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RENTANO'S opened their new Chicago store with a reception for friends and customers, Friday, April 27, in the new quarters in the Pittsfield building, the city's latest addition to its family of skyscrapers.

The reception was another milestone in the history of the house of Brentano in Chicago a history that has almost been one with that of retail bookselling in the city. One of the oldest book houses in the city, Brentano's closed in 1902 and after a lapse of more than twenty years entered the field again in 1923 with the purchase of the retail department of A. C. McClurg & Co. For the last five years the store at 218 South Wabash Avenue has been one of the bookselling centers of the city.

John Loos, now manager of the concern's 27th street store in New York city, was the first manager of the re-established Chicago branch. He was succeeded in 1926 by Sydney Avery who still directs the work of the store.

It was Mr. Avery who, with Arthur Brentano and Lowell Brentano, greeted customers and friends in the trade, at the opening of the store at Wabash avenue and Washington street. The doors were first opened April 24, but the formal opening was delayed until three days later. A string orchestra in the balcony was on hand most of the day and most of the counters were almost obscured by flowers.

Among those who called were Fanny Butcher, literary editor of the Chicago

Tribune, Ralph Henry of Carson, Pirie's, Rose Oller of Marshall Field's, A. Kroch, who opened his new shop a few months ago, Joseph E. Grey, president of A. C. McClurg & Co., and Llewellyn Jones, editor of the Evening Post's literary page. There are 18,000 square feet of floor space in Brentano's new quarters-main floor, balcony, and basement. New publications of the house and other firms, periodicals and a stationery counter are on the main floor. The basement has the technical books, texts, maps, stationery and miscellaneous departments including the important collection of foreign books. The balcony has space for the clerical depart

ment.

A private elevator has been installed for the convenience of customers from the basement to the balcony.

The shelving is done in a cathedral oak finish beautifully ornamented with carvings. Woodwork in the basement is of Italian green oak. Walls above the shelving are in light tints giving an effect of lightness and airiness to the store.

The store is very fortunate in its accommodations for window display. For the opening, the exhibits were of current fiction and non-fiction and of fine bindings. Not only has the store two outside windows, fronting on Washington street and on Garland court, but it also has several large windows facing the rotunda of the Pittsfield building. The magazine stand in the lobby is operated by Brentano's, and connects with the main store.

It was a big job moving the store's $250,000 book stock from the old building to the new but it was accomplished by strenuous work on the part of the employees of the store. Brentano's will continue at the old stand, 218 South Wabash avenue, until June 1, when the lease expires. A big sale of books has been under way for some weeks and will continue until the remaining stock is sold or has to be moved.

Brentano's was the second large store to move in the last six months. In December, A. Kroch moved his store further north on Michigan Avenue into beautiful new quarters in the Toby building.

A. & C. Boni. Macmillan.

Boni Liveright.

Doubleday, Page.

Harcourt, Brace.

Bridge of San Luis Rey," by Thornton Wilder, and published by Albert and Charles Boni, New York, 1927.

"For the original American play performed in New York which shall best represent the educational value and power of the stage in raising the standard of good morals, good taste and good manners, $1,000." This was awarded to Eugene O'Neill's "Strange Interlude" produced at the John Golden Theatre, New York, during the season 1927-1928. Published by Boni and Liveright, 1928.

"For the best volume of verse published during the year by an American author. $1,000." This prize was won by Edwin Arlington Robinson's "Tristram," published by The Macmillan Company, New York, 1928.

Thornton Wilder, author of "The Bridge of San Luis Rey"

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HE Pulitzer Awards for 1927 as announced May 8th by President Nicholas Murray Butler of the Advisory Board of the Columbia University School of Journalism, include the names of Eugene O'Neill, for drama, and Edwin Arlington Robinson for poetry. This is

the third time their work has been awarded the Pulitzer honors in these fields.

The complete list of awards in arts and letters is as follows:

"For the American novel published during the year which shall best present the whole atmosphere of American life, and the highest standard of American manners and manhood, $1,000." Awarded to "The

Edwin Arlington Robinson, who with "Tristram" wins the poetry

prize for the third time

"For the best American biography teaching patriotic and unselfish services to the people, illustrated by an eminent example, excluding, as too obvious, the names of George Washington and Abraham Lincoln, $1,000." Awarded to "The American Orchestra and Theodore Thomas," by Charles Edward Russell, published by Doubleday, Page and Company.

"For the best book of the year upon the history of the United States, $2,000." Awarded to "Main Currents in American Thought" 2 vols.: "The Colonial Mind, 1620-1800. The Romantic Revolution in America, 1800-1860," by Vernon Louis Parrington, published by Harcourt, Brace.

The juries for the prizes in letters are chosen from the National Institute of Arts and Letters. It is on the recommendations of these juries that the Advisory Board of the School of Journalism acts in awarding the prizes established by the will of Joseph Pulitzer, former publisher of the New York World.

"The Bridge of San Luis Rey," winner of the novel award, is the second novel by Thornton Wilder. His first novel, "The Cabala" was published by Albert and Charles Boni in 1926, and altho it did not meet with the success of "The Bridge of San Luis Rey" it was well received.

Eugene O'Neill first won the Pulitzer prize for American drama in 1920, with his "Beyond The Horizon," and in 1922 his "Anna Christie" again secured him the award. "Strange Interlude" inaugurates critics claim, a return to the soliliquy in drama. This characteristic helps to make the play conspicuous for the length of time required for a performance, between five and six hours being necessary.

Vernon Louis Parrington, author of the 2 volume "Main Currents in American Thought," which was awarded the prize as the best book of the year upon the history of the United States, is Professor of English at the University of Washington, Seattle. "Main Currents in American Thought" is his first published work.

Charles Edward Russell, prominent American journalist, whose "The American Orchestra and Theodore Thomas" was awarded the biography prize, was for many years the friend of Theodore Thomas. A new work by Mr. Russell is to be published in the fall. It will be titled "A-Raft

ing on the Mississippi" and published by The Century Company.

Harry Hansen in the New York World writes: "Everywhere I hear much favorable comment on the award of the Pulitzer Prize to Thornton Wilder for "The Bridge of San Luis Rey." Its appearance on the American literary horizon is most fortuitous. It comes at a time when the American genius, with a few notable exceptions, has been expressing itself almost entirely in naturalism and iconoclasm, highly seasoned with propaganda, into which scholarship and subtlety do not

enter.

"In choosing "The Bridge of San Luis Rey" the Committee of Award appears to have scrapped the condition that the prize should be given for a novel "which shall best present the wholesome atmosphere of American life and the highest. standard of American manners and manhood." But perhaps this went by the board when the committee chose "Early Autumn" last year. The condition always made selection difficult. Authors should be permitted to write out what they have in themselves and not be handicapped by rules."