Magnificent sunrise which I saw from my bed : fine clear sunny day. Letter to Helen1 from Dora2 + a P.C. [postcard] from Mrs Murray Brown3 which I sent on to H [Helen]. Cycled round town : readjusted splint on the boy Smith’s leg at Heatherlie Park.4 Messages to Scott, Chapel Street5 + people called Williamson at Dunreay. Cycled to Chapel Street [and] didn’t get my lunch till 3.30. Called for Robt. Currie6 + Mrs Fowler7 on my way back. Message to Boylan.8 He is becoming a nuisance. Got a very kind note from Mrs Hilson.9 She is staying with the Clappertons10 + I must call for her. Graham returned from Camp.11
1 Helen Muir was evidently still away, presumably at Haslemere in Surrey.
2 Andrina Dorothy ‘Dora’ Muir (1882-1978), nurse and Dr Muir’s youngest daughter, was living and working in Egypt.
3 It is possible that this refers to the wife of James Murray Brown who was the proprietor of the Traquair Arms, Innerleithen, 1925 Valuation Roll.
4 Dr Muir had been seeing someone, presumably a child of James Smith, barber, at Heatherlie Park, Selkirk (see diary entries for 6 and 7 August 1923). They are otherwise unidentified.
5 The only Scott at Chapel Street at this time appears to be Mrs Agnes Scott at No. 27.
6 Assume Robert Currie, junior (about 1847-1923), woollen hosiery manufacturer, the fourth of five generations at Selkirk with the given name Robert. Son of Robert Currie, hosiery manufacturer, and Mary Little; he married, 18 December 1868, Selkirk, Mary Murray and lived at Rockville, Hillside Terrace, Selkirk. He died 6 September 1923, death certified by D Charteris Graham M.B., Ch.B.
7 Assume Janet Fowler née Latto (1868-1924), wife of William Fowler (about 1863-1933), Public Assistance officer. Inspector of Poor and Registrar, Selkirk. Married in 1890, they lived at Topsfield, Goslawdales, Selkirk.
8 Dr Muir had been attending Shawpark, Selkirk from time to time to see John Dun Boylan (1850-1924), a civil engineer, who had a heart attack on 11 March 1923.
9 Dr Muir had the day before met Alice P Hilson née Anderson, daughter of Alexander Anderson M.D., and Eliza Anderson née Gillespie, who had married a surgeon in the Indian Army and had been at Upland, Ettrick Road, Selkirk seeing Charlotte Alexander, her contemporary. They were both born at Kirkhope, Selkirkshire, so this may have been a childhood friendship maintained.
10 Perhaps the Clapperton family, photographers.
11 Graham had been at some sort of military camp.
[Source: Scottish Borders Archives & Local History Service SBA/657/26, Dr J S Muir of Selkirk, medical practitioner, journal for 1923]
Rumbling Clint's Scottish Notes 