TODAY IN HISTORYToday is Monday, December 5, the 339th day of 2005. There are 26 days left in the year.

ON THIS DATE<$>

In 1560, Charles IX succeeds as King of France on death of Francis II.

In 1797, Napoleon Bonaparte arrives in Paris to command forces for an invasion of England.

In 1812, Napoleon Bonaparte leaves his troops retreating from Russia and sets out for Paris.

In 1994, Russia seals the border of the breakaway republic of Chechnya and both the Chechen government and opposition leaders express fears of imminent Russian intervention.

THOUGHT FOR TODAY

“I’ve never been poor, only broke. Being poor is a frame of mind. Being broke is only a temporary situation” — Mike Todd, American movie producer (1907-1958).