Henrietta Price (born 1854)

In 1854, in the year that Henrietta Price was born, the fashion house Louis Vuitton was founded in Paris by Louis Vuitton Malletier. Beginning with trunks - and soon new ingenious flat topped trunks that could be stacked - the company now produces trunks and leather goods as well as clothing, watches, shoes, jewelry, sunglasses, books and other accessories.

In 1862, British citizen Anna Leonowens, a widow, accepted a job in Siam (now Thailand) to teach the children and wives of the King of Siam - he had 39 wives and concubines and 82 children. Taking her son with her and sending her daughter to England for schooling, she taught in Siam for 6 years - until the King died.

In 1873, on March 3rd, the U.S. Congress enacted the Comstock Law. The law made it illegal to send any "obscene, lewd, or lascivious" material through the U.S. mail. This included erotica, contraceptives, sex toys, abortifacients, information about these items, and "personal letters alluding to any sexual content or information".

In 1886, on February 14th, the first train left Los Angeles for the East -by the way of the transcontinental railroad - with a cargo of oranges. Due to irrigation and the import of water, Los Angeles was the ideal place to grow oranges - which became a popular addition to Christmas stockings.

In 1988, on December 16th, 1988 the popular film Rain Man was released. Featuring Dustin Hoffman and Tom Cruise. this film brought attention to autistic savants and was based on the "megasavant" Laurence Kim Peek. The film would later go to win four Oscars including Best Picture, Best Original Screenplay, Best Director and Best Actor in a Leading Role.