In 1879, Gilbert & Sullivan premiered The Pirates of Penzance in Britain and America to preserve the copyright.

In 1887, a petition containing 1,132,608 signatures was presented to Queen Victoria calling for the closure of public houses and the sale of intoxicating liquor on Sundays.

In 1922, Soviet Russia was renamed as the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics.

From the Telegraph & Argus of December 30th, 1977...

Check trading - one of the oldest forms of credit in Britain - is to be investigated by the Monopolies Commission. Under the system, which is still strongly based in the North, a check trader sells a "check" or voucher to a customer who repays it, plus interest, in instalments. The customer uses the voucher to buy goods up to its face value. The shop is later reimbursed by the check trader.

From the Telegraph & Argus of December 30th, 1952...

READERS' VIEWS: On the afternoon of December 22nd, the dustman called, wishing me "The dustman's compliments". Couldn't this time have been used in emptying the dustbins? Mine was almost full then, although I burn much of the rubbish. Now the bin is overflowing and so is every available box, too, and there are still many days to go before they are emptied - "COMPLIMENTS," Eccleshill.