The leader. [volume] (Brookhaven, Miss.) 1895-1905, 1902-01-01
VESTS TRIBUTE TO A DOG.
What EIoquence VIII Do with a Jury.

| What Eloquence Will Do with "a Jury.
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 a
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 for the plaintiff. Vo.
luminous 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 the jurymen for moment,
and said:
Gentlemen of the jury: The best
| friend a man has in the world NAV
turn upon 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
come traitors to their faith. The
money that man has he may lose. 1t
| flies away from him. perhaps when he
needs 1t most. a mans reputation
may be sacrificed in moment 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 NAL
ice when failure settles its cloud upon
our heads. The one. absolutely unself-
lsh friend that man can have in this
selfish world, the one that never proves
ungrateful' or treacherous, is his dog.
mans dog stands by him in pros
perlty 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 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
fortune drives the master forth an
outcast in the world, friendless and
homeless, the faithful dog asks no
higher privilege than that of accompa-
nying 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 low voice, without gesture. He
made no reference to the evidence or
the merits of the case. When he fin
ished the judge and jury were wiping
their eyes. The jury filed out, but
soon entered with a verdict in favor of
the plaintiff for 500. He had sued for
5000. 1t is even said that some of the
jurors wanted to hang the defendant.
-NdShUiHe american.