The Democratic advocate., 1909-12-24
NO LOVE LIKE THE DOES
Vests Famous Tribute to Mans Best
and. Nest LOYAL Friend.

and, Nest Loyal Friend.
Nearly every one has heard of Sen
ator Vests eulogy of the dog, but how
few have seen it, The speech was
made years ago on an occasion when
the late Senator Vest was in Missouri
to try a lawsuit Another case, a dog |
case was on the docket just ahead or
him, and he had to wait until this was
disposed Of One of the lawyers In
the dog case asked Vest if he wouldn't
help their side, and the Senator said
he would SO he was paid retain
ing fee of s25.0O by the plaintiff, and
the trial went on. Voluminous evil
dence was introduced to show that
defendant had shot plaintiffs dog in
malice. and quite as much to prove
that the dog was vicious and had at
tackled the defendant. Then the law
yers made their addresses to the Jury,
going over the evidence with great
thoroughness. All this time Senator
Vest sat with his big round head bur-
led between his shoulders, as was ms
wont. without saying word. He
seemed to be asleep most OF the time.
"Vest." said his associate counsel,
'.it is now our turn to close. You 90
it."
"No said the Senator, you know
more about the case than do. You
finish it up"
"Rutl YOU must do something to earn
YOUR fee or our client will be sore.
So Vest rose from his chair,straight-
ened the kink out of his neck, looked
first one juror then another IN the
| face until he had spent sometime IN
taking the round of the twelve good
men and true, and then began:
Then Vest sat down. This remark
able speech he had delivered in low
voice without gesture. No reference
had he made to the merits OF the case
| in hand. Not "a. word had he uttered
about the evidence. When he finlsh-
/. ed the judge and, jury were seen TO
have tears in their eyes. The jury
filed out, and in a minute or two re-
turned to the court room. The plain
| tiff had asked for $500 damages. The
verdict gave him $500, and several of
the iurymen wanted to hang the de-
| fendant.
Gentlemen of the jury: The best
friend a man has in this world may
turn against him and become his enc
nv. His son and daughter that he has
reared with loving care may become
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. u flies away from him, per-
haps when he may need it most. "A
mans reputation may be sacriflced IN
moment of ill-considered action. The
peoDle who are prone. to fall on their
knees and do us honor when success
is with us, may be the first to throw
the stone of malice when failure set
ties it's cloud upon our heads. The
one absolutely unselfish friend, a man
NAV have in this selfish world, the
! one that never deserts him, the one
that never proves ungrateful or
treacherois, 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 oh the cold ground, where
the wintry winds blow and
the snow drives fiercely. II
4 only he maycbe 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
fhe were. A<prince. ~ IEt
"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 outcast into the world, friendless
and homeless, the faithful dog asks
no higher privilege than that of ac-
companying him, to guard him against
dangers, to. fight against his enemies.
And when the last scene of all comes
and death takes the master in his en-
brace, and his body Is 1aid away in the
cold ground, no matter if all other
friends pursue their way there, by his
graveside Vil1 the noble dog be found.
his head between his paws, his eyes
sad, but open in alert watchfulness,
faithful and true even in death"