Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1905-01-24

49,
! $ | y
SENATOR VESTS DOG SPEECH
The late Senator Vest OF Missouri
whose death occurred a few months
ago, was famous as a lawyer and az 81
law maker. During his eventful career.
he made many addresses which are
rightfully entitled to high places
among the literary efforts Of his gen.
Grafton. But in Missouri, and espe-i
cially in a certain little country town
near which he lived. his dog speech
lis the n which will never be forgot
ten, which stands in the estimation Of
the Missourians on a par with thesbests
productions Of the most noted writer's.
Recently the story Of the dog speech"
has been told In print, called forth
by the death Of the much beloved old
lawyer.
Some years ago Senator Vest was at.
tending court In a country town, and
while waiting for the trial of a case
in which he was interested he was
urged by the attorney in a dog case to
help them. He was paid a fee OF $3.50.
by the. plaintiff. Voluminous evidence
was introduced to show that the de-
PENDANT had shot the dog in malice,
while other evidence went to show that
the dog had attacked defendant. Vest
took no part in the trial and was not
disposed to speak. The attorneys,
however. urged him to make a speech,
else their client would not think he
had earned his fee. Being thus urged
he arose. scanned the face of each
juryman for a moment. and said:
Gentlemen of the Jury: The best
friend a man has in the world may turn
against him and become his enemy.
His o or daughter that he has reared
with loving care may prove ungrateful.
Those who are nearest and dearest to
u.s. those whom we trust with our hap
piness and our good name, may be-
come traitors to their faith. The money
that a man has he may lose. 1t flies
away from him, perhaps, when he
needs 1t most. A mans reputation may
be sacrificed in a moment OF ill-consid-
cred 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 n absolutely unselfsh
friend that man can have in this self
ish world, the one that deserts
him. the n that never proves migrate
fu1 or treacherous, is his dog.
"A mans 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 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 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 its journey through the
heavens.
If fortune drives the master forth
an outcast in the world, friendless and
homeless, the faithful dog asks nc
higher privilege than that of accom-
panying him, to guard against danger
to fight against his enemies. And when
the last scene of all comes, and his
body Is laid away in the Geld ground
no matter if all other friends pursue
their way, there by the graveside will
the noble dog be found, his head be
tween his paws, his eyes sad, but open
| In o1nrt otohf,,1pae fot&LP,1 o~l I.,,-
even in death"
Then Vest sat down. He had spoken
In a low voice, without a gesture. He
made no reference to the evidence OF
the merits of the case. When he fin
ished judge and jury were wiping theil
eyes. The jury filed out, bu. soon en-
tered with a verdict in favor Of the
plaintiff for $500. He had sued fol
5000. 1t is even said that some of the
jurors wanted to hang the defend
ant.
Last week the Courier published /,
sketch of the noted Rocky Mountai1
trapper and hunter, Jim Bridger.
This revived the memories of som,
of the older residents of the city tt
whom the names Of Kit Carson, Johl
G. Fremont and Bridger were familiar
1t called to mind that Major Wood
now in the service of the Burlington
road, was, in the SOS commander o
one of our western military posts.Als
that another prominent Ottumwa maj
spent several years in the western
country when 1t was wild, and wa
well acquainted with the famous
Bridger--in fact Bridger made hi
home with him for several years.
This gentleman tells many anec
dotes about Bridger.
While Jim Bridger could read tn,
signs Of the wild western country
could trail game or the Indians as wei
or better than the Indians themselves
he could not read or write. OF schoo
books, he knew nothing, but of natur,
he knew immensely.
In the sixties. Bridger was employee,
as a scout for the United States troop
and a part Of the time his headquar
tiers were at Fort Laramie. H,
would not sleep in a house and live,
in a "lOdgep near the fort He raiset