Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1901-11-16
VEST ON THE DOG.
The Famous Senator's Tribute to
the Faithful Animal.

rdmOuB SENATORS 10
the Faithful Animal.
One Of the most eloquent tributes
ever paid to the dog, was delivered by
Senator Vest Of Missouri, some years
ago. He was attending court in
country town and while waiting for the
trial OF a case in which he was inter-
ested, he was urged by the attorneys
in a dog case to help them. He was
paid a fee Of $3.50 by the plaintiff.
Voluminous evidence was introduced
to show that the defendant had shot
the dog in malice, while other evidence
went to show that the dog had attack
ed the defendant. Vest took no part in
the trial and was not disposed to speak.
The attorneys, however, urged him to
make speech, else their client would
not think he had earned his fee. Being
thus urged, he arose, scanned the face
Of each juryman for a moment and
said:
Gentlemen Of the jury, the best
friend a man has in the world may
turn against him and become his enc
my. His son or daughter that he has
reared with loving care may prove un-
grateful. 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.
The money that a man has he may
lose. 1t flies away from him, perhaps,
when he needs 1t most. A mans rep
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 absolutely
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.
A mans dog stands by him in pros
perity 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 encounter 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 remains. When riches take wings
and reputation falls to pieces he Is as
constant in his love as the sun In Its
journeys 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 the grave
side will the noble dog be found, his
head between his paws, his eyes sad;
but open in alert watchfulness, faith
full and true even in DEATH"
Then Vest sat down. He had spoken
in a low voice, without gesture. He
made no reference to the evidence or
the merits of the case. When he fin
ished Judge and jury were wiping their
eyes. The jury filed out but soon re-
turned with a verdict in favor Of the
plaintiff for $500. He had sued for $500.
It is even said that some Of the jurors
wanted to hang the defendant.-Nash-
Vile American.