Letter from Patrick1
A dull sunless day : calm + mild. Went to Edin. by the 10.13. Travelled with John Murray2 + Reid the Coop manager.3 Walked out to Newington + saw Jean4 + walked back. Had coffee at the New Picture Ho. + saw the pictures.5 Walked along to Rutland Street to meeting of Insurance Act Committee6 at 2.15 + left at 3.30. Went to Picture House for an hour, bought pens [?] + looked in at New Picture House again. Came out with the 6 [O’clock train]. Dav.7 was shooting with Duke8 who sent me a hare [text deleted] + a Grouse. Dees9 also sent me a hare. Gave one of the hares to Mrs Mack.10
1 Patrick Rodger Stewart ‘Pat’ Muir (1879-1961), Dr Muir’s only son, living in New Zealand since 1902, driver, station hand, later farmer.
2 John Murray is unidentifiable without more information.
3 Reid the Co-operative manager is (so far) unidentified.
4 Jane Henderson Logan ‘Jean’ Pike née Muir (1877-1941), Dr Muir’s eldest daughter, who had a tea shop in Newington, Edinburgh.
5 Dr Muir was an occasional visitor to the Pictures in Edinburgh, see for instance diary entries for 21 December 1920 and 23 November 1921.
6 The National Insurance Act 1911 had created a system of contributory health insurance (under which employees earning less than £160 per year, and manual workers earning above this, were required to be insured) that required insurance committees to make a list of doctors willing to attend from which the insured would be able to choose.
7 David Charteris ‘Dav.’ Graham (1889-1963), M.B., Ch.B., medical practitioner and Dr Muir’s business partner.
8 Assume John Charles Montagu Douglas Scott (1864-1935), 7th Duke of Buccleuch, who succeeded to the dukedom on 5 November 1914.
9 Robert Irwin Dees (1872-1923), anded proprietor, formerly a marine engineer, he was the son of James William Dees and Eliza Jane Irwin and lived at Faldonside, Galashiels.
10 Agnes Mackintosh née Watson, formerly Harper (1859-1946), of Elm Park, Selkirk.
[Source: Scottish Borders Archives & Local History Service SBA/657/25, Dr J S Muir of Selkirk, medical practitioner, journal for 1922]
Rumbling Clint's Scottish Notes 