From the Lawrence Daily Journal-World for Dec. 19, 1912:

• “The Union Pacific depot at Linwood, eight miles east of Lawrence, was the scene of a daring bit of robbery last night shortly before seven o’clock, when the agent, C. A. Hoar, was forced to open the money drawer and permit the hold-up to take the money contained in it, which amounted to about $15. The police of Lawrence, Kansas City, Topeka and other surrounding towns have been notified but thus far no clue to the identity of the bandit has been obtained. The hold-up occurred shortly after train Number 108 had passed through Linwood. The bandit worked under cover of darkness and made his escape into the night without his plans miscarrying in the least. He was seen by no one except the agent and as he was masked only a meager description could be given by Mr. Hoar. It is suspected by the authorities that this was the work of a tramp who perhaps came into Linwood on No. 108. It is hardly reasonable to suppose that a professional robber would have been tempted by such poor prospects as this little depot presented.”
• “Ranking second only to the last day of school in importance in the minds of the boys and girls of the schools is the Friday before the Christmas holidays. For on that day the ‘kiddies’ get their first taste of the festivities of the Christmas season. And that day is tomorrow. In practically every room in the city schools tomorrow afternoon there will be fitting programs given by the children of the various grades consisting of Christmas songs, stories and recitations. What a big event this is for the school boys and girls…. Over at the Central School the rooms have all been decorated in the customary holly and mistletoe. The different rooms have been decorated by the students themselves and it is the result of their work that the rooms are looking so nice.”
• “Tomorrow night in Ecke’s Hall the annual dinner of the Sons and Daughters of New England will be held. Each year those Lawrence citizens who came or whose parents came from this section of the United states gather and observe a Forefathers Day with a banquet and all that goes with such an affair. It is always a memorable gathering at which the stories of the old colonial days are revived and New England atmosphere prevails.”
• “Editor Journal-World: As one who is interested in child life and also in noble citizens I would ask thoughtful, well-meaning people to seriously consider the problem of gifts for the poor children of the city. When children have no books that they may attend school, no clothes to comfortably clothe their bodies, no wholesome food to feed their half-clothed bodies that they may attend school, no Sunday clothes that they may be recognized in the churches, what benefit will the child derive from a vast amount of money spent for toys? I doubt if some of our greatest and best men had many toys in their early lives, but they had something better, which gave them the power for saving souls and lifting the life to a higher plane. I would not have the child deprived the joy at Christmas time of at least one toy, but very few children in this city ever pass a holiday without at treat. Now if some of the ladies of the large churches would visit these homes — if such they may be called — I think they would put up a plea for something more than toys. It is not only at Christmas time they need you, but throughout the year. We have one minister and one doctor’s wife that I know know of these conditions. There may be others, but I have inquired of many, ‘Have you ever visited them in their homes?’ They answer, ‘Oh, no, I never did.’ There are some old folks of this city that need a few minutes of your time. A kind word, a shake of the hand or something. — A Friend of the Children and Old Age.”