The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1907-04-03
Two Opinions on the Dog.

Recently bill was introduced in the
Bouse at Harrisburg proposing little
extra tax, or safeguard. we had better put
it, upon the dog. Commenting upon this
theme neighbor White of the Tidioute
News makes this rather uncomplimen-
tary comment upon all dogs, irrespective
of creed, color or previous condition OF
servitude:
That bill should receive the vote OF
every legislator that isn't dogphobist,
but another section making dog owner
responsible for all damages and expense
occurred in case his dog bites or annoys
anybody, thus developing hydropbobis
scare. Or for damage of any kind done
by his animal. There'd be mighty few
tags sold in such case and thus the brutes
could be wiped out of their special IA
vored privileges.
Bro. White seems to lose sight OF the
fact that some of us newspaper chaps are
going down the other slope. verging dan
gerously nigh onto the chloroform stage,
as it were. and are apt to be just trifle
crusty and easily irritated. at times, and
that often we allow these creaky old
hinges of ours to be swayed by the little
incidents of life, thus sending out rasp-
ing, disagreeable sounds, greatly to the
discomfort of our younger and happier
friends, who may perchsnce still have
sone admiration for the faithful canine.
And it is possible, were some people to
xuou nf nf no old
editors, too, would be taxed off the earth.
Now let us glance for comparison upon
another's opinion of the dog, that of U.
S. Senator Vest, as he once addressed
jury on behalf of friend whose faithful
dog had been sent to the happy hunting
grounds by an irate neighbor:
Gentlemen of 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 our good
name, may become traitors to their faith.
The money that man has he may lose.
1t flies away from him, perhaps when he
needs it most. A mans reputation may
be sacrificed in 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
one absolute, unselisb 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
Gentlemen of the jury, mans dog
stands by him in prosperity and In pow
erty, 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 can be near his mas
ter's side. He will kiss the band 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 we're 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 out
cast in the world, friendless and home
less, 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 embrace and his body is laid away in
the cold ground, no matter If all other
friends pursue their way, there by his
graveside will the noble dog be found,
his head between his paws, his eyes sad
but open in alert watchfulness, faithful
and true even to death.