From the Lawrence Daily Journal-World for April 3, 1914:

“The Annual Clean-up in the city of Lawrence will be held on Friday, April 17th. On this date the city will clean up its front yard and its back yard, gather up its rubbish and carry it away to the dump. This has come to be an annual occasion in Lawrence participated in by all the citizens. As usual the Federation of Women’s Clubs will lead in the work and the city administration will do its part. The city teams probably will be donated for the day as usual to haul the refuse away to the dump. Last year all of the city teams were kept busy on this clean-up day and it was many a load of trash which was removed from the yard and the alley and taken to the city dump.”

“County Superintendent C. R. Hawley announced this morning that the truancy officers of Douglas county had had less work this year than ever before. He accounts for this by the fact that Diplomas of Honor are given to those pupils who have neither been absent or tardy during the year. Large certificates are given to those who have maintained their record through two years. Mr. Hawley ordered 50 of the large certificates thinking they would be sufficient to meet the demand, but now they are all gone and probably only half of the schools have closed. This shows a remarkable attendance in the schools and also makes a much better feeling with the parents and pupils. Instead of the truancy officer having to compel the children to attend school they go gladly and are rewarded for their regular and prompt attendance.”

“At least one Lawrence merchant seems to have been victimized by a bad check artist yesterday. J. House & Son are holding a check for $20 for which there are no funds in the bank on which it was written. The check was given at the store yesterday afternoon after banking hours, in exchange for a suit of clothes, a hat and 85 cents in change…. The bad paper has been turned over to the police department, but thus far the writer has not been located.”

“The people came down town, the stores were beautifully decorated and filled with the season’s best offerings attractively displayed, the entertainers held the crowd and never for a moment allowed the affair to lag, and thus the ‘First Annual Spring Fashion Show’ is chronicled as a great success. For two hours last night the crowd thronged Massachusetts street and wandered in and out of the gaily decorated stores, looked in at the windows and listened to the music offered by divers and varied musical organizations of the city. Glee clubs, orchestras, quartettes, mandolin clubs, victrolas, banjo players and even a brass band vied with each other for the attention of the throng. But there were people down town in such numbers that the efforts of none went astray, an audience always greeted every company. The success of the venture far exceeded the hopes of the most optimistic merchants…. For a time the rain clouds and a shifting temperature threatened to mar the occasion but the Lawrence folks braved the elements and came down town just as they had planned, and then the elements gave up. Only a sharp north wind held out against a pleasant evening. But this was not sufficient to harm…. A tour of the stores last night was indeed convincing argument of the claim that Lawrence can supply all the needs of her population right here at home. Everything that the big city offers was shown here last night on the counters of the home merchants. Perhaps not in the quantity of the metropolis but certainly sufficient to supply all of Lawrence. The most fastidious buyer could not help but see in Lawrence just what he wanted.”

“All of the candidates for the city offices except H. B. Sparks were present at the meeting of the North Side Unity club last night. Probably due to the fashion show only about forty were present, but they were enthusiastic. The candidates all had a chance to express their ideas on subjects in question. It was generally agreed that North Lawrence had not been getting all that was coming to them but no promises were made. Various discussions on matters of public interest were brought up.”