From the Lawrence Daily Journal-World for Dec. 9, 1914:

• “‘So long as the water used in the city is normal we will have plenty of water to furnish the town,’ said J. M. Mitchell, receiver for the Water Company this morning in speaking of the condition of the plant. ‘Any stringency, however, would take us down very low and a big fire would be a hard matter to handle.’… It was the intention of the City Commissioners to have Massachusetts street washed today, but the Water Company did not think it was best to use the water in that way. During the dry weather there was a great deal of dirt collected on the pavement and the recent wet weather has made the pavement muddy.”
• “The first general snow of the winter is falling today. All of Kansas and Missouri and northern Oklahoma is visited by the fall and snow flurries for two nights are forecasted by the local weather bureau. The precipitation today breaks the longest drought in the history of Kansas. No rain of any consequence has fallen since October 1.”
• “Christmas shoppers are busy every afternoon now buying their stock of goods and presents. Each afternoon the streets are well filled with people going from place to place looking for presents for their friends. The advertisements in the newspapers are watched closely so that the thing the purchaser wants will not escape their notice. Christmas sales are on in nearly every store and the clerks are kept busy showing the people what they have that will prove attractive to them. This rush in the shops will continue until after the first of the year.”
• “The clerks and force of the A. D. Weaver store enjoyed a dinner and sort of sales school at the Merchants Association rooms last night. Mr. Weaver had the entire force of his store at the dinner and besides enjoying a social evening several of the clerks made sales demonstrations which were discussed by the other clerks. The object of this meeting was to increase the efficiency of the clerks in selling goods. Taking ideas from one another they are able to increase their efficiency to a good degree.”
• “EVERY LOVER OF AUTOMOBILES – Will be Interested In the $40,000 Film Sensation – ‘From Molten Steel to Automobile.’ – The graphic motion photo feature bearing the above title will be presented at the Grand Theatre, Dec. 10, 1914, by H. W. Schaake, the local Maxwell dealer, by special arrangement with the Maxwell Motor Co., Inc., Detroit, Mich. Free tickets of admission may be had of H. W. Schaake. The entertainment is unique. It not only shows the making of the celebrated Maxwell ’25’ car, but abounds in thrilling and novel scenes. Every person having the least interest in automobiles should attend. To do so, for one thing, is to obtain a liberal education in the business of automobile making. Get your tickets without delay, for the attendance is sure to be large.”
• “Giving heed to appeal No. 2 sent out last week by the state committee of the Kansas Belgian relief fund, the headquarters in the Mills building has been deluged with calls from county committee chairmen…. From these calls it was found that Kansas now has 200 cars of flour ready for shipment, or promised for delivery within ten days…. Two carloads of flour have been shipped from Cheyenne county. Cheyenne is one of the most sparsely settled counties in the state. Its population in 1910 was only 4,200…. If America does not know already the excessive need in Belgium it is not the fault of the press. A brave, unfortunate nation of seven million people is without food, without money to buy food…. Her allies, shut off from her by a ring of steel and diplomacy, can feed only such Belgians as have escaped from the country. They cannot reach the seven million Belgians who have stayed at home. Her conquerors cannot and will not feed her. In this war of extermination and starvation they need all their food for themselves. America must do it. We are the only people who can. We have given generously but we must give still more generously if we are to avert the most distressing famine in history.”