SATURDAY, DECEMBER 27, 2008

Today is Saturday, December 27, the 362nd day of 2008. There are four days left in the year.

1825 _ First public railroad using steam locomotive completed in England

1831 _ Darwin begins his voyage to South America on board the HMS Beagle

1923 _ Unsuccessful attempt on prince-regent Hirohito of Japan

1927 _ Stalin's faction wins All-Union Congress in USSR, Trotsky expelled

1934 _ Shah of Persia declares Persia now Iran

1942 _ First Japanese women camp (Ambarawa) goes into use

1945 _ International Monetary Fund established ― World Bank founded

1970 _ ``Hello, Dolly!" closes at St. James Theater NYC after 2,844 performances

1972 _ New North Korean constitution comes into effect

1978 _ King Juan Carlos ratifies Spain's first democratic constitution