Hi SHARE Folks -
Recent news about court cases to determine the value of a family dog -
whether to regard a "pet" as property or as something more -
reminded me of something I read when I was very young (back in the
late 1940's). I loved animals, especially dogs, and I always read
everything I could find that even mentioned them. I looked in the
World Book Encyclopedia and found "Senator Vest's Tribute to a Dog."
I read it over and over, and copied it into my notebook. Over the
years, I had forgotten the words, so I just did a Google search and
I'd like to SHARE it with you. This came from the web page at
http://dogpage.mcf.com/misc/TributeToTheDog.html and there are dozens
of other locations that have the speech.
Enjoy -
Maureen

Senator Vest's "Tribute to the Dog"

It is strange how tenaciously popular memory clings to the bits of
eloquence men have uttered, long after their deeds and most of their
recorded thoughts are forgotten, or but indifferently remembered.
However, whenever and as long as the name of the late Senator George
Graham Vest of Missouri is mentioned it will always be associated
with his love for a dog.

Many years ago, in 1869, Senator Vest represented in a lawsuit, a
plaintiff whose dog "Old Drum" had been willfully and wantonly shot
by a neighbor. The defendant virtually admitted the shooting, but
questioned to the jury the $150 value plaintiff attributed to this
mere animal. To give his closing argument, George Vest rose from his
chair, scowling, mute, his eyes burning from under the slash of brow
tangled as a grape vine. Then he stepped sideways, hooked his thumbs
in his vest pockets, his gold watch fob hanging motionless, it was
that heavy. He looked, someone remembered afterwards, taller than his
actual 5 feet 6 inches, and began in a quiet voice to deliver an
extemporaneous oration. It was quite brief, less than 400 words:

"Gentlemen of the jury: the best friend a man has in the world may
turn against him and become his worst 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. It flies away from him, perhaps when he needs it
the most. A man's reputation may be sacrificed in a moment of ill-
considered 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 absolutely unselfish friend that a man can have in this
selfish world, the one that never deserts him and the one that never
proves ungrateful or treacherous... is his dog.

Gentlemen of the Jury: a man's dog stands by him in prosperity 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 master's side. He will kiss the hand that has no food
to offer, he will lick the wounds and sores that come in encounters
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 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."

The jury deliberated less than two minutes then erupted in joint
pathos and triumph. The record becomes quite sketchy here, but some
in attendance say the plaintiff who had been asking $150, was awarded
$500 by the jury. Little does that matter. The case was eventually
appealed to the Missouri Supreme Court, which refused to hear it.

A statue of "Old Drum" was erected on the Johnson County Courthouse
Square in Warrensbug, Missouri, where the trial occurred. The statue
still stands there today.

Posted on SHARE Yahoo group Dec. 12, 2006