HARD LUCK

Portora had an unfortunate downfall at Belfast in the final for the Ulster Schools' Cup.

The Enniskillen team had one thing in its favour – the popular goodwill of the crowds attending the match. By far the great majority of those present cheered for Portora.

But it was all in vain, the superior team won.

A MISAPPREHENSION

The public were interested in Head Constable Neely and some of his men minutely searching the grass and ditch along the Tempo road, near the Enniskillen boundary yesterday.

The rumour had gone abroad that the police were studying botany. But no, they were only hunting for a lost specimen of poteen.

A CHANGED ATMOSPHERE

The Patrick's Day dance in the Enniskillen Foresters' Hall was an unhappy event, inasmuch as the dance was kept up to 5am on the Sabbath morning.

While people do not object to the Foresters and their friends having dances, they do object to having their Sabbath morning slumber disturbed by drumming and singing.

It was indeed a change from the past to hear at this function a patriotic song, 'Don't let them Scrap the British Navy', rendered by a British Tommy, and the crowd present joining in the chorus.

Some time ago one would have heard perhaps in this same hall 'The Soldiers' Song'.

The changed outlook shows that a section of the townspeople who used to be opposed to British rule, are now sympathetic towards it.

It is an omen of the times, and one that all will rejoice in.

A SILVER WEDDING

Sir Charles F. Falls celebrated the 25th anniversary of his appointment as solicitor to the Fermanagh County Council on Tuesday.

His relations with the County Council have always been harmonious and happy, and after 25 years of his connection with the County Council, he demands today greater respect and more admiration, a fact which testifies to Sir Charles' ability as a solicitor and to his high sense of probity in public affairs.

He celebrated his silver wedding with the County Council by spending the day in defending the interests of the ratepayers at a public inquiry, and ably.

A STUDY

While I sat in Enniskillen Courthouse, on Tuesday listening to Mr. Henry Murphy, Clones, heaping coals of fire on my head, as the editor of The Impartial Reporter, which I am not, I was trying to analyse Mr. Murphy.

I had always looked upon Mr. Murphy as a Northerner, but could never reconcile his excitability of temper with the characteristic coolness of the Ulsterman.

At times Mr. Murphy's voice on Tuesday was rasping, something akin to the Monaghan accent; at another, it reminded me of the superior Englishman, while at another there was a choking sob in it as if he were going to weep tears of anguish.

At last we learnt the secret – Mr. Murphy told us that he came from the South, and had Cork blood in his veins.

That explained a lot, and will clear up in the minds of many what has heretofore been a mystery.

He is a clever lawyer – virile, fearless, and dramatic. His bark is worse than his bite.