It’s time to return to the days of old and revisit the news from The Baldwin Times of the late 19th century.

   The trend of scarce news continues for this week in 1895, indicating either a lack of news or a breakdown in the communication channels of the day. Another option is that the newspaper was intended to all things to Victorian-era Baldwin County residents by balancing news with entertainment.

   One reason for this last theory is that once again, the front page of The Times is taken up with the latest installment of the novel series, “Won at Last” by Bernard Bigsby.

   The serial opens with Frank Grey getting a job in Chicago with the socialist weekly newspaper, Labor Times, as an associate editor for a salary of $25 a month. Although it’s not much money, Frank hopes to make ends meet while gaining some experience as a journalist.

   However, while Frank’s boss leaves for lunch one day, a man who works as a shipwright brings in an opinion piece denouncing labor unions. In addition, he wants to place an advertisement for a furnished room for rent for $5 a month. As Frank’s current rent is $8 a week, he takes the lodging, himself.

   With his financial situation in place, it looks like things are going well for Frank. But it doesn’t last long, as a few days later, a gaudily dressed man who claims himself to be a communist who likes to stir things up comes into the office and is welcomed by Frank’s boss.

   However, Frank is not so warm. Instead, he and the man get into an argument about ideals and ethics — one that comes to blows. After his boss is horrified by Frank’s treatment of the man, whose ideals he supports, Frank quits his job.

   The chapter closes with Frank bidding farewell to his English friend he met last week, as the man prepares to return to London.

   That leads us to chapter eight, “Revenge is sweet.” The chapter opens back in Oreton with Elsie’s parents becoming more and more enamored with Mr. Dodd, the questionable man who calls himself a preacher and tried to force himself upon Elsie.

   After being privy to all of this, Elsie decides to go for a walk one day. While sitting in the woods, she notices Dodd coming near her. However, he doesn’t seem to be looking for her. In fact, he doesn’t even notice her.

   So she hides behind bushes, just to make sure.

   Soon, another man comes to meet Dodd, and Elsie overhears that the two have carried out their plans to kill Jack Wilder, the gruff prospector who saved Elsie from Dodd’s advances last week. It seems they lured him to a mine and pushed him down a shaft.

   The installment ends with the men leaving and Elsie rushing to the mine and rescuing Jack.

   As for actual news in the four-page publication, an article announces the candidacy of C.E. Wilkins for re-election to Baldwin County treasurer under the Democratic party.

   It seems good culinary taste is nothing new, as an advertisement for A.M. Bagett grocer in Mobile touts its offering of “choice staple and fancy groceries.”

   The cost of groceries was a far cry from what it is today, as the Mobile market places eggs at 15 cents a dozen, country ham at 10 cents a pound, peas at $1.75 a bushel and a mix of roosters and hens at $2.50 per dozen.

   Check back next week for another glimpse into the news of The Baldwin Times of yesteryear.