Heard a killing story of old Cork from Dr. Scannell in English class. A renowned character, Micky Free, with an emaciated and aged lion, whose teeth had long ago fallen out, and had been replaced by artificial ones, used to pitch his tent in the Coal Quay every year. During one of his performances, a feat of his was to stick his head into the lion’s mouth, while the crowd, petrified, looked with mouths agape, and a voice came from inside: ‘Tell me for the love of God if his tail is waggin!’ With quaking voices they told him it was. Then amidst a terrible silence Micky solemnly cried: ‘Then may the Lord God have mercy on me soul!’ But there was no necessity. After a few more minutes of agony for the spectators Micky calmly pulled out his head, and told them he had had a narrow escape! Dr. Scannell has also some funny stories about Johnnie Gooseberry and his Shakespearian text. Mammie’s critic [sic] was in a good place in Examiner. Such piffle! It was obviously written by a reporter of football and hurley matches. It is gratifying at all events that Miss Barker is completely on Mammie’s side. Had exciting counting of money. It is possible Mammie may make a few pounds. De Valera has resigned. It is a terrible slap for Sinn Féin and shows their disunion. With him go the old days of struggling for freedom.
