Eulogy of the Dog by George G. Vest

September 23, 1870 Warrensburg, Missouri

Despite serving for 24 years as a U. S. senator, George Graham Vest is best known for a case he took as a lawyer in rural Missouri. Vest represented a farmer whose dog, "Old Drum," had been shot by a neighbor who claimed "Old Drum" had been killing his sheep. Vest's "Eulogy of the Dog" outlined the reasons why the farmer should be compensated for his loss.

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 whom 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 a man can have in this selfish world, the one that never deserts him, the one that never proves ungrateful or treacherous, is the 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 when the wintry winds blow and the snow drives fiercely, if only he can 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 encounter 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 into 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 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 and his eyes sad but open, in alert watchfulness, faithful and true, even unto death.

Question 1
Part A

What is a central idea in the speech?

Humans demonstrate more loyalty than dogs.

Dogs require more attention than humans.

The personalities of dogs are more pleasant than human personalities.

The character of dogs is superior to that of humans.
Question 2
Part B

Which quotation from the text best develops the central idea in Part A?

“He will sleep on the cold ground when the wintry winds blow and the snow drives fiercely, if only he can be near his master's side.”

“The money that a man has he may lose. It flies away from him perhaps when he needs it most.”

“The one absolutely unselfish friend that a man can have in this selfish world, the one that never deserts him, the one that never proves ungrateful or treacherous, is the dog.”

“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.”