Saint Mary's beacon., 1901-05-02

neighbor that ron think i your best
friend warning against poisoning or
shooting the harmless creature e he h
hunting over the fields, trying 10 keep
the wild and harmful varminfs away
from your home.
TnrRuTE TO FHE Dos.
One Of the mosr elqqpsnt tributes ever
paid TO the dog was-aelisered by 5cna-
tor Vest. Of Missouri, some years ago,
says the Nashville AmsrIczn. lie vss
attending court In . coantry town, and
while waiting for TIE trial Of the case In
which be was interested he was urged
by the attorneys in . dog case to help
them. He was paid fee OF $50 by the
plaintiff. Volum.nous evidence was in
troduced TO show that the defendant
had shot the dog In malice, while other
evidence went 70 show that the dog had
attacked defendant. Vest took no part
in the trial and was rot disposed to
speak. The attorneys, howeser. urged
him TO make speech, else their client
would not think he had earncd bis Zee.
Being thus urged, ne arose. scanned the
face Of each jurymap far moment and
said -
"Gentleman 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 ungratefui.
Those who are nearest and dearest TO as,
those whom we trust with our happiness
and our good name, may become traitors
TO their faith. The money that q
man has he may lose. IL flies away
from him, perhaps when he needs it
most. A mans reputation may be sac
riaced in q moment of ill-considered
action. Tie people who are prone to
fall on their knees TO do us honor when
success is with rs 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 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, IL
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 II he were
prince. When all other friends de-
sert 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. II
fortune drives the master forth an out
cast in the world, friendless and home
less, the faithful dog asks no higher prl-
vilege than that of ACCOMPANYING him,
to guard against danger. to fight against
bis 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 IL 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 a low voice, without gesture. He
made no reference TO the evidence or
the merits Of the case. When he finish
ed the judge and jury were wiping their
eyes. The jury filed out, but soon enter
ed with q verdict in favor of the plain
tiff for $500. He had sued for $500. Ii
is even said that some of the jurors
wanted to hang the defendant.
Now friends, those who have valuable
dogs, try to keep them out Of your
neighbors sight, If not you may have the
deadly poison handled veiy carelessly
with them and they will meet with the
fatal death like my two valuable dogs
did in the past. Sincerely yours,
GEORGE r. QuTRK,
Cedar Point, Md.