The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1903-07-01
VESTS TRIBUTE TO THE
DOG.
remarkable speech the Missouri
Senator Made To a Jury.

Remarkable Speech the Missouri
Senator Made To a Jury.
Oae of the most eloquent trib,
utes ever er.paid to the dog wss de-
livered by Senator Vest, of Mo-,
some years ago He vas attending
court in a country town, and while
waiting for the trial of case in
which he was interested. was urged
by the attorneys in dog case to
help them VoIuclinous evidence
was introduced to show that the
defendant had shot the dog in NAL
ice, while other evidence went to
show that the dog had attacked the
defendant. Vest took no part in
the trial aud was not disposed to
speak. The attorneys, however,
urged him TO speak Being thus
urged, he arose. scanned the face
of each juryman for a moment.
and said:
"Gentlemen cf the Jury: The
best friend a man has in this 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 good name, may become trait
ors to their faith The money that
a man has, he may lose. 1t flies
away from him. perhaps when
needed most. A mans reputation
may be sacrificed in a moment of
ill.considered scticn. The people
who are prone to fall on their knees
to do us honor when success is
is with us, may be the first to
throw the stone of malice when
failure settles it's cloud upon our
heads.
"The one absolutely unselfish
friend that man can have in this
selfish world, the cne that never de-
serts him, the one that ne or proves
ungrateful or treacherous, is his
dog. A mans dog stands by him
in prosperity and poverty. in health
and in sickness He will sleep on
the cold ground, where the winter
winds blow and the snow drives
fercely, 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 rough
ness of the:world. He guards the
sleep of his psuper master as if he
were a 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 it's journey
through the heavens.
IF fortune drives the master
forth an outcsst in the world
friendless and homeless, the faith
full dog stks 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 the
other friends pursue their way,
there by the graveside will the no.
BILE dog be found, his head be-
tween 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 a low voice without a
gesture. He made no reference to
the evidence or the merits of the
case. When finished, Judge and
jury were wiping their eyes They
filed out but soon entered with a
verdict of $500 for the plaintiff
whose dog was shot, and it was said
that some of those jurors wanted
to hang the MISUNDERSTANDING
American.