Cloudless skies and a day of faultless beauty were granted the May festival of the Auburn public schools at its opening concert of Friday morning.

Bright and early in the morning the little people of the primary grades all dressed up in their best Sunday-go-to-Sabbath schools assembled at Auburn Hall under the wings of their respective teachers, for the first concert of the festival was that given by the primary grades. At the 10 o’clock hour when the concert began, nearly every seat in the galleries and on the main floor was taken and one of the most picturesque and happy audiences that ever convened in the old hall was in evidence. Watchful mammas with little ones that do not yet understand the fine art of walking, perched upon their laps dotted the rows of the settees here and there. Little youngsters that are just beginning to acquire the rule of three bravely sallied forth up and down the aisles. Every now and then, you could hear a little one of the audience loudly clap his hands on delight or crow in the blissful key of E sharp major.

50 Years Ago, 1954

-About 100 dealers, salesmen and their wives last night attended a social hour, open house and banquet at the DeWitt Hotel celebrating the 60th anniversary of the Maytag Co. of Newton, Iowa.

-Spokesman for the contractors and unionized painters said last night they intend to “remain pat” as the strike by the painters goes into its second day. Ludger C. Dennis of Dennis Decorating Co., chairman of the contractors’ negotiation committee, said his group will remain firm in its decision not to accept the demand by Local 1468. Painters and Decorators Union of America, AFL, for a 25-cent hourly increase.

25 Years ago, 1979

The cost of mailing a letter almost certainly will go from 13 cents to 15 cents around the end of this month. The Postal Rate Commission today threw out President Carter’s suggestion that private individuals be spared the next postal rate increase, and cleared the way for a new 15 cent postage stamp for first-class mail. It will be the fifth increase in postal rates in the last decade.

The rate package combined with congressional subsidies, is designed to bring in $17.5 billion annually for the deficit-plagued Postal Service.