It’s time again to peruse the news from The Baldwin Times of yesteryear.

Our look at The Baldwin Times this week in 1896 begins on the international front. According to an article titled, “A Coming Martinet,” a young European royal seemed to have caused a stir among his countrymen.

“The 10-year-old crown prince of Germany appears to be in a fair way of becoming an insufferable little pig,” the piece began.

The report pointed to an incident in which the imperial carriage in which the prince and his siblings were seated drove up to the palace too quickly. So much so, that the guards had to run as fast as they could to meet it. So in the scurry, one soldier forgot his gun. This prompted the crown prince to report the man to his commanding officer.

“The result was that the soldier was sentenced to four days’ arrest and to a further term of fatigue duty for his remiss,” the article stated, “while the Berlin papers are filled with laudatory notices of the military feeling and precision of the future emperor of Germany.”

Prophetic words, indeed, for the monarchy that was nearing its close.

Back in the United States, The Times solicited inquiries of Texas land heirs, who, for one reason or another had erroneously lost land in the Lone Star State.

“All soldiers of the Texas War of 1835-7 and all immigrants to Texas before the year 1844 were entitled to land grants in Texas,” the article stated. “Very many of these grants were neglected on account of death, disappearance or general carelessness of the owners or ignorance on the part of their heirs and passed into the unlawful possession of landsharks or squatters.”

The article urged readers who might fit this category to visit The Times to learn more information on the situation.

In Baldwin County, it seems that growth was still under way, as an announcement reported the construction of a new store owned by H.H. Cooper, with its completion anticipated to be two weeks away.

The county’s political scene appeared to be chugging along, as a report detailed that 178 residents of the courthouse precinct registered to vote in the upcoming election.

Fashion appeared to be on the minds of Victorian Baldwin County residents. This is evidenced by an advertisement for the Mobile establishment owned by Ferdnand S. Frederic, who touted himself a Parisian dyer.

“Ladies’, gents’ and children’s clothes cleaned and dyed,” the weathered ad boasted. “Feathers bleached, dyed and curled. Parasols cleaned and dyed.”

It seems that while fashion trends, economics and political scenes have changed, things haven’t changed that much since this week in 1896.

That’s it for this edition. Check back for more news from The Baldwin Times of yesteryear.