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Show VEST'S MISTElECE ON THE III OE A BOG Editor Standard: It was down in Johnson county, Missouri, and in the old COUii house at Holden, the county seat, thai a man was being tried for wantonly killing another man's dog. Senator Vest was in the little town on some business with the municipal Judge and lingered In the room till court should be adjourned. The af-temath af-temath of "the night before ' sifted Its grist of drunks and bums through the judicial sieve and then the case of the dog-killer was called Senator Yost the while had been standing aloof from the niotly hnhil-ues hnhil-ues quietly looking out Ol the window. Something in the early proceedings of the case seemed to interest him and he turned to listen. When tho evidence was 111 and bolh sides had rested, the Senator asked permission ; oi the court to say a few words on the subject to the jury lie spoke with level voice and never a Jesture. and this is what he said, and it has enme down to us as 8 classic while he Bleeps away the devouring years under the benedictions of all lovers of fair play, even for a dog. "Gentlemen of the jury: The best friend a man has in this world may turn against him and become his enemy. en-emy. The son and daughter that he lias reared with loving cave may be come ungrateful. Those who are nearest and dearest to us. those w hom we trust with our happiness and our good name, may become traitors to their faith The money that a man has he may lose It flic s i roiu him when be needs it most. Man'8 reputation repu-tation may be sacrificed In a moment of ill-considered action. The people who are prone to fall on their knees and do us honor when success is with us may be th first to throw the stone of malice when failure sit ties its cloud upon our heads. The on ab solutely unselfish friend a man may have In this selfish world, the one that never deserts him, the one that never proves ungrateful or treacherous, treacher-ous, is his dog. "Gentlemen of the jury A man dog stands bv him in prosperity and poverty, in health and in sickness. He irlll sleep on Ihe cold ground, when wintry winds blow and the Know drives fiercely. He will kiss the hand that ha9 no food to offer. lie will lick the sores and wounds that come in the encounter with the roughness rough-ness of the world He guards the sleep of his pauper master as if he were a prince. "When all other friends desert, he remains. Whc-n riches take wings and reputation falls to pieces, he Is constant In his love as the sun in its Journey through the heavens. If fortune for-tune drives the master forth, an outcast out-cast in the world, friendless and homeless, the faithful dog asks no higher privilege than that of accompanying accom-panying him to guard him against danger, to fight against hla enemies. And when tho last seene of all come? and death takes his master In its em brace and his body is laid way in the cold ground, no matter if all other frrends pursue their way. there bj his graveside will the noble dog be found, his head between his paws and his eyes open In alert watchfulness, faithful faith-ful and true even to death." It is b part of the history of this celebrated and pathetic ca r thai s verdict against the dog-killer v.ns rendered ren-dered without the jury leaving their seats and not with uttwet eyes, Today in that little obscure town clown in Missouri the people are build ing a granite monument lo Senator Vet i iii commemoration of his love for the truest friend man ever had In Judge Reeder'B court the other day the defendant in the wanton murder of a dog said that the affection bestowed be-stowed on a clop by his master was a morbid manifestation. The very opposite op-posite of that statement is true. A man or a woman must have something to love! This display is the hipln st efficiency of t;he human heart and dil-rcrentlates dil-rcrentlates him from the low-down two-legged biped without a soul, and who (lod Himself is sorry that He created. A few dollars will pay for the bunt Ing in our flag, and yet at sight or that Inspiring emblem the homesick wanderer in a foreign land will swine his hat In ecstasy of joy and his eyes fill with tears of gladness! Is that a morbid expression of weakness? weak-ness? The mother gazes on the empty ( radle and in token of her love she presses to her lips again and again the insensate glove or broken toy of her dead babe! Is that a morbid spectacle? A gentleman wanders through his Pacanl home and his lonesome lone-some heart shudders at the hollow, sound of his footsteps' Is it a morbid! expression of weakness if he seeks to fill tin- void with the after; ion of) a-faithful and intelligent dog thai never betrayed his confidence, but rewarded the expected caress with devotion and gratitude? (Signed) A .-. CONDON |
