The Palatka news and advertiser., 1917-03-30
THE PALATKA NEWS PALATKA, FLA.

States Senator), Vest arose and in a
quiet voice delivered this tribute:
Gentlemen of the Jury: The best
friend man has in the world may
turn against him and become his ene-
my. 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
a moment of ill-considered action.
"The people who are prone on their
knees to do US homage when success
is with US, may be the first to throw
the stone of malice when failure set
ties its cloud upon our heads.
"The one absolutely unselfish 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.
"a mans dog stands by him in
prosperity and poverty, in health and
in sickness. He will sleep on the
cold ground where the wintry 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 en-
counter 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
it's journey 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
accompanying him, to guard him
against danger, to fight against his
enemies. And when the last scene
of all comes, and death takes his mas
ter in it's embrace and his body is
laid away in tho cold ground, no mat
ter if all other friends pursue their
way, there by the graveside will the
noble dog be found, his head between
his paws, his eyes sad but open in
alert watchfulness, faithful and true
even in DEATH"
Mr.. Vest sat down. For few
moments not word was spoken in
the courtroom. Judge and jury were
wiping their eyes. Silently, the jury
filed out. They returned quickly with
a verdict in favor of Vests client,
the owner of the slain dog, for more
than twice the amount he had claim
ed. So says tradition, and also adds
that there were jurors in that panel
who wanted to hang the defendant
who had killed the canine in ques-
tion.
Nowhere in the masterpieces of fic-
ton can be found a more eloquent
tribute to mans humblest, most low
ing friend than this impromptu deliv-
erance of the then young, unseasoned
lawyer, George Vest. There was
story long afoat that Vest had come
to Missouri from his native Kentucky
i'll haste, occasioned by boyish joke
that made him suddenly persona non
grata to his comrades. He was quite
young, though graduate of Central
College and of the law department of
old Pennsylvania University at Lex
ington (none older than it in the
The incident occurred in
a Kentucky town on the Mississippi
River, or rather on boat tied to
the bank, where a number of gay
blades were having secret game of
poker. The night was far spent when
the game was finished. But Vest had
found a pretext for leaving the boat
much earlier in the evening. When
day began to break. and those who
remained began to think it was high
time to go ashore, they saw to their