several children Of a |
master cook in the Royal Fussillers. |
Born. one might say in the army.
When he was two years of age he |
went with his mother and the fami- |
lies of other soldiers to India This |
was back in the days before the |
opening of the Suez canal and it was |
necessary to go around Cape Good |
Hope. The voyage was made in |
sailing vessel. known in those days !
as one of Green's vessels, traders I'M |
der the British flag. the voyage !
was 1913 days long and after the |
death Of his mother in India, Mr.. |
Parker was brought home the same |
way by his father, and placed in the |
military school in London. known as |
The Duke of York School. Here he |
remained until he was fourteen years !
of age, receiving good academic
and military education.
For thirty years he has been a
soloist in the North Congregational
church choir, and is a communicate
of the church. He has been a mem
Der of the Belfast Band since it's or
ganization by Frank ]. Eigby, now