From the Lawrence Daily Journal-World for May 29, 1916:

• “The interest which Lawrence is taking in the largest high school graduating class in its history is proving embarrassing to Superintendent F. P. Smith and Principal F. H. Olney, for the demand for tickets for the commencement exercises at the Bowersock theater Friday night is twice as great as the supply…. The total capacity of the Bowersock theater is 1050. There are 120 members of the graduating class, each of which is to receive four tickets. This takes nearly half of the theater at the outset. In addition underclassmen of the high school will be given an opportunity to see their schoolmates graduate. Then there are numerous officials, school teachers and others who have legitimate reasons for receiving tickets. ‘We are going to save as many tickets as possible for general distribution,’ said Principal Olney this afternoon, ‘but we must ask the school patrons to be patient.'”
• “The school of fine arts of the University of Kansas has made the largest percentage gain in enrollment this year of any school or department of all the Kansas state schools. Last year’s enrollment was 197; this year’s enrollment is 249…. Dean Butler in speaking of this gain said: ‘It is much larger than I anticipated…. The building we now occupy is entirely too small for the number of students we have. Should we have any marked increase in numbers with the opening of college next year, we will be forced to arrange for temporary quarters elsewhere. It is my hope that Kansas will see what we need so badly and give us a new building better suited for our work, one large enough to take care of the next ten years’ growth.'”
• “When death claimed Alex Marks at 1 o’clock yesterday afternoon there was removed from affairs in Lawrence one of the pioneer merchants of the town and of the state. From November, 1858, until the present time, Mr. Marks had been closely identified with business in Kansas…. Alex Marks was born in Bavaria, Germany, January 6, 1844. He came with his parents to the United States when he was 6 years old and settled at Albany, N. Y. In 1858 he came to Lawrence at the age of 14 and apprenticed himself to David Prager to learn the watch and jewelry business…. After Quantrill’s raid, Mr. Prager decided to move his main store from Lawrence to Fort Scott. Mr. Marks saw the opportunity to establish himself in business in Lawrence. His store was opened in 1864…. Mr. Marks’ business associates honored him for his ability and his honorable dealings, and the members of his family were participants in a beautiful home life which will consecrate the memory of the husband and father.”