From the Lawrence Daily Journal-World for Dec. 25, 1914:

• “‘The best Christmas spirit has been exhibited this year that has ever been shown in this part of Kansas’ is the quotation that is heard many times every day. The spirit of giving seems to be in the people of Lawrence this year. Reasons for the fact, that everyone has such a good spirit, this year over all others, is given that the people of the United States appreciate the advantage they have over the people of the Eastern countries. Having read in the papers every day of the suffering of the war stricken countries and of the loss of life and lack of food there, the people wish to express their gratitude at being permitted to live in a peaceful nation. Even though there are threats of war in our own country the officials have been able to keep the issues from coming to war…. Examples of the giving spirit is shown by the way in which the people of Kansas have given to help the starving Belgians. Thousands of carloads of flour and food have been sent to relieve the suffering…. For the past few weeks the stores of Lawrence have been rushed with shoppers making liberal purchases of Christmas goods. The stocks in the stores have been lowered to a very great degree by the rush of the holiday season…. All of these big purchases indicate that the people of Kansas have had an exceptionally prosperous year as has been the case. The farmers have not had as good a season for a number of years…. Another reason for the exceptionally joyous season is the White Christmas. Kansas citizens seldom have the privilege of enjoying a sleigh ride on Christmas day. The cold wave which now has Kansas in its grasp has been here for over two weeks and the snow has been on the ground almost as long.”
• “Santa Claus arrived on scheduled time at the big Government School, with Professor Alonzo A. Stagg playing the part of the good St. Nicholas, and when Manager A. M. Venne looked in the football stocking in the wee small hours of Christmas morning he found there a contract for a football game between the Haskell Braves and the representatives of the University of Chicago, said game to be played at Chicago on November 6. The ‘Big Nine’ or as it is known in academic circles the ‘Chicago Conference’ is the oldest and most conservative athletic organization in the middle west…. A great many of the followers of football here, in this football crazy town, believe that the Haskell Indians are in a class by themselves when it comes to a demonstration of the great college sport…. Haskell does not always win, but they fight to the finish, even if it is their finish. And it is this characteristic of the Indians that has won them a place for the second time on the Notre Dame schedule, a place on Chicago’s November schedule, and an invitation to meet both the Universities of Illinois and Indiana. Conflicting dates made Manager Venne decline Indiana, but the Illinois game is still a possibility.”
• “The farmers of White Rock and immediate localities have been laying in their season’s supply of ice during the cold weather of the past few weeks. The ice is of fairly good thickness and as is the custom in most neighborhoods, men are clubbing together and filling their ice houses.”
• [VINLAND VINE SUSPENDS] “‘With this issue of the Vine I am bidding good bye to the field in which I have labored so long. I have fought the battles for the people whether they have realized it or not and I have steadfastly contended against the many new foibles and innovations, which in my judgment, are undermining the very foundations of our government…. The good old ways of my father have been good enough for me and rather than stand the constant agitation for reform I have decided to move to some spot where a man can attend to the routine of his daily business, without having to undergo the mental gymnastics necessary to keep up with things around here. I am no Jeremiah and I cannot forever keep on trying to keep my readers in the paths of rectitude…. I bid you farewell. BILL SINCALLER.'”