The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1901-12-04
Vest on the Dog.

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 q
country town and while waiting for
the trial Of case in which he was in
terested he was urged by the attorneys
in dog case to help them. He was
paid fee Of $3.50 by the plaintiff.
Voluminous evidence was introduced
to show that the defendant had shot
the dog in malice, while other evil
dence went to show that the dog had
attacked the defendant. Vest took
no part in the trial and was not dis.
posed to speak. The attorneys, how
ever, urged him to make speech,
else their client would not think be
had earned his fee. Being thus urged,
he arose, scanned the face of each
juryman for moment and said:
"Gentlemen of the jury, the best
friend man has in tho world may
turn against him and become his
enemy. His son or daughter that he
has reared with loving care may prove
ungratefnl. 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 it most. A
man s reputation may be sacrificed in
momont Of i'll 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 un-
selfish 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 man 8 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 fercciy, If only
he may be near his master 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 ofshis pauperS master as if he
were prince. When all other friends
desert he remains. When riches take
wings and reputation falls to pieces
ne is as constant in his love as the
sun in its journeys through the heav-
ems. If fortune drives the master
forth an outcast in the world, friend
less 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 en-
brace, 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 watchfulness,
faithful and true even in death."
Then Vest sat down. He had
spoken in low voice, without ges.
ture. He made no reference to the
evidence of 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 or the plaintiff for
$500. He had sued for 5000. It is
even said that some of the Jurors
wanted to hang the defendant.-Nash-
Ui{le american.
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