The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-05-03

Secretary
BY Alleyne Ireland. Mitchell Ken
nerley.
tensely interesting book. Mr.. Ireland
says: "Only ono side OF singularly
rich and complex nature is disclosed In
these pages-the side which I've turned
to now secretary" In that sentence
may be found manifestation of tho
spirit In which the book is written.
1t is no ordinary biography. no selec-
ton and EXPRESSION of important events
that occurred In the life of the re-
markabls man who is recalled in its
pages or OF tho happenings that
nodded his character
1t Is simply an account OF the last
year or two OF Joseph PulitZer's life.
as seen by one OF his secretaries, a
man of keen observation, OF warm
sympathy. of quick appreciation and,
withal, endowed with the ability to
express himself clearly, even bril-
liant1y.
The story begins with the probation
airy period OF MIR. Ireland's service with
ar. Pulitzer. after q few weeks spent
by the candidate, as he describes him
self, in undergoing the most rigid and
searching examinations At the hands
OF other secretaries and assistants OF
the great newspap erlnan. These weeks
OF his novitiate, so to speak, we're ex
ccedingly trying, but they were a.
mere forctaste OF what was TO come
when Nr. ireland was informally, but
finally. accepted s n member OF Mr..
Pulitzer's staff for the brain OF the
genius THAT was Pulitzer. hidden be-
hind blind eyes and quivering from The
shock of almost ccaseless physical pain,
was Unsuitable in Its demands.
Mr. Ireland had assumed that, once
accepted, he would have II pleasant and
~n1t h~.. -ltR
world IN his employers yacht, but lie
found that no had to work under pres
sure all tho time. Worl, OF "a strange
character st was. too. for with tho
other secretarics, he was compelled to
study constantly I'm order to be able
20 talk interestingly to Mr.. Pulitzer
IT was not only with the New York
World and !tS progress that Mr. Pulit-
ger kept himself Informed minutcly-
so minutcly that lie remained it's active
head TO the day OF his death, even
when he was half q world away from
it--but with all the other great news-
papers In tho ish-speakinE world,
with magazines, books. and with every
other sort OF publication that recorded
or referred TO current events all over
the earth.
All this was in addition to tho his
toricaI, political and biographical
works that formed an element of Mr..
PulttzcrS daily conversational re-
QuiEcIncnCS, All Oh winch ms SecrC-
taries were compelled 10 study with
the utmost concentration, for the brain
OF Pulitzer was so all embracing that
slight errors. trifiinG mistakes In mat
ters concerning which fl would have
been supposed that he know little or
nothing, would almost inevitably he
seized upon by him, ma~niiicd ana
turned into weapons Of admonition
end, often, ridlcuie.
The daily routine OF life with Mr..
Pulitzer and his staff IS described with
wealth OF anec6otc, interesting in
itself. and essential to tho purpose OF
the authorize portraiture Of Joseph
Pulitzer.
ana, In consequence OF the pains-
taking caro- and inGubitable accuracy
that are apparent beneath Mr.. ire
lands delightful style, there Is offered
Il rarely intimate and illuminative BIZ
oEraphy of one OF the most renarIs
able and forcetul personalities OF his
day. while, even to readers whose mir
suits lie along entirely different paths
from that followed by the man and
his btographer. the book contains more
matter of absorbing interest than may
be found in n dozen OF tho average
works OF fiction.