100 years ago

A spy in German pay had been shot at the camp of Chalons, the French Aldershot. He was a man named Minquet, and the most remarkable thing about him was that he was blind.

He had been a professional beggar, and for 30 years past had been a well-known figure in the surrounding area.

As a blind man who could neither read, write nor see, such an “agent” had excited no suspicion. But as blindness notoriously developed the other faculties, such a man might be invaluable as a spy.

Minquet had haunted cafés frequented by French officers, ostensibly, to collect cigar stubs and fag-ends of cigarettes, which he worked up into pipe tobacco and sold to workmen and peasants. People forgot, however, that a blind man who had been wandering about the country for 50 years would be able to lead German troops as easily by night as by day.

Further, his infirmity disarmed suspicion. He could wander about where batteries were in position or where trenches were being dug without anyone paying attention to him.

Finally, however, his movements began to create suspicion. It was noticed that shortly after he had appeared at any position, the Germans began shelling it with extraordinary precision. The military gendarmerie made a descent on the hut he occupied and discovered the proof of his treachery in the shape of 12,000 marks in gold.

50 years ago

Buckram corsets, starched ruffs and farthinggales, petticoats for boys and full-length embroidered trousers for girls; until the beginning of the 20th century, children had been dressed for effect not comfort.

But fashion went full circle, and once again children were being dressed in scale-down versions of adult fashion and in sombre colours which ten years before would have been considered completely unsuitable for a child. But there was one important difference - nearly all contemporary clothing was easy to wear and easy to care for.

Toddlers to teens could wear anoraks on and off the ski slopes; proofed, washable, hooded and warmly lined, they were the ideal winter garment for boys and girls. There was even one for a six-month-old baby in white quilted nylon.

25 years ago

Doctors faced strong protests from anti-abortionists as they campaigned for the introduction of a revolutionary abortion pill.

The drug, code-named RU486, would successfully induce abortion in 95 per cent of women who used it in the early stages of pregnancy.

It worked by blocking the hormone progesterone, which was necessary for pregnancy to continue, said the manufacturer.

So far, the drug was only available in France, but family planning experts feared its introduction in Britain could be delayed by anti-abortion groups. The issue was being discussed by medical experts in London.