New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-05-15

Here IS an outline Of ne book OF la H"hHme ~.
!, Is Christmas night and the painter Marcel ana
poet Rudolf ~ work IN ia" fafr'i room "hi'h
ihev share with two other lmp"cuni"u> boh"ihians
II e. very cold. their fingers are sti ma they can
fcarc,lv work: bu, they have 10 fuel Finally tho
noe, fhri,s,s the manuscript n thro"-act trugcdy
Of his own into tho stove md they warm their
hands 50 also docs their companion Collin phil
osoJhcr warm hts. he has Just com" In after vain
GRAND 20 the pawnbrOk"r. The fourth member or
the co,crie now appenrs. lie is "A musician and has
had a stroke Of luck In meeting well-disposed
Englishman lie brings homo money and
rousal IS promptly begun into which the landlord.
who has for his rcnt Is drawn II Is decided
10 continue the festivities AZ the CAFE Momus
whittier the other three CO. leaving Rudolf 10 follow
after he has finished Il newspaper article" WhNo
he ia writing alone there comes n knock nj tho
door. and Mimi the heroine. is admitted 10y the
poet, She is a seamsircss and also tenant OF the
house but unncquaintei with Rudolf. Sh" has
como 10 ask for a match to light her candle. which
the wind had cxtinguished. Rudolf helps her 10
another light. but the wind blows II ont again.
and Mimi drops her key. While they are cropping
for It IN the dark they find each others hands, and
the rest may be imagined. The two join the party
at the caf6. where Musetto an old flame OF Mnrcefs
from the Latin Quarter f. met She rids herself or
"a rich old fool who has brought her there, and
takes up again with her cxoyer. In the next
scene Mimi has become consumptive ard there is
talk Of "A separating from Rudolf She calls Mar
eel OF n tavern to ask his help. but Rudolf
comes with him. MS well na Musctte and there IL
a space OF tears and passionate protcstntion blend
ed with a quarrel between Marcel and Musette for
the sake Of musical piquancy In the last the
women have deserted poet and painter for richer
lovers and the two men at work dsconsolately
In their attic room. Philosopher and musician again
return from n f0raglng expedition. but this time
they bring nothing but n loaf OF broad and a her
ring. Never helcss the spirit OF merriment selves
upon the party, and they enter upon "a fcstivty
OF the most boisterous kind In the midst OF their
carOusc the door opens, ard Musette appears with
Mimi. In the last stage Of consumption. She is cnr-
rcd TO Il bed and there dies. like the twin sister
that she IL Of Violetta and Manon.
Tho selection OF Mr. Paur to be Mr. 6edrs
cossor as conductor OF tho Philharmonic Society
is not likely to DO hailed with much delight by the
subscribers Of the societys concerts Under exist
ing circumstances the choice may have been the
best that the society could make. but the time had
come for n change OF conditions and n tho society
should suffer hereafter from blindness to It's present
opportunity II Will have nobody but itself to blame
II does not require much OF the spirit OF prophecy
TO predict that the season Will mark turning
point in the history OF the Philharmonic Society.
II IN now confronted with the question OF It's will
ingness TO raise the standard OF orchestral music
TO what Il ought to be In New York. or IN default
to have It's patrons turn to the Boston Orchestra.
attempt tho resuscitntion Of the permanent
orchestra scheme. which seems TO have collapsed
with tho death of Mr. Eeidl This Ia not written in
criticism Of Mr. Paur. He must not be judged by
what he has done with tho Boston Symphony
or"hsstrs. but what hs viu 40 with the hstss-