“A dog is a man’s best friend”: the circumstances of the appearance of this phrase (6 photos)

We use this phrase often. And deservedly so, because for people dogs are a part of life. And for dogs, people are their whole life.





It is believed that the expression was first used by the Prussian King Frederick in 1789, referring to his favorite dog, the Italian greyhound. Several decades passed before the phraseological unit came overseas. But it happened. And one talented person and one touching story contributed to its popularization.



George Graham West

Once upon a time there lived a dog in 1869. A breed of hound named Old Drum. Somehow he made his way into the neighboring yard. The neighbor of farmer Charles Burden, the owner of the Drum, could not stand such impudence and shot the stranger.

Leonidas Hornsby initially denied any involvement in the disappearance of Burden's pet. But the lifeless body of a dog in his yard more than eloquently confirmed the opposite. And the outraged Burden went to court. Hornsby decided to defend himself and hired the best lawyers. The case dragged on for a long time and reached the Supreme Court.





Old Drum Monument in Warrensburg, Missouri

During the meeting, the talented lawyer George Graham West, who represented Burden's interests, made a very touching speech. Before starting, the lawyer promised that he would win the case. Otherwise, he will apologize to every dog in the state of Missouri.

Almost the entire country watched the proceedings with bated breath for eight months. The advantage was on Hornsby's side, because he had the right to protect his property from invasion. That was until West gave his speech, which went down in history as “Ode to a Dog.”

This interpretation (there are others) was used in the 2000 film “The Case of Old Drama,” which was based on real events:





The lawyer kept his word and won the case. A statue was erected on the courthouse lawn in Warrensburg, dedicating it to Old Drum. The same speech is carved on the pedestal. And the dog’s defender became known throughout the country and was repeatedly elected to the Senate. The speech that made West famous remains one of the best works of oratory in jurisprudence. And, most importantly, it's true.