The Herald W. T. FOCLE, Editor. Entered as second-clue matter September 8, 1906, t the poet office at Monmouth, Oregon, under the Act of March 3. 1879. ISSUED EVERY FRIDAY, BY The Acorn Press, Publishers Monmouth, Oregon. Subscription Rates One year Six months $1 50 cts FRIDAY, DECEMBER 25, 1908 A city like an individual, must have an income in order to live in comfort or anywhere near it. There are many ways that a city may have of securing an income and one of the best is from municipal ownership ot public utilities. The most common of these are the water and light systems. In Monmouth we have a very fair light system, but the water system is totally inade quate to the needs of a modern city. The pressure is such that an attempt of two parties on the same main trying to got water at the same time results in botl using language more forcible than elegant, so that any at tempt to use water under such pressure for fire protection is entirely out of the question. It has been asserted that witl municipal ownership of our lighting system, that we could have lights for 32 cents per month for 10 candle power lights and at the same time the income from them would be sufiicient to pay all running expenses and interest on the bonds, besides creating a sinking fund sufli cient to pay the bonds in from ten to twenty years. If this is the case we can safely estimate that we can have the same light we now pay one dollar for, for half that sum and have the town well lighted with arc lights. This being the case then it would be well to take the matter of a water system into consider ation. It could be run in con nection with a light system much cheaper than it could by itself. The expenses of install ing a combination system would be considerably less than that of the two systems separately and one man could attend to both. Would it not bo well while we are talking up the water question to investigate this matter thoroughly? liy put ting in a steam plant we would have the question of fuel to con sider, but as long as the timber in the hills along the Luckiu mute lasts, fuel will be cheap. Another phase of the question is this; if we had municipal ownership of our water and light, the people of this city would be paying rent to them selves instead of to private in dividuals. True we would have to bond the city for the amount necessary to erect and equip the plant, but that accomplished the rent of lights and water would pay all expeuses and should leave a small margin for the sinking fund, at the same time furnishing us light at a less rate than wo are now getting. Again as soon as the rentals had paid off the bonds, say in ten years, then the rate could be lowered materially. Water could then be furnished for about 25 cents a month including water for sprinkling. Isn't it worth while to investigate this matter? Cigarettes and Education The Eugene high school board, according to a statement made in the Register, is trying to stop cigarette smoking in that institution. The wonder is that such an effort should be neces sary. Probably one high school is no worse than another in this respect, but if cigarette smoking is prevalent in our public schools or is generally indulged in by pupils, then it is time to inquire if education is not largely a failure. Not only is it unlawful for any youth to smoke cigarettes in this state, but if there is a tendency of youth to indulge in this vice it should be one of the first objects and features of edu cation, both in the home and in all schools, to stop it and to in struct boys and young men in its evils. There is little use of sending boys to Sunday school or in teaching them arithmetic, gram mar and all the other multitudes of branches that the high schools aim to teach, if in the meantime they make a practice of smoking cigarettes. Thev should be taught that it is not only physic ally and morally injurious, but that it is not smart or manly. No business man will have a habitual young cigarette smoker around him: good and helpful girls will not associate with him; and the habit spells probable failure along every station of life. Better get no book' educa tion than cultivate the inerad icable cigarette habit. Portland Journal. 8tartling. A gentleman opened a letter address ed to bis son containing suggestions from a friend to the latter for a novel which he (the son) was privately writ ing. The father was exceedingly sur prised and frightened upon reading the following dreadful words: Dear Bob You really must show mora caution In constructing your plots, or th governor will be sure to discover the dead body ot Oeraldtne In the cellar, and then your secret will be out. You con sulted me about the strychnine. I cer tainly think you are giving It him In rather large doses. Let Emily put her mother In a madhouse. It will answer your purpose well to have the old girl out of the way. I think your forgery Is for too small a sum. Make It three thou sand. Leave the rest of your particularly nice family circle to me. I will finish them off and send you back the "fatal dagger" afterward by post. Yours, JACK. London Express. Burning Heretics. The following items, copied frcm the municipal records of Canterbury by an English magazine, show that the burn ing of heretics In 1523, the time of the genial King Henry VIII., was an in expensive amusement: To bringing a herctlo from Lon don Ha. 8d. For wood to burn him 2a. 0d. For gunpowder Id. A stake and staple Dd. Total 17s. td. Inspiring Hops. The Doctor Ueur up. I must tell you the worst you can't possibly re cover. The Client That's a pity, for If I'd lived a bit longer I should have come Into a fortune. As It Is, I haven't a penny to pay you with, doctor. The Doctor Well, now, don't give up hope. We'll try to mend you. We'll try. Il lustrated nits. As to Stag Fright. "Stage fright" Is nurely among the most mysterious of sudden seizures. It begins when the actor or speaker thinks "thoy are not Interested In me." It ends when he determines "I will In terest them." London Chronicle. The Modern Child. Little Girl of Four (standing en tranced before the window of a toy shop) Oh, mother, If you was my lit tle girl, wouldn't I take you In and buy yon some of these lovely things! London Tatler. Her Preference. "I want to make a gift to Miss Pas say," said Dumley. "I wonder what sort of animal she'd prefer for a pet?" "A man," promptly suggested Miss Knox. Philadelphia Press, Santa Claus's Headquarters The only real thing .Is to study how to rid life of lamentation and com plaint Epic tet us. We haven't everything shown in the picture, but- We mean what we say Rugs We have just received a new lot of fine rugs, in both Oriental and Floral de signs for our Christmas trade, at prices that will please you. Lace Curtains Special sale on Lace Curtains on Dec. 23 and 24 ONLY. 25 per cent off. Stools and Ottomans In great variety at One Dollar each Pictures A full line, framed in the latest styles Mirrors Just in, a fine line of bevel edge French plate mirrors, in Mission and Golden oak BOGERT & SON V. O. Boots FIRE LIFE AND CASUALTY INSURANCE LOSSES PROMPTLY PAID A. N. Poole Contractor and Builder. General Carpenter Work Phone 187 Real Estate For Sale. 330 acres on C. E. R. R. H miles from station and school house. Good small house and two barns, and other out build ings and a good young orchard. Good stock and dairy ranch at a bargain. 80 acres, GO under cultivation; good house, barn and other out buildings; 2 miles from rail road station. Will sell for cash, or half cash, balance one years time. 5 springs and running water on place. 2i big lots lying on Main street in Monmouth, will sell cheap. 2J lots with a good 5 room, basement cottage, with a good pantry and closet. Apples, pears, cherries, plums and other small fruit. A bargain. Inquire of A. N. Hallkck. Monmouth, Oregon. 2mas Goods A fine line of Combs, Brushes, Toilet Sets, Collar Boxes, Dolls and Xmas Stationery. Step in and inspect our num erous acceptable Xmas presents. Perkins Pharmacy Hotel Hampton D. M. Hampton, Proprietor 15 years in Monmouth Under Same Old Management Everything strictly firstclass Four lots inside the city limits of Monmouth, 63 and one-half by 165, or nearly an acre, all in young orchard. Priee $200. We have other good buys. Polk County Realty Co,, office at Her ald office. Christmas is Coming Our Goods have already arrived Come in and buy your presents early and get your choice. Our stock of Jewelry and Silverware is larger than ever. Our Leather Novelties are just the thing. Don't forget our Home Made Candy It is Clean Pure and Wholesome Yours for the Christmas Trade Pa EI. CHASEi