• One of the largest audiences of the season was present at the Empire last evening at the first performance of the favorite old opera “Erminie” by local talent under the auspices of the First Universal Society. This is the third opera to be produced by this society, and it is by far their most ambitious attempt, the opera being much more difficult than either “The Pirates of Penzance,” produced by them two years ago, or “The Pinafore” of last year.

• Home Cookery, To Fry Pig’s Liver – According to a Lewiston lady: Pour over it boiling water and cook for 10 minutes or until tender. Then brown quickly in bacon or sausage fat.

50 years ago, 1958

It’s a Sputnik age, with tremendous changes brought by science. Yet many of us never have noticed something under our noses. For although each of us eats approximately three meals a day, rarely do we rush to the table, look down at our vittles and cry out in wonder, “Great heavens! What a revolution has come over our food industry!” Shopping by auto is here to stay, self-service has changed our buying habits and food supplies have been standardized. In the processing plant, everything comes ready to plop in the pan. Remember the flour barrel? The backyard pit for storing turnips? The 100-pound sack of sugar?

25 years ago, 1983

• “There appears to be no conclave evidence that semi-annual motor vehicle inspections are any more effective than annual inspections,” Eric Baxter told a legislative panel. Eric Baxter testified at a committee hearing on several bills designed to change Maine’s inspection law, including one to make the safety checks an annual requirement and one to eliminate them altogether.

• The public apparently won’t be allowed into an Auburn City Council meeting Tuesday night when councilmen discuss the water and sewerage districts, which were recently the subject of reports by a citizens committee and the city manager’s office.