Thursday, December 13, 2012

Man’s Best Friend!


    “Ol’ Drum”  
24/7 Sentry; Johnson County 
Court House in Missouri 
      
                                                                                                                      
                         

It’s long been argued that to find a real friend, “man” or “mankind” need only go to the dogs. Once there, he’ll find . . .  .  . . . Yep, “Man’s best friend”; as we all know this motto / slogan is intended to honor dogs; generally referring to all breeds as a whole. But did you know the phrase is believed to have been “coined” by way of a dramatic courtroom speech made by attorney, George Graham Vest in Warrensburg, Missouri in 1870 who said in part, “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.” The phrase was, as time passed, shortened to “man’s best friend”.       

Born in Frankfort, Kentucky, Vest was known for his skills in oration and debate. A lawyer as well as a politician, he served as a Missouri Congressman, a Confederate Congressman during the Civil War, and finally as US Senator for the great state of Missouri from 1879 to 1903 (4 six year terms). He is best known for his “a man’s best friend” closing arguments from a trial that court records show occurred on September 23, 1870.

The following is all that remains of the famed speech, it was most likely taken from the court records of the small Missouri town of Warrensburg in Johnson County, Missouri.  Boldly, throughout the trial, Vest promised that he would “win the case or apologize to every dog in Missouri.” Most folks were somewhat surprised when Vest elected to ignore earlier testimony that was given during the trial; you see, when his turn came to present his final summation to the jury, he made this speech on behalf of his client; a local farmer who was suing his brother-in-law for 50 Dollars US (which was the maximum amount he could sue for such a grievous offence), for damages after allegedly shooting his beloved foxhound “Old Drum”.

“Gentlemen of the Jury: The best friend a man has in the 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 a man has, he may lose. It flies away from him, perhaps when he needs it 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 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 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 him against danger, to fight against his enemies. And when the last scene of all comes, and death takes his 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 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”.

This short address, which is credited for winning the case, is often described in the category of being powerful, persuasive, motivational and inspirational. The speech not only reflects excellent powers of oration, it remains famous even today because it so perfectly describes man’s best friend, the ever faithful dog.


Sources:                                                                                                               http://www.famous-speeches-and-speech-topics.info/famous-short-speeches/george-graham-vest-speech-tribute-to-dogs.htm                                                                            http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Man%27s_best_friend_%28catchphrase%29 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Graham_Vest#Old_Drum


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