From the Lawrence Daily Journal-World for Feb. 10, 1914:

• “Judge C. A. Smart of the District Court of Douglas County is to be asked to solve a knotty problem that has been before the city of Lawrence for many years in the past. Judge Smart is to decide whether or not the city can open up a street through South Park. When this ground was donated the city it was with the understanding that it was to be used for ‘park purposes only.’ It was further specified by the donors that should the city attempt to use any part of it for any other purposes the entire piece of land should revert back to the original owners or their heirs. For many years the residents on the west side of the park, living on what ordinarily would be Vermont street, have been petitioning that a street be opened up connecting Vermont street. Each time the city council has undertaken to comply with this request it has come up against this stipulation in the title to the park. And thus each time the effort was given up by the council, and each time the property owners came back with another request for a street. It is held by some of the members of the council that a street might be opened up here as a sort of park driveway. The land would still be in the possession of the city and the clause of the title might be fulfilled, since this drive would be likely to beautify the park. Last night at a special session of the city council this question came up again and it was decided that there should be no further delay. Judge Smart is to be asked his opinion on this case and the future action of the city will depend upon this decision.”
• “The Order of the Blue Mark has been established in the city schools. The grand officer of this society is Supt. F. P. Smith, head of the city schools of Lawrence. There are a total of 216 charter members of the organization…. To qualify for the Order of the Blue Mark it is necessary that a student make a perfect grade in his work for the term. This includes every subject and for the entire four months. Yesterday afternoon when Supt. Smith called the first meeting of his new society he found 216 Lawrence public school pupils with cards showing this perfect grade for the period just closed…. Formerly it was the plan of Prof. Smith to have personal talks with all those who made failing grades in their work. They were called to his office and a mild scolding was administered. But this system did not seem to accomplish the desired results as the number continued to be about the same. Prof. Smith next determined to give a reward for good work rather than scold those who did poorly. He decided upon the Blue Mark idea. The cards of all those who had made perfect grades were checked with a blue pencil. Yesterday afternoon Prof. Smith called all the pupils with such checks on their cards to his office. Here they signed their names and the name of their school and grade on a slip of paper which was left with the superintendent. A roll of honor will be compiled form this and posted in each building in the city. Supt. Smith is well pleased with the showing made yesterday and believes that the plan will be found to operate very successfully.”
• “There was scrambling and running and hurried collecting of valuables when the roof of Pi Upsilon fraternity house, 19 W. 14th street, was discovered blazing shortly after ten o’clock last night. Trunks and bedclothes, as well as smaller articles were showered from the windows and furniture was carried through the doors. The fire was extinguished within five minutes after the arrival of the fire department. Damage to the building is estimated at $500 and to the furnishings at $450, all of which is covered by insurance. It was at first thought the fire started from a defective flue, but investigation disclosed the fact that it started by a gas jet on the third floor which was too near the roof.”