Los Angeles herald., 1906-11-28
BOOK NOTES

The Standard Operas, compilation
of their plots, music and composers,
by George P. Upton, is an invaluable
handbook for the tyro as we'll as the
professional musician. Well illustrated
with portraits of many present day
opera stars it at once gives one a COM
plete synopsis of many of the great
operatic compositions, together with a
sketch of each composer so that one
has in condensed form most of what
one needs to give full understanding
of the man and his music. 1t omits
some which might well find a place
and retains others which seem not en-
titled to the distinction, but this is
standard exists; and generally the Sc
lections are absolute. This present is
the nineteenth edition
The Standard Operas. By George p.
Upton. Chicago: A. G. McClurg & Co,
Quite the most powerful story yet
written by the popular English author,
Sir William Magnay, is this present.
day romance of London social and po-
ltical life 1.-THE Master Spirit"
A complicated plot replete with
mystery and surprises gives the
story intense interest. 1t is written
along original lines with strongly
dent, ending with a striking and salts
factory denouement. The hero. Paul
Gastineau, is first presented as the
mouthpiece of Godfrey Herriad,
great statesman who is supposed to
have been killed. Both love the beau
tiful Countess Alexia Won Rohnberg.
The story is replete with dramatic in
cident.
The Master Spirit. By Sir William
Magnay. Boston: Little, Brown & Co.
In 1.-THE Dragon Painter" by Mary
Mcneil Fenollosa (Sidney McCalD a
new Japanese romance by the author
Of 1.-The Breath of the Gods" and
"Truth Dexter is Mrs. Fenollosa's
ripest and most artistic work, in which
she again reveals the inner depths of
Japanese feeling, but along quite diff
ferent lines. There is a fascination
about this exotic story of Tatsu, the
Dragon Painter, that holds the reader.
The dramatic events are all depicted
with the same careful workmanship
ana brilliant background that have
characterized this authors previous
books and the story promises to be
more popular than 1.-THE Breath of the
Gods" Kano Indara, the last of his
race and the last of mighty line of
artists, his daughter Ume-ko, and Tat
su, wild mountain artist-the Dragon
Painter-are the chief characters of
this engrossing, exotic story.
The Dragon Painter. By Mary Nc
Neil Fenollosa (Sidney McCalD. Bos-
ton: LittIo, Brown & Co.
"Randys Loyalty" is the seventh
volume of the Randy Books" by
Amy Brooks. Loyalty to others fur
nishesa the keynote of the favorite
Randy Books' Loyalty to her fam
lily leads her to give up most allur-
ing invitation to visit the best loved
of her many friends in the city in order
that she may for time take the
place of her aunt as mistress OF her
neglected farm, and loyalty to her
friends finds exercise in tactfully re-
straining the envious spirits of those
who are rivals for her favor. Her Ge-
votion to her little sister. Prue, Is
touchingly brought out. With it all,
there are many good times, and the
quaint country neighbors are, if pos
sible, more amusing than ever.
Randy's Loyalty. BY Amy Brooks.
Boston: Lothrop, Lee & Shepard Co.
Dorothy Dainty in the City" is the
fifth volume Of Dorothy Dainty Ser.
les" by Amy Brooks. Dorothy's par
ents. with her well loved governess,
Aunt Charlotte" Grayson. and her
devoted little friend, Nancy Ferris,
winter. Acquaintances of the previous
summer welcome them, and their fav-
orite little friends from Merrivale visit
them, and all have delightful times,
The scheming uncle of Nancy,S how
ever, has not ceased his attempt 70
get her into his possession, and Us
temporary success in so doing and
Nancys bravery throughout all form
a thrilling and touching part of thet
story.
Dorothy Dainty in the City, BY Amy
Brooks, Boston: Lothrop. Lee e.
Shepard Co.
"Helen Grant" has won the friend
ship OF a very large number Of read
ers who, having followed her fortunes
at home and her treasured boarding
school, Aldred House, and having seen
her choose a college life in preference
to many enticements in other direc-
tions, win be eager TO learn how she
fares in college. Miss Amanda M.
Douglas representation OF life at a
woman's college Of the present day is !