Fine morning : strong W. gale. Heavy blasts of rain in afternoon gradually becoming sleet. At night slush was lying in the streets. After seeing a few town cases I motored to Curror Street, Dunsdale, Philiphaugh Cottages, Yarrow School + Fastheugh.1 Luckily I was nearly back to the car on my way from the latter when one of the blasts came on. Dined at Elmpark2 with Jack3, Charlie4 + their father.5 Jack was hunting at Borthwickbrae + then was at a meeting at St Boswells. Helen6 had her tea with Mrs Harkness.7
1 Dr Muir had been attending Elizabeth Hutchison at Fastheugh, grid reference NGR NT392,289, at the west end of Black Andrew woods on the south side of the Yarrow Water.
2 Elm Park, Selkirk, home of Dr Muir’s friend Agnes Mackintosh née Watson, formerly Harper (1859-1946).
3 John ‘Jack’ Roberts junior (1876-1966), mill owner and Dr Muir’s son-in-law.
4 Charles Henry ‘Charlie’ Roberts (1877-1954), born New Zealand, tweed manufacturer, of Thornfield, 25 Scott’s Place, Selkirk and the brother of Jack Roberts junior.
5 Sir John Tonkin Roberts (1845-1934), father of John Roberts junior, Dr Muir’s son-in-law. Born Selkirk, he made his life in New Zealand but was over in Scotland in the summer of 1923.
6 Helen Frances ‘Mousey’ Muir (1880-1963), Dr Muir’s third daughter and sometime housekeeper.
7 Isabella ‘Bell’ Harkness née Lockie (1859-1929), daughter of Hugh Lockie, woollen millworker, and Helen Lockie née Fairbairn, married to John Harkness, baker. Her daughter Ella Fairbairn Harkness (1893-1915), woollen millworker, had died in 1915, aged 22, at Curror Street, Selkirk, of phthisis pulmonalis 18 months, certified by Dr John S Muir and members of the Muir family appear to have reached out to her every year since, see for example Dr Muir’s diary entry for 2 October 1920.
[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 