Day in history for December 6, 2004

1854 -- 150 years ago

A housemaid in this city brought to the man of the house a love letter from the old country, saying that she cannot read and asking him to read it to her. She gave him some cotton with which to stop up his ears so that he would not hear the secrets in the letter.

1879 -- 125 years ago

Joseph J. Klein of Rock Island has invented a short-distance telephone which works admirably. It is made of tin and is much cheaper than other vibrators.

1904 -- 100 years ago

Expert Rock Island bowlers defeated a team of Muscatine's best, 2696 to 2520.

1929 -- 75 years ago

Ben Tallman has been selected to represent Rock Island High School in the Big Nine Conference Declamation Contest.

1954 -- 50 years ago

An estimated 64,000 traditional Christmas trees will be purchased in the Quad-Cities and surrounding rural areas. Prices will be about the same as last year but the quality of trees offered for sale is better.

1979 -- 25 years ago

''Ask us anything'' is a new column in Emphasis of The Daily Dispatch. It's a column about almost everything, or anything. Your letters will determine the subject matter. ''Ask us anything'' about fashion, beauty, household ideas, how-to decorating, sewing, art, plants, anything you'd like to know. You ask, we'll answer.

Back: Available days in December 2004