From the Lawrence Daily Journal-World for Dec. 13, 1915:

• “There is something wrong with the world, the University seismograph indicates, and Prof. F. E. Kester of the physics department of the University is at a loss to explain it. For two days preceding an earthquake which was recorded yesterday the earth’s skin was shaken with frequent attacks of shivering…. The earth is an unquiet body and minor disturbances called ‘microseisms’ are registered by seismographs at intervals. But Professor Kester says the disturbances for the past two days have been entirely unlike anything else he has observed while he has been in charge of the seismograph.”
• “Mayor Francisco, in company with the chairmen of the various committees having in charge the promoting of the municipal Christmas tree, repaired to South Park today and chose the site for the coming holiday exercises. The committee on decorations will now plan the ornaments…. The program is being arranged with the musical features playing a large part in it.”
• “A group of Lawrence women have interested themselves in war relief work which may be done at home, and are engaged in starting a movement which may be carried on with less expense than would be incurred in the giving of money, but which will result in relief work of the highest kind of usefulness. Under the auspices of the National Civic League the relief work will consist of the making of hospital supplies which are much in demand in all the countries of Europe; in the making of clothing from new material and the collection of children’s clothing in good condition…. The present relief movement is all the more important because the state’s activities were allowed to slump after the raising of Belgian relief and since that time the need has grown more widespread.”
• “Mr. Frank Speaight, of London, the well known Dickens reader, will be the guest at an informal smoker at the University club tonight, at 8 o’clock. All members of the club are invited. Mr. Speaight came to Lawrence under the auspices of the University and gave a Dickens reading this afternoon in Fraser hall…. Mr. Speaight was in London during the early part of the war, being present at the time of one of the Zeppelin raids, and has some vivid impressions of the British capital in wartime.”
• “It is probable that the question of whether it is advisable to shorten the school day to five hours in the public schools of Lawrence will be settled at a special meeting of the Board of Education…. There seems to be a decided difference of opinion among patrons of the school and a warm discussion Thursday night is expected.”
• “That war can best be stopped by a league of nations, to be modeled on the plan of union followed by the United States, is the belief of Hamilton Holt, editor of the Independent and student of international questions, expressed in an address at the Congregational church last night. ‘We should have a League of Peace,’ Mr. Holt declared, ‘to which all of the major powers should belong…. And if the league were successful it would be only a short time until all of the nations would want in and then we would have a sound basis for peace.'”