Evening star., 1901-11-16
VEST ON THE DOG.
The Famous Senator's Tribute to the
Faithful Animal.
From the Nashville American

From the Nashville American.
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, ana
while waiting for the trial of case in
which he was interested 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 attacked the defend
ant. 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, scan
ned the face of each juryman for moment
and said:
Gentlemen of the jury, the best friend a
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 our good
name, may become traitors to their faith.
The money that man has he may lose.
1t flies away from him, perhaps, when he
needs it most. A mans reputation may be
sacrificed in a moment of ill-ConSidered ac-
ton. 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
unselffsh friend that man can have In
this selfish world, the one that never de-
serts him, the one that never proves I'M
grateful or treacherous, is his dog. A man
dog stands by him in prosperity and in poy-
erty in health and in sickness. He VIII
sleep on the cold ground, where the wintry
winds blow and the snow drives hercely, III
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 pau
per master as if he were a prince. When
all other friends desert he remains. When
riches take wings and reputation falls to
sun in it's Journeys 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 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 graveside will the noble
dog be found, his head between his paws.
his eyes sad, but open in alert watchful-
ness, faithful and true even in DEATH
Then Vest sat down. He had spoken in
a low voice, without a gesture He made
no reference to the evidence or the merits
of the case. When he finished judge and
jury were wiping their eyes. The jury filed
out but soon returned with a verdict in
favor of the plaintiff for $500. He had sued
for $500. 1t Is even said that some OF the
Jurors wanted to hang the defendant.