Carson and Craig smiling?

Sir,—I loved the front cover picture (HI 20.6, Nov./Dec. 2012) of Edward Carson and James Craig at Galgorm Castle in July 1913. Over the following few days I found myself coming back to sneak a peak at it again, and grinning inanely. And yet I couldn’t quite explain my fascination. And then came my ‘eureka’ moment . . . they’re smiling, they’re both smiling! For 25 years I have been seeking out pictures of the dastardly duo, and yet this is the first one I’ve seen in which they’re smiling. It takes a little bit of searching but it’s definitely there. A careful study revealed a slight curvature of the mouth under Sir Edward’s Romanesque nose (Northerners, please forgive the reference to Rome!). Craig’s smile took a magnifying glass to confirm, but again a forensic search beneath his moustache reveals a gentle smile. Surely a first (and only?)! Well done, History Ireland! Now to broaden the search for a smiling de Valera, John Charles McQuaid or Peter Robinson!—Yours etc.,