Connecticut western news., 1911-11-16
THE MONKEY GOT SQUARE
When Judge Roraback's Dog Got the Surprise of His Life.

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 A recent visit of Charles H. Johnson, of Newtown, to George E. Taft of Union vile, developed an exchange of reminis- cence, such as inevitably results when two old acquaintances meet, who have not come together before in years and years. good many Canaanites will remember these twain. "Charlie" John- son was for a short time editor of The News, in the early eighties, when Taft was teacher in the Canaan High school, and studied law in the office of Judge A. T. Roraback. They had hardly met since those days, until last Sunday night, when Johnson, being on visit to his married daughter, who lives near Unionville, took advantage of the opportunity to call on his old friend Taft, at the latter's home. where "they talked of many things" that had interested them almost thirty years ago, and among the "reminiscences re- hashed by Taft was the story of Judge Roraback's black-and-tan dog, "Fred," and an organ-grinder's monkey-an incl dent that came under the narrator's per sonal observation.
 The story related that Judge Roraback | (he wasn't Judge at that time, though,l was sitting out on his porch one day. when an rgan-grinder stopped in front ot his gate and struck up a tune. Spying monkey on the music-box, the lawyer took some pennies from his pocket and beckoned to the grinder to send his monkey over after them. Jocko leaped over the fence, but at that instant "Fred,h the dog, that had been apparently asleep on the bench beside his master, sprang up and bounced upon the monk, and gave him such violent shaking up that the frightened simian, as soon as he could break away, scampered back to his perch on the organ, squealing and chattering frantically, and not even an increased bribe on the part of the lawyer nor the threats and urging of the organ man could induce him to venture over the fence again, and the Combination went away without the specie payment that was freely offered, while the lawyer set tied back on his porch bench and laughed until he got a stitch in his side.
 It seems that hand-organ monkeys were "Fred's" pet aversion, and he kept the Roraback domain free from monkeys from that time forth, uutil-and here comes the sequel. A couple of years after the episode related, an organ-grind- CT unstrapped his instrument in front of the Roraback house and tuned up. MT. Roraback chanced to be at home and in his favorlte porch seat with "Fred "dozing beside him as usual Spying a monkey on the box, and anticipating another amusing seance with "Fredn as the hero, Mir. Roraback held up some coins, as before, and the monkey was sent over by the professor. "Fred" promptly awaken ed and proceeded to play his customary part by springing at the animal, bat some how the monkey failed to perform ac- cording to the system by which Erred" had been accustomed. On the contrary, he met fired" more than half way, much to the dogs surprise, and without cere- Smony he spraug at the astouished canine, Handing on "Fred's" back, and proceeded to claw and pull hair, chattering wildly as he clawed. "Fred" turned tail 'slSi-yi- ing" loudly, and started, in a panic for the house, running in at the back-door, with Jocko doing an expert circus bare back riding act-and filling the air with dog-fur all the way. There was sound of furniture being upset, in the hallway, and of violent scampering and humping for brief interval, when Jocko came trotting out, alone, with an expression of self-contentment on his countenance. He pranced up to the lawyer, hat in hand, and looked up in a questioning sort of way. The lawyer, who was laughing as heartily as if the climax had been re- .versed, gave the monkey an extra quar- ter, and said to the professor:
 "Aren't you the same man who was here two years ago, with a monkey?" "Ya'asa ma'am," replied the professor, grinning widely, ian da's da sama monk like da's da sama dog. Da monk two years older now, an I'm ben teacha him for two year fghta da dog. He not ron away from dog now; he licka any dog plenty"
 But the sequel to the sequel wass that the experience spoiled "Fred" for a mon key dog, and forever after, even the sound of hand-organ would send him scurry- ing into the house and under the sofa.
 "Over Night" Notes
 cover Night" the bright, snappy and witty comedy which comes to The Mahaiwe Theatre, Great Harrington, next Wednesday, Nov. g, direct from the Shubert Theatre. Boston, has been responsible for infinitely more laughs