11 JULY 1914, Page 22

SOME BOOKS OF THE WEEK.

[Under this heading tee notice such Books of the weak as has. net hen reierved for review in other forms.]

Toseph Pulitzer. By Alleyne Ireland. (Mitchell Kennerley.) The late well-known proprietor of the New York World, like

our own Henry Fawcett, gave a striking example of the way in which a man of strong will may triumph over the disability of blindness. Mr. Ireland, who was for a short time one of

the carefully selected band of secretaries that served as eyes to Mr. Pulitzer, is of opinion that the loss of sight was in one way an actual advantage to his employer :—

"When he had his sight he judged men as others judged them, and, making full allowance for his genius for observation and analysis, he was no doubt influenced to some extent by appear- ance, manners, and associations. But after he became blind and retired from contact with all men, except a circle which cannot have exceeded a score in number, his judgment took on a new measure of clearness and perspective. As a natural weapon of self-defence he developed a system of searching examination before which no subterfuge could stand."

Mr. Ireland gives a most interesting account of the blind millionaire's methods of carrying on his work, and his little book is of unusual interest as a psychological study of a terribly sad, though strenuous career.