Crossroads and Characters

27. QUITE A REPUTATION.

In its early days, Newton of Pitcairns (the Dragon) is said to have had quite a reputation for being rough. When his son moved there, the man in the photo opposite told him he himself had never visited the Dragon before, though he had been a long-time resident of the district. One reason was the reputed deeds of a Dragon character called The Whip. This gentleman sat outside his small cottage (extreme right in this postcard) and entertained himself by flicking a whip at passers-by who came within reach. Another story is told of the Dunning resident who was looking for one of his cows which was missing from the common pasture between Dunning and the Dragon. 'Oh,' said somebody, 'we saw it just now, wandering up the Dragon.' 'Well, that's good-bye to that cow then,' said its owner, and went home disconsolate.