100 years ago: Field Day: New Victrola to be awarded to winning school

From the Lawrence Daily Journal-World for May 28, 1914:

  • “A $50 Victrola will go to the school making the most points in the field meet tomorrow at McCook field. The Victrola has been paid for and is now on exhibition in the window at the Bell Brothers store. It is being donated by a friend of the Public School who has withheld his name. Pinckney School already has a Victrola and it is in constant use by the different rooms. The Victrola and Grafanola is coming into prominent use in the schools in many cities as a part of the education system. In the teaching of singing, for use in marching and teaching of folk dances the instruments are very essential and prove to be a useful part of the school equipment. The prize of a Victrola will doubtless stimulate the competition among the school children tomorrow in the field events.”
  • “Topeka, Kan. — Memorial Hall, built by the state of Kansas at a cost of one-half million dollars, was dedicated yesterday at noon to the soldiers and sailors of the state who still live and to the memory of those now dead. The beautiful structure is a monument to all the patriotic people of Kansas as well…. In addition to the thousands of old soldiers and their wives seated in the grandstand and on the benches in front of the speakers’ stand, the crowd extended west from Memorial hall across the south grounds of the state house to Van Buren street; others thronged the south and east steps of the state house, listened from the windows of the Santa Fe general offices, and small boys perched in trees during the dedicatory addresses. It was one of the greatest demonstrations Kansas has ever known and the festivities will be remembered to each veteran’s dying day.”
  • “Company H returned to Lawrence last night honored as the best drilled Company in the state. Out of the nine picked companies from the two regiments the Lawrence company took first prize in the competitive drill at Topeka yesterday…. Although the boys of the guard were in military formation all day and not at liberty to look around, they were greatly impressed with the ceremonies and stated on their return last night that the scenes witnessed yesterday would stay with them throughout their life. The old veterans seemed to be particularly impressed with the young soldiers and tears came to the eyes of many as they realized that a half century ago they went marching off to actual war, looking very much as the Kansas boys of the National Guard look today.”
  • “The Street Car Company annually meet for the purpose of discussing matters of mutual interest between the company, the employes and the third party at interest, the public. This evening the dinner will be served in the Merchants Association rooms and all of the employes will be present. The occasion has been found to be profitable as it makes for a better understanding between the men and the company.”
  • “A sudden dash of rain came up last night and in about fifteen minutes .11 of an inch fell. Everything was freshened up and things looked cheery this morning. The rain came up so suddenly that it spoiled some picnic parties.”
  • “The business men met last night and organized an Armory ball league to take the place of the Twilight League of last year. The games will be played on the Learnard field at 6 o’clock in the evenings. The games will start next Monday evening. The first game will be played between the Printers and Merchants.”
  • “Saturday will be Decoration Day. The old soldiers will have charge, of course, but the town and county will unite with them in making the day as sacred and as solemn as it should be…. The war has been over for 49 years and yet there are 191 members of Washington Post. This Post has always been alive and active and the members this year will make special efforts to have every comrade’s grave looked after.”
  • “Beginning next Saturday the dentists of Lawrence will close their offices on Saturday afternoons for six months during the summer season.”