Evening journal., 1901-04-11
VESTS ELOQUENT
TRIBUTE TO A DOG
Ii Brought Tears 10 The
Eyes Of The Judge
aud Jury

One of the most eloquent tributes ever
pnid to the dog was delivered hy senator
Vest. of Missouri. some years Hgo, says
the Nashville American. lie was attend
ing court in a country town. ana while
waiting for the trial of case in which ne
was interested he was urged by the ate
tornsys m dog case TO help them lie
was paid fee OF $3.50 by the plaintiff Vol
luminous evidence was. introduced 90 show
chat che defendant had shot the dog In
malice, while other evidence went 70 show
that .he dog had attacked defendant
Vest took no part in the trial. and was
not disposed TO speak. The attorneys,
however. urged him io make a speech.
elre their client would not think he had
earned his fee Being thus urged he
arose. scanned the face of each iuryman
for % moment, and said:-
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
wo trust with our happiness and our good
name. may become traitors 20 their faith.
| THE money that "a man has he may lose,
/ II lics away from him, perhaps when
DE needs it most. A mans reputation may
De fncri1ced in a moment of nl-considorcd
action. The people who are proaa TO tail
on thcir knees TO do us honor when sue.
cess is with us may be the first Go throw
the stone of malice when failure settiesitl
cloud upon our heads. The one absolutol,
unseldeh friend that man can have ~
this selfish world. the one that never de-
scrta him, the one that never proves un
grateful or trcachcrous, IS his dog.
mans dog stands by him IN prosperity anl
jim poverty, I'm health and in sickness Ill
WIN sleep on the cold ground, where tn
wiutry winds blow and the snow drive
dercely, 90 only he may be near his mas
tors side lie will kiss the hand tina
has no food 20 offer. he viii lick IN
wounds ANA sores that come in encounto
with the rouphncss of the world u
guards the sleep OF his paupcr master a
4 if De were prince When an othe
r friends desert he remains. When richie
K take wings ana reputation falls to piece
Z he SIS as constant IN his love ns the sun
n iis Journeys through the heavens. II fo
e tune drives the master forth an outca
in the world. friondless and homeless. q
/ lhtnlul uos asks no higher privilege tina
o that of accompanying him. TO guar
q asaina, danger, 10 fight against his en-
] mics. Ana when the last scene of "a
s comes and death takes the master in d
o embrace, and his body IS laid away Ia n
e cold ground, no matter if an other fricnt
pursue their way, there by the gravosit
viii the noble dog be found. his head b
\ tween his paws, his eyes sad. but open
= alert watchfulness. faithful and true ev,
a, in death"
: Then Vest sat down. He had spoken
n low voice, without q gesture. lie MAJ
d no reference 10 the evidence or the mcri
"a of the case when he finished the judi
10 and jury We're wiping their eyes The jui
n filed cut but soon entered with a verdi
~ IN favor of the plaintiff for $500. lie n.
NJ sued for S2D. IL Is even said that some
"a, the Jurors wanted TO hang the defondar