Bibles and religious books, and medical and dental publications. "This store handles more Bibles and religious books than any firm west of Chicago." "It is not a place to browse, but a place of business and of prompt and courteous attention paid to all."

While the book department of the upto-date metropolitan department store is essentially a general, standard bookstore, there are some modifications of type to be observed. The three visited this year were the book departments of the J. W. Robinson Co., of Bullock's, and of the Broadway Department Store. Robinson's book department, on the main floor of the store's new section opening on Grand avenue, was found extremely interesting. It has an excellent general stock, "but the specialty to which the manager points with pride is the beautiful collection of rare and finely bound books, many from Sangorski and Sutcliffe of London, the largest collection of its kind west of Chicago." This colThis collection is confined almost entirely to eighteenth and nineteenth century classics, with emphasis upon eighteenth century memoirs. "Many interesting and beautiful books were seen here. There was a

first edition of Dickens, 1857, with an original check signed by Charles Dickens inset next the title-page. A copy of Kipling's poem, 'If,' written in gold on vellum, is in a binding of hand-tooled leather inlaid with corals and pearls, a miniature of Kipling is within the pages, and the pages themselves are adorned in gold illumination. There are also examples of foreedge painting that are very lovely in their tapestry-like effect." "Prices of books in this rare book department begin at fifteen dollars and go up to five hundred dollars."

Bullock's book department carries a general collection of about 30,000 volumes, emphasizing importations, fine bindings and translations. Here an interesting bit of publicity was observed. "The leading book review of the New York Times Book Review for the current week is placed conspicuously on an easel, surrounded by copies of the book with which it deals." At the Broadway Department Store, the book department gives prominence to children's books and reports large sales in this field. "It has all the beautiful illustrated editions of standard children's books, and many reprints and cheaper series." The

FIGUEROR STREET

feature of most interest here, however, was found in the great popularity and immense circulation of the rental circulating library, maintained on the mezzanine floor. "They have 10,000 volumes, renting for one or two cents a day, according to popularity and date of the book. The patronage appears to be from all walks of life, from workmen in overalls to professional men, from business girls to women of wealth and leisure. (The number of men observed was also surprising.) There are six or seven assistants, kept constantly busy; and one could not but reflect upon how much the Public Library should share in meeting the immense demand for fiction that is expressed in this huge circulation."

In the field of second-hand bookstores, Dawson's Book Shop, on Grand Avenue near Sixth Street, evoked enthusiasm. "The most unusual shop of its kind I have ever visited." It carries rare books and fine bindings almost exclusively, having

recently transferred its general books to Rogers' Book Shop. Its particular specialties are Californiana and Americana. Here were seen many rare books, first editions, and beautiful bindings; interesting examples of the work of the old printers and of beautiful modern printing in the work of John Henry Nash. "All the people employed in Dawson's ployed in Dawson's are book experts, knowing and appreciating the books they handle. Each one is responsible for a department, issues regular catalogs and keeps a correspondence file of patrons." "It would take an artist to present the delights of this shop."

The store at

Holmes Book Company maintains five stores in Los Angeles and two in San Francisco, each under the familiar sign, "No place like Holmes." 814 West Sixth Street is the largest of the Los Angeles stores and contains probably about 200,000 books; that at 620 South Spring Street reported "about 100,000."

These are repositories of books of every size, shape and degree of interest, most of them roughly classified by subject and arranged alphabetically by author. "Elinor 1 Glyn seemed to be a favorite author, one might almost say a specialty, her books being seen to right and left thruout the collection." A rare book collection, including Californiana, has been begun in # the Sixth Street store.

Powner's Book Store is one of the $ chain of stores linked with the Chicago Powner's, "the house of a million books." The small building on South Spring Street is overflowing with a varied collection of books new and old, and plans are under way for another Los Angeles store, to be opened on Grand Avenue. At Powner's emphasis is laid upon Americana and art books; some interesting old editions and examples of early printing were seen. Among current books, those on banking, business and investment are given

prominence, owing to the location in a banking district.

Rogers' Book Shop, on West Sixth Street, was opened only about two years ago, and has a stock of about 20,000 volumes, in which fiction predominates. There is no specialty, but some emphasis is given to art books. A feature observed here is the renting of books for a small daily charge.

One of the most interesting specialized bookstores in Los Angeles is the Children's Book Store, conducted by Mr. and Mrs. Markham Field MacLin, at 524 South Figueroa Street, in a little frame dwellinghouse which survives from the city's earlier days. "Here 'Children's Book Week' prevails all the year." The "front room" is the show-room, where are displayed beautiful illustrated editions of children's books, books at sale prices, and the work of art student illustrators of children's books. Back of this is the "library room," where

laden shelves line the walls from floor to ceiling and books fill a large center table. All books are classified and attractively arranged. "Mr. and Mrs. MacLin read every book before buying and buy only books that they can fully recommend." "There is a third room, called the nursery, which has books for little children, a few toys, and story-telling books." "The Children's Book Store is in constant co-operation with the Los Angeles Recreational Reading Committee, in which all the organizations that work with and for children and young people are affiliated to promote the use of good books." The store is trying to influence children to have and use their own bookplates; "a bookplate is given with every book sold, and bookplate books are available for those who wish to buy them." "They are very friendly. If a child wants a book and has only ten cents, they try to find something that can be sold at that price." While the store does no special advertising, its owners have visited clubs and schools and given book talks, and they frequently send exhibits of books for examination or to illustrate children's literature.

The only other specialized bookstore visited was the Biola Press Book Room, maintained by the Bible Institute in its Grand Avenue building. Of this our observer says: "The Biola Press is quite the most remarkable dealer in the equipment for Christian living this side of the Rockies. It handles everything, from alarm clocks to aid would-be backsliders to greet the Lord promptly Sunday morning to collection plates and contest buttons. The front half of the store is filled with Bibles and red plush mottoes; the rear is consecrated to helps for preachers, religious novels, anti-higher criticism, and pamphlets on every subject that might conceivably confront the fundamentalist. The stock is large and quite varied: Bibles, biographies of men noted in the religious world (Francis of Assissi leaned lovingly against William Jennings Bryan), books denouncing Harry Emerson Fosdick, Christian Science and Mormonism,. religious weekly and monthly magazines, fountain pens, health books, anecdotal aids to ministers, and much fundamental literature. Each book added to the stock is reviewed

by a minister for the princely remuneration of twenty-five cents, and his decision is final." They supply the needs of many orthodox Protestant denominations, and do a very large business, much of which is carried on by mail.

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Of bookstores visited in Long Beach and Pasadena only briefest mention can be made. Hewett's Book Store, in Long Beach, "conducts an interesting feature in broadcasting book reviews once a week from the local station. These reviews are prepared by the librarian of the Long Beach Public Library, and each one includes five or six books in brief summary and appreciation." In Pasadena, the bookstore of A. C. Vroman, Inc., was found to be spacious, bright, always active and interesting. Its specialties are children's books and fine bindings. Opening from its large main room is an attractive small room devoted to children's books, carefully arranged according to age of child reader and kind of book; and at the back of the store is the beautiful "Spanish library," where first editions, fine bindings and art books are segregated, with its imposing wall bookcases with leaded glass doors, its heavy, stately Spanish armchairs, eighteenth century benches and great refectory tables, and its rich crimson hangings. Opening from this room is a charming little walled patio, in which a stone bench under a fig tree invites to rest and meditation. McLean's Bookshop is the only second-hand bookstore in Pasadena. Mr. McLean looks back upon a lifetime in the book worldin New York, Brooklyn and Los Angelesand is one of the veterans who has friends among booklovers east and west. His shop is well organized and distinctive, with its original bookish posters and apt quotations adorning walls and shelves and its atmosphere of friendly welcome. "Oh, Mr. McLean, I'm sure you know Roger Mifflin?" said one visitor, and Mr. McLean admitted that he did. mitted that he did. He has a collection of interesting first editions, and many curious and valuable finds are caught in his net. He specializes in supplying individual wants, thru a careful card indexing of customers. A great deal of his business is done by mail, but his shop is a familiar haunt for browsers, booklovers and librarians.