100 years ago: Cold wave brings ‘real winter’ to Lawrence

From the Lawrence Daily Journal-World for Dec. 26, 1913:

  • “It was real winter in Lawrence this morning. The thermometer had dropped down about twelve degrees above the zero mark when Lawrence awoke and lighted the gas. In some instances it was a puny flame that was obtainable, that was convincing argument that winter was at hand. The cold wave had been predicted last night and it was noticeable early in the evening that the mercury was on the decline and that it would get below the cold mark of the season before morning. No official figures on the temperature could be obtained today from the University as the observatory apparently had closed for the holiday season. The indications were for a low temperature again tonight but not as low as this morning’s record. The low temperature this morning was followed by a day of sunshine and the snow that promised a White Christmas last week has practically all disappeared.”
  • “The Good Fellows of Lawrence did their duty yesterday and they did it well. It is doubtful if there was a single empty stocking in Lawrence yesterday or a single home where there was not some Christmas cheer. Perhaps it was a dinner, perhaps clothing or toys and candies for the little folks. There were many organizations doing Good Fellow work in Lawrence this year. Elks, Salvation Army, Social Service League, Sunday schools, churches and individuals. All were bent on one common cause — to make a Merry Christmas for everyone…. The Salvation Army gave its annual Christmas dinners yesterday. Early in the morning, long before daylight, the work of distribution began and by noon many a family had received a sumptuous meal and joy prevailed where want had been felt a short time before…. And there were many dinners, many gifts of toys and clothing made by private citizens, whose work goes unrecorded but which figures in the cause of Good Fellowship at Christmas time.”
  • “Members of the First Regimental band are anxious that everyone attend the concert this evening at the Bowersock. It is the second annual holiday musical treat by this organization and promises to be one of the most enjoyable features of the Christmas season. The program has been especially prepared for this occasion and is indeed a good one. The concert is free and it will be high class.”
  • “The children who attended the Elks Christmas yesterday afternoon were guests this afternoon at a five-reel show at the Patee Theater.”
  • “A real Christmas dinner, once such as many families in Lawrence did not eat yesterday, was served to the prisoners in the county jail by Sheriff W. J. Cummings. The dinner was complete from the turkey with oyster dressing to the cigars and nuts. The formality wasn’t lacking either, for Turnkey Ike Johnson acted as toastmaster and needless to say the guests at the dinner gave a vote of thanks to Mr. Cummings.”
  • “Sheriff Cummings wasn’t the only ‘Good Fellow’ around the court house yesterday. There was another man, namely Probate Judge Lindley, who did himself proud to pass the Christmas spirit around. Ostensibly the office of the probate judge was closed yesterday. The law allowed its occupants a holiday. But Earnest P. Scott of Hannibal, Missouri, prospective bridegroom, didn’t know that. Consequently, he was somewhat ‘put out’ when he went to the judge’s office to procure a marriage license and found the door locked. As soon as the judge heard of the difficulty over the telephone he promptly took off his house slippers, dressed and faced the wintry weather to make the young couple happy.”
  • “Gulfport, Mississippi — President Wilson today discovered the home of Mrs. J. H. Neville on fire here and directed two chauffeurs and two secret service men how to extinguish the blaze. The president was returning in an automobile to Pass Christian from the golf course, when he saw smoke coming from the roof of the Neville home. He ran into the house. ‘Your house is on fire,’ he told Mrs. Neville, ‘but do not be alarmed. These gentlemen will extinguish it.’ The fire was soon out and the president and his party proceeded.”