The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1911-12-02

six or seven years, the same intellec-
tual power, the same great brain, that
] had known when he was actively
in The World office. During our con-
yersatons ! marveled constantly 20
find this virtually totally blind
man thoroughly equipped-and only
through the eyes of others-to dis
cuss not only the leading business,
political and social topics of the day,
but even minor ones in which we
both happened to be particularly in.
terested
After his blindness he cultivated an
already remarkable knowledge of art
and its history, and could talk most
ably upon the characteristics ana
qualities of not only our leading
American sculptors and painters. but
OF the old masters He was especially
fond of portraits of distinguished men,
notably those by famous painters,
and it is not generally known that IN
his beautiful New York residence
there is the nucleus of a remarkable
collection of great portraits by great
men.
He especially admired the work. CT
John Sargent, who may be truly
called the modern Velasquez,' ana
his ambition would not rest until he
had that modern master paint the
portraits of both Mrs Pulitzer and
himself. It may be noted here that
Sargent's bust portrait of Mr.. Pulitzer,
shown at the Windsor Academy in
New York two years ago, and which
has been frequently reproduced be-
fore and at the time of his death, is
considered by some of Sargents ad-
mirers as perhaps the most sympa-
thetic portrait the artist ever painted.
If there be anything in telepathy, it
would seem as if Mr.. Pulitzer's ambi-
ton to have his features perpetuated
by the great portraitist influenced
the latter so strongly that he pro-
duced most perfect presentment,
not only of the mans appearance, but
almost of his soul seen through the
sightless eyes
The dead editor was also a great
lover of music and one of unusual
taste and appreciation; he loved 20
talk on music, and nothing so soothed
him as its strains. In his New York,
Bar Harbor and Jekyll Island houses
he mad among his attendants a skilled
pianist and devoted sometimes sew
eral hours a day to listening to Wae-
ner, whom of all other composers he
preferred and other great musicians
He was a frequent attendant at tho
! opera and concerts, although the rest
lessness of body, which increased dur
ing his later years, made it difficult
for him to sit for any length of time
in public place.
At all times an exceedingly nervous
man, after his blindness he became
almost a mOnOmaniac on the subject
of noise. AS has been told he had
virtually sound-proof apartments built
in his city residence, and during the
years on which he voyaged on ocean
of his own great yacht, the Liberty,
three years ago, he would reserve
cabins on the upper deck, with the
pToviso that the deck should be Toped
off on the side on which we're lis
sleeping rooms and covered with
cocoa mating,
During these long voyages it was
his custom to have secretary read
to him every morning the main fea-
lures from the news columns of the
latest papers obtainable before de-
parture and those of what newspapers
could be obtained en- route, and then
listen to selections from the editorial
columns of the same from another
StCltldIS. Later ne Wdlhtu SeNeIdl
miles, always with a companion, dur,
ing which walks he discussed topics
Of personal mutual interest.
After luncheon and nap another
secretary frequently read to him i'll
German, and then after some music
came an hours reading of history
and again after dinner two or more
hours were devoted to the latest fic
tion-for Mr.. Pulitzer loved the novel
island a discussion of the same.
well remember on a memorable voy.
age to Genoa in 1905 on the Celtic
reading to him the then popular
Lady Roses Daughter" of Mrs
Humphrey Ward, and his keen inter.
est in the plot and clever incisive
analysis of Julie Lespinnesse's char.
aCter.
He kept himself thoroughly in touch
with the religious tendencies of the
times. Not a deeply religious man