Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1897-11-12
TRIBUTETO MAN'SBEST FRIEND
A Remarkable Speech Once Made I'm
Court by senator Vest.

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Court by senator Vest.
A Washington correspondent Of the
Chicago Tmes-Herald tells good dog
story on Senator Vest. Some years
ago Mr. Vest was down in Missouri to
try a law suit. Another case, dog
case, was on the docket just ahead Of
him, and he had to wait till this was
disposed of. One of the lawyers in the
dog case asked Mr.. Vest if he wouldn't
help their side, and the Senator said
he would. So he was paid a fee of
$3.50 by the plaintiff and the trial
went on. Voluminous 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," remarked his associate coun-
sci, "it 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 your client will be
sore"
"So Vest rose from his chair,
Strengthened the kink out of his neck.
looked first one juror then another in
the face till he spent several minutes
in making the round of the twelve
good men and true, and then began:
Gentlemen Of the Jury: The best
friend man has in the world may
turn against him and become his
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 good
name, may become traitors to their
faith. The money that man has he
may lose. 1t flies away from,him, per-
haps when he needs it most. A mans
reputation may be sacrificed in mo-
ment of ill-considered action. The
people who are prone to fall on their
knees to do us honor when success is
with us may be the first to throw the
stone of malice when failure settles its
cloud upon our heads. The one abso-
lutely unselfish friend that man can
have in this unselfish world, the one
that never deserts him, the one that
never pro, es ungrateful or treacher-
Gus, is his dog.
"Gentlemen of the jury" the Sena-
tor 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 blow 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 en-.
counter with the roughness of the
world. He guards the sleep of his
pauper master as if he were a prince.
When all other friends desert he re-
mains. When riches take wings and
reputation falls to pieces he is as con-
slant in his love as the sun is in its
journey through the heavens. If for
tune drives the master forth an out
cast in the world, friendless and home
less, the faithful dog asks no higher
privilege than that of accompanying
him, to guard against danger, to fight
against his enemies. And when the
last scene of all comes, and death
takes the master in its embrace and
his body is laid away in the cold ground,
no matter if all other friends pursue
their way, there by his grave side will
the noble dog be found, his head be-
tween his paws, his eyes sad, but open
in alert watchfulness, faithful and
true even unto DEATH"
Then Vest sat down. This remark.
able speech he had delivered in low
voice, without a gesture. No refer
ence had he made to the merits OF the
case in hand. Not q word had he
uttered about the evidence. When he
finished judge and jury were seen to
have tears in their eyes. The jury
filed out, and in a minute or two re-
turned to the courtroom. The plain
tiff had asked for $500 damages. The
verdict gave him $500, and several of
the jurymen wanted to hang the de-
fendant.
The Greatest Text in the Bible.