The visit of the Barnum and Bailey circus to this city will be notable for several reasons. Not least of these is the fact that this will be the first visit of the Barnum & Bailey show without a preliminary parade. This is such a departure from the old order of things that the public is naturally greatly interested in knowing what effect the elimination of the procession has had upon the business of the show.

W. D. Coxey one of the agents of the big circus arrived in Lewiston yesterday, and last evening was interviewed by The Sun, regarding this innovation, Mr. Coxey said:

“Dispite the most lugubrious prophecies of failure the elimination of the parade has proved a great success. As the Manager, announces, the ‘Barnum and Bailey circus is literally too big to give a parade. The public has accepted this statement in good faith, and never in its history has the show drawn larger or more enthusiastic crowds.'”

50 Years Ago, 1956

Gasoline took another price cut at several Lewiston-Auburn auto service stations yesterday and wiped out in effect the one-cent Federal tax increase which started July 1. Regular gasoline was selling for about 28.9 cents a gallon at many stations after the tax increase but several stations were back to 26.9 cents last night. This more than offset the tax hike effect.

25 Years Ago, 1981

Lewiston’s Festival Franco-American has grown in size and reputation each year since its inception and coordinators Connie Cote and Marcel Dumais are looking to another successful festival this year.

The annual festivities draw people from neighboring towns and states as well as Canada, but it has not lost any of its originality or hometown friendliness.

The festival is a place where for one week each summer old friends and neighbors gather at Kennedy Park to enjoy the exciting atmosphere offered by this unique festival which is a combination of Yankee common sense and Canadian savoire fair.