From the Lawrence Daily Journal-World for April 8, 1916:

• “Triumphing over bad weather conditions, the city workmen will complete the white way to such an extent this afternoon that the entire five blocks will be lighted up for the first time this evening. A few lights may be missing from the north end of Sixth street, City Engineer Dunmire said today, as it has been impossible to get all the work done. But enough has been done in the face of adverse conditions to make it possible to light up every block of the street. The south end of the white way has been alight every night for several weeks now, and the coming of the lights to the 600 and 700 block will be a welcome event to the business men in that part of town.”
• “A final test to insure perfect service for the transcontinental telephone reunion for K. U. alumni tonight was made at 6 o’clock yesterday afternoon. The representative of the Bell company brought here from Kansas City to install the 500 receiving phones and the proper connecting circuits, talked to fellow craftsmen at both New York and San Francisco. Those with tickets for phones here should be at Robinson gymnasium at 7:45 o’clock…. The reunion tonight is one of the methods which the Bell telephone company takes to demonstrate the efficiency of its cross continent service. Transcontinental service was inaugurated a year ago in January.”
• “E. L. Mason in a fit of despondency committed suicide at 1110 Vermont street yesterday afternoon by swallowing cyanide of potassium. The poison was taken while Mr. Mason was in the dining room of his home, about 3 o’clock. Members of the family who were about their tasks in the house discovered his condition shortly afterward and physicians were summoned, but could do nothing. No reason was ascribed for the act other than the fact that Mr. Mason had been despondent for a considerable period recently…. The poison with which Mr. Mason ended his life was purchased at the Round Corner drug store December 25, 1915, and Mr. Mason told the druggist he wished to kill a cat, at the time of purchase. Dr. H. T. Jones said today that it was probable the poison was not purchased with suicidal intent last December, but that Mr. Mason found it or remembered it while the despondent fit was upon him and that its use was the result of a sudden impulse.”
• “A side-effect of the far-away war that interests every man, woman and child is the announcement of the fact that shoes must this season advance in price. The generally reported scarcity of leather and increased cost of tanning since the war, combined with an enormously increased demand for leather, all account for the advanced cost of footwear. Millions of pairs of shoes for the European armies have been and still are being made by American shoe manufacturers. On the average, these army shoes consume one and one-half as much leather as the average American man’s shoes…. Shoes, therefore, are to be more expensive. It is said that the increase for the present will be about 20 per cent, but will likely be more by next fall.”
• “Five Lawrence men are celebrating today the anniversary of the time when fifty-one years ago, as parts of Grant’s army of the Union, they helped receive the surrender of the Confederacy at Appomattox…. They were the guests of honor at the celebration of the anniversary of Lee’s surrender given by the Ladies of the G. A. R. at the Post hall this afternoon.”