2 January 1922 diary of Dr John Stewart Muir (1845-1938) of Selkirk

[entire text block scored through¹] Heavy rain during night. Fine clear day with very stiff N to NW gale. Roads dried wonderfully. I felt much better + cycled to Hospital, Bridgelands + Sund. Hall Lodge. Called for Charlotte Rodger² + met there Agnes and Isabel³. Saw a few cases in afternoon. Took Ellen Wylie⁴ a bunch of grapes that Mrs Mack⁵ gave me. Jean⁶ came at 12 + left again with Dora⁷ + Boyack⁸ at 7.33. She was very dull poor girl. I spoke to her about coming to Viewfield + so did Dav.⁹, but she can’t say anything at present till she knows if she can sell the business¹⁰. Mrs Mack brought me a bottle of brandy + some eggs for supper! Finished “Little Dorrit” ¹¹.

¹ It is not clear why this and the following entry have been scored through but the Editor has transcribed them both anyway and in any case there are no alternative entries for these dates

² Elizabeth Charlotte ‘Carlota’ Rodger (1884-1958), daughter of George Rodger, shipping merchant, and Elizabeth Charlotte Rodger

³ Assume Agnes C Rodger (1884-), daughter of George Rodger, shipping merchant, and Elizabeth Charlotte Rodger, and Isobel Rodger (1896-1984), daughter of William Rodger, woollen manufacturer, and Agnes Greg Rodger née White

⁴ Ellen Wylie is not identified, though James Wylie, labourer, was tenant at 43 Market Place, Selkirk (1921 Valuation Roll, VR007900012-/110, Selkirk Burgh, page 110 of 644]

⁵ Agnes Mackintosh née Watson, formerly Harper (1859-1946), of Elm Park, Selkirk

⁶ Jane Henderson Logan ‘Jean’ Pike née Muir (1877-1941), Dr Muir’s eldest daughter

⁷ Andrina Dorothy ‘Dora’ Muir (1882-1978), nurse and Dr Muir’s youngest daughter

⁸ Miss Boyack was a friend of Dora Muir’s who stayed with the family from 3rd to 31st August 1920; they have known one another from wartime nursing (she went on a number of Dr Muir’s calls and assisted on at least one occasion) but she is otherwise unidentified

⁹ David Charteris ‘Dav.’ Graham (1889-1963), M.B., medical practitioner and Dr Muir’s business partner

¹⁰ Jean Muir had a tea shop at 47 Newington Road, Edinburgh [Miss Jane Muir, cook, 1920 Valuation Roll, VR010000379-/38, Edinburgh Burgh, page 38 of 257]

¹¹ Little Dorrit by Charles Dickens, 1857

[Source: Scottish Borders Archives & Local History Service SBA/657/25, Dr J S Muir of Selkirk, medical practitioner, journal for 1922]