The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-10-16
Man,s FaithfuI Friend.

l want to tell a dog story on Senator
Vest, says the Washington correspondent
Of the Chicago Times Herald. Some years
ago Mr.. Vest was down in Missouri TO try
law suit. Another case. a dog case, was
on the docket just ahead of him. and he
had to wait until this was disposed of
One of the lawyers in the dog case asked
Vest If he wouldn't help their side, and the
senator said ne would. So he was paid a
retaining fee of $50 by the plaintiff, and
the trial went on. NoluminOus evidence
was introduced to show that defendant
had shot plaintiffs dog in malice, and
quite as much to prove that the dog was
vicious and had attacked the defendant.
Then the lawyers made their addresses to
the court, going over the evidence With
great thOroughness. All this time Senator
Vest sat with his big round head buried
between his shoulders, as was his wont,
without saying a word. He seemed to be
asleep most of the time.
Vest" said his associate counsel, at
is now our turn to close. You do it,"
NO" said the senator, you know
more about the case than do. You finish
it up"
But you must do something to earn
your fee or our client will be sore"
So Vest rose from his chair, straight
ened the kink out of his neck, looked first
one juror and then another in the face
until he had spent several minutes in max
ing the round of the twelve good men and
true, and then began:
Gentlemen Of the Jury-The best friend
a man has in this world may turn against
him and become an enemy. His son or
daughter that he has reared with loving
care may prove ungrateful. Those who
are nearest and dearest to us, those whom
we trust with our happiness and our good
name may become traitors to their faith.
hot ma
1t flies away from him, perhaps when he
needs it most A mans reputation may
be sacrificed in a moment of ill-consfdered
action. The people who are prone to fall
on their knees to do us honor when sue
cess is with us may be the first to throw
the stone of malice wnen failure settles
its cloud upon our heads. The one abso-
lutely unselfish friend that man can have
in this selfish world the one that never
deserts him. the one that never proves
ungrateful or treacherous, is his dog
Gentlemen of the jury" the senator
continued. "a mans dog stands by him
in prosperity and in poverty, in health
and in sickness. He Will sleep on the cold
ground, where the wintry winds Blows
and the snow drives fiercely, if only he
may be near his masters side. He will
kiss the hand that has no food to offer,
he will lick the wounds and sores that
come in encounter with the roughness OF
the world He guards the sleep of mis-
pauper master as if he were a prince.
when all other friends desert he re-
mains. When riches take wings and rep
utation fails to pieces, he is as constant
in his love as the sun in its journey
through the heavens. If fortune drives
the master forth an outcast in the world,
friendless and homeless, the faithful dog
asks no higher privilege than that of ac>
Companying him. to guard against dam
ger, to fight against his enemies. Ana
when the last scene of all comes, and
death takes the master in his embrace,
and his body is laid away in the cold
ground, no matter if all other friends
pursue their way, there by his graveside
will the noble dog be found, his head be-
tween his paws, his eyes sad but open in
alert watchfulness, faithful and true even
in DEATH"
Then Vest sat down. This remarkable
speech he had delivered in a low voice,
without a gesture. No reference had he
made to the merits of the case in hand.
Not a word had he uttered about the evil
dence. When he finished the judge and
jury were seen to have tears in their eyes.
The jury filed out, and in minute or two
returned to the court room. The plain
tiff had asked for 5000 damages. The ver~
diet gave him $500, and several of the
jurymen wanted to hang the defendant