s opened to admit milk-women, carters, peasants with baskets
and finally Mimi.

She looks wretched and is at once seized with a terrible fit of
coughing. As soon as she can speak, she asks the name of the tavern,
where she knows Marcel is working. When he emerges from the inn she
implores his help, saying Rudolph is killing her by his insane
jealousy. Marcel promises to intervene, and when Rudolph comes out of
the tavern Mimi hides behind the trees.

She hears Rudolph say, she is doomed to die, and coughs and sobs so
violently, that her presence is revealed.

Rudolph remorsefully takes the poor weak creature in his arms, and they
decide to make it up.

Their reconciliation is interrupted by Marcel, who is upbraiding
Musette. This flighty damsel has one lover after another, although she
really loves Marcel alone.

The fourth and last scene takes us back to the garret, where Marcel and
Rudolph are alone, Musette and Mimi having left them. They each kiss
mementos of their lady-loves when Schaunard appears with {479} bread
and herring. Gayety is soon restored and a regular frolic takes place.
Musette enters in a state of great agitation, to say, that Mimi, who is
in the last stage of consumption is there and wants to see Rudolph once
more. The latter carries her on the little bed. As there is nothing
in the house, with which to revive her, Musette decides to sell her
earrings in order to procure medicines, a doctor and and a muff, for
which Mimi longs.

Schaunard also goes out, so that the lovers are left alone.--A touching
scene follows, when Rudolph shows Mimi the pink bonnet he has cherished
all the time. Musette and Marcel soon return with medicines and a
muff, upon which Mimi sinks into the sleep from which there is no
awakening with a sweet smile of satisfaction.

THE FLEDERMAUS (THE BAT).

A Comic Operetta in three Acts by MEILHAC and HALEVY.

Music by JOHANN STRAUSS.

The Fledermaus is the famous Viennese Waltz King's best operetta. The
charming music is so well known, that only the libretto needs to be
explained, because of its rather complicated plot.

A serenade which is listened to by Adele Rosalind Eisenstein's maid,
but is intended for her mistress, begins the first act. Adele has just
received an invitation from her sister Ida to a grand entertainment to
be given by a Russian prince, {480} Orlofsky by name. She is longing
to accept it, and attempts to get leave of absence for