The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1891-07-08
A PET AND A NUISANCE.
JOcKo IN DlSREPUTE WITH THE
NEW YORK HEALTH BOARD.

For two years now Jocko has been
having things pretty much his own way
in back yard in East Fourth street.
But at last he has run up against snag.
Doubtless if Jocko had been content
with his own back yard and had not
gone about prowling for new back yards
TO conquer, his name today would not
be on the blotter of the health boards
big book. At the weekly meeting of the
board it will be decided whether he may
keep up his nomadic procivities IN
molested or whether in the future he is
TO be chained to ring in the area steps.
Jocko is the pet monkey of Josef Hoff-
mann, who does brisk business in the
basement at 81 East Fourth street. 4
sea captain, whe had come home from
voyage to South America for cocoanuts,
brought back Jocko with him, and gave
the animal to Mr.. Hoffman, II Jocko
had stuck his long, sharp claws into Mr..
Hofmans heart he couldn't have secured
a deeper hold on that portion of the lat
ter's anatomy than he did on the first
day of his installment in the basement
in East Fourth street.
Every twenty-four hours which have
passed since then have only soldered
more firmly the ties between the monkey
and his master. So fond. indeed, has
his owner become of the curious little
animal that he has never had the heart
to correct him in any way. The result
was the usual one. Jocko was spoiled.
JoCKo AND THE CLoTHEsLNE.
So one day, as Jocko was sitting rumi-
mating in the back yard, with a leg
swung about the trellis and his tail
wound around the grape vine, he spied
Mrs. kaufman, of the third floor, back,
hanging her washing out to dry.
Mrs. Kaufman closed the window,
at o'clock to wash, hanging in the sun.
Jocko waited whole minute after he
heard the sash bang. Then, with cat
like movement, he gained the top of the
high back fence, scampered up the fire
escape of an adjoining building, made a
well calculated leap of three feet and
landed on the nearest point of vantage
of the taut ropes of Mrs. Kaufman's
clothesline.
Like tightrope walker, Jocko tripped
along the line. He put up one paw to
his whisker, just as the real performer
does when he smirks and throws the in
imitable kiss to the audience. Then
Jocko began his aerial feats in earnest.
When Mrs. Kaufman went to haul in
her lines that evening she stood as one
amazed. Her stockings strewed the
ground below like the fallen leaves of
Vallambrosa. Her tablecloths and sheets,
where they were not torn in places, were
tracked in pattern in which the chief
figure was the imprint of a muddy paw.
Some of her linen was actually missing.
Mrs. Kaufman had to get up early the
next morning again, pull out her thread
and needle, and, after mending for al
most an hour, do her whole wash over
But JOcko never ran amuck among
Mrs. Kaufman's wash any more. He
had experienced new sensation. and
having once satisfied himself with that
he began to cast about for fresh fields
and pastures new. Of course, if he
wanted to make use of Mrs. Kaufmans
or any other persons convenient lines,
Jocko never hesitated to use them as a
public thoroughfare. But as diversion,
clotheslnes had lost their seductive
charms for the monkey.
THE HALTER PROTESTS.
So while looking about another morn
ing for something new and strange" he I
clambered up on to the roof Of the ex-
tension built out from hat store on the /
Bowery. The skylight was open and /
Jocko began piping odd bits which he
picked up the roof down into the /,
room below. His Simian Majesty was
scared away.
Then Jocko's instructive feeling Of dis /.
like for the Hyman family asserted itself. /
The next day and the next Jocko quietly (
perched himself on the rim Of the sky /
light over the extension Of the halter (
and began picking away the putty about /
the panes. But Jocko had not progressed (
far IN his operations before he was found 4
out. Then Mr.. Hyman's patience gave !
out, for he saw his living apartments .
threatened with leak. He was not as
as his neighbor. Mrs. Kauf- .
man, who satisfied her grievance by F..
shouting ont vengeance from her back .
windows upon the monkey. The latter .
went right down 10 the board of health
and lodged a complaint against Mr..
pet.
One Of Jocko's tricks is 20 % ont early .
In the morning and steal the pennies
which are placed III milk pitchers, and .
another is TO gather up letters which the
oostman leaves under the basement gates
near the monkeys home. Whether lie
views the Italian at the corner with in
;tinctive hatred or as a natural friend IL
s impossible 70 say. but sure 1t Is that
when JocEo wants a peanut or a e rs
makes no scruple Of bagging one from
the stand. Another one Of JOcko's cum
ming ways Is 70 stick his snout into any
inviting bottle Of milk OF dish q pud-
ling that Is set ont Of back window 70
sool, and then make his escape with MS
stomach full Of the delicacv.
Pending the result Of the inquiry Mr. (
dofmaun Is a little anxious for fear TIE
health board may compel him 70 i'm
prison his dear Jock0. But Joc<o runs
about as usual with no fear for con-e-
Juences at all One shake Of his night
Jaw against MS left whisker fixed the
.anitary inspector. And II that was not
JOcko knows enough % qaes-
ION the night Of the health board - IL
e-fere IN MS case a. all-Sew YORK
World
rrhc Apswers where