1888 she referred to the growth tun I work of the order in Massachusetts;—
"January, 1887, we had seventy-seven corps with a membership of five thousand two hundred and fifty-seven. To-day we number one hundred corps with a membership of over six thousand seven hundred. Ancient expended in relief the past year, five thousand six hundred and twenty-four dollars and forty cents, and turned over to posts, three thousand two hundred and fifty-eight dollars and thirty-four cents. This amount does not cover the amount of all clothing and food given, as in many cases the value is not estimated. The amount reported as given the Soldiers' Home the past year is six thousand seven hundred and ninety-one dollars and eighty cents, which does not include the total figures.
"My duties as Department President have occupied nearly all my time. I have issued seven general orders and two circular letters, have visited headquarters ninety times, have travelled in official capacity in this State five thousand eight hundred and forty-four miles, visiting thirty-eight different corps. ... I have had the pleasure of installing the officers of seven corps, have instituted two corps, and assisted at the institution of others. I had the honor of attending the National Convention held at St. Louis. Number of official visits made during the year is two hundred and seven." A reception was tendered Mrs. Parker in Boston, upon her return from St. Louis, by the delegates who represented Massachusetts at the Fourth National Convention. Fletcher Webster Post and Corps, of Brockton, also gave her a reception in that city.
Mrs. Parker gained the love of her associates and won the regard of the Grand Army of the Republic during the two years of her administration. Upon retiring from the chair she was appointed and installed Department Counsellor and reappointed the following year. At the convention of 1890 Mrs. Parker was appointed a member of the Committee on Department Rooms at the Soldiers' Home and at every subsequent convention she has been reappointed. She is also a member of other important committees. At the National Convention in Pittsburg, Pa., September, 1894, she was unanimously elected National Chaplain.
Mrs. Parker's husband, Mr. John B. Parker, of Brockton, was born in Boxford, Mass., a son of Aaron L. and Priscilla (Buzzell) Parker. He served in the Civil War in Company F, Fifty-eighth Massachusetts Volunteers, was wounded at Cold Harbor, and honorably discharged for disability soon after the surrender of General Lee. He has been Quartermaster of Fletcher Webster Post, of Brockton, the past twenty years.
Three of the seven children born to Mr. and Mrs. Parker died in infancy. Of the four others the following is a brief record : Katie Florence, born March 23, 1862, is the wife of Robert Davis, of North Easton, and mother of four children—Arthur Horace, Fred Carleton, Helen Parker, and Agnes Elena; Fred Chandler, born August 31, 1866, married in February, 1901, M. Elizabeth Crummitt, and died January 12, 1904; Annie Edith, born December 28, 1875, married Harry L. Thompson, and has one child, Errol Mitchell; Frank Adams Parker was born June 30, 1884.
ALICE SPENCER GEDDES.—One day in the early fall of 1898 a young woman, a Freshman in Radcliffe College, received a letter asking her to call upon the editor of the largest and most influential paper in the city in which she lived. "I have noticed with approval," said the editor, "the reports of the Cambridge Art Circle affairs, which you as clerk have sent in. Will you take charge of a woman's department in my paper?"
"What do you want in it? How shall I start about it? Do you think I can do it?" were some of the questions asked by the bewilflered girl.
"I am too busy to answer questions. Will you furnish matter for eight columns of the Cambridge Chronicle a week from to-day?"
"Yes, sir, I will," came the prompt reply.
Thus it was that Miss Geddes was precipitately plunged into the field of journalism.
She often jests now about the feeling of utter helplessness which overwhelmed her as she left
