University of Kansas - Jayhawker Yearbook (Lawrence, KS)

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By John Alexander OME with me to Kansas in the morning. 3ee where the sun sets out in low relief A hundred years of twisting, grooving trails incised on plain and hill by hoof and wheel, And etched now, in the sky, by jet and wing. Now watch the mist rise off the valley floor Above the cottonwoods along the Smoky, In clouds that roll and move in blowing cadence, In ever-coming, ever-passing ranks Like those of men. The men of yesterday Now gone beyond the visible horizon ; Those of today, and those approaching From the nearer distance. Are men like clouds? Out where you can see them, Their true dimensions show for what they are. Some are wisps and some are thunderheads, And some are giants, less of mist than marble. Out here the sky and atmosphere reach fa r With ample growing space for clouds or men. Now come with me to Kansas in the day hours And sense the wind-blown fragrances and sounds The humid growing scent of after-rain, Of petaled meadows and their million grasses, Of golden-crackling wheat at Abilene, Of Wichita oil with caramel-aromatic musk, And Wathena orchards drowsing on the hillside; Wild roses, sweaty gabardines, Schiaparelli ' s silk and Chanel No. 5. And harken to the wind-borne songs, The swelling, surging, litanies of life: The chant of tractor engines in the field, The bawl of calves and the Rock Chalk cry, The windmill ' s half-amusing clank, The growl of trucks and muttering diesel pumps; Women ' s merry laughter in the kitchen; The foot-tickling tune of a hoe-down fiddle, And, in the prairie church, the solemn hymn. Come with me to Kansas in the twilight And see the distant line where blues conjoin The blue of heaven and the blue of earth, Where evening stars along the outer rim Rival the twinkling myriad golden windows Of ranches, towns and farms. Rich is this picture, richer than we know, Mingling, with nature ' s best and on her plan, The God-inspired, the doing, praying man. Reprinted, by permission, from the Kansas City Star, May 30, 1954

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A birthday party on a grand scale was held in Lawrence, Kansas, this fall. The city cele- brated its 100th year of existence as thou- sands of people turned out to say happy birthday! Lawrence had reason to be proud. It originated in 1854 as a log cabin settle- ment, survived two burnings in its first dec- ade, and finally advanced to become a mod- ern, thriving community surrounding and sup- porting the University of Kansas. Many of the Centennial preparations began as far back as last year. An early start was obvious when it came to the beard growers. Local enthusiasts of this fad began cultivating whiskers last year and kept on growing them until the first of October. Buttons could be by Carol Bowman purchased, certifying that the beard grower was an official brother of the brush. If a gentleman wished to abstain from beard-grow- ing, he had to pay two dollars for a permit. By Centennial week, celebrated this fall, there were bearded bus drivers, postmen, store own- ers, and college students. These bearded men became well-known because their pictures were often featured in the local paper. As a climax to the Centennial celebration, a con- test was held and prizes were awarded for the best beards in the different categories. Along with the beards came calico dresses, sunbonnets, and string ties that provided a strange contrast to the twentieth century cloth- ing on the streets of downtown Lawrence. Will this pass ROTC inspection? Contest on- other to providf fall A?] proved (o title for I The Cro selected [ ronp of inasinm o dinner The of rente, toi ed tie eel version) andwn the -an music at nial celel (ember Z Trail: tor) ' , H; east of horses, firewk rootlspe roan, rei Count;-, her 25, groups, lnu$ia; Tkeer