Oor ain folk times

162 GABLE-ENDERS AND WYVERS
The Montrosians were named ' Gable -Enders,' as
many of the houses bordering the broad and picturesque
market-place were built with their gables facing the
open street. The Brechiners were generally designated
by their detractors, from a fine scorn of their main
industry, — the handloom linen-weaving, — ' the Creeshie
Wyvers o' Brechin.' Gross imputations on their
honesty were often made. It was said that when the
' creeshie wyvers ' went out for a holiday the good-
wives in country parts, on hearing that a Brechin
contingent was afoot, would run hastily to the hedge-
rows and clothes-lines to take in the family washing,
with the warning cry —
'Tak' in yer sarks, guidwives, for here comes the
Brechiners.'
In a mixed company, on one occasion where the
majority happened to be worthy burghers of the much-
maligned city of linen weavers, a rather vehement
expression of this popular aspersion had been made bjr
one of the company. An indignant remonstrance had
at once been made by the Brechiners present, one of
whom, with clenched fist and an angry glare in his
eye, had asked the offender —
' Do you mean, sir, to say that there are nae honest
men in Brechin 1 ' apparently with a view to an ultimate
resort to a more forcible style of argument.
The Montrose man looked over his opponent, and
then, with true Scottish doggedness and caution, re-
sponded —
' Weel, sir, I'll no be sayin' that there's nae honest
men in Brechin ; but I will say this, sir, that it's michty
far atween their doors.'