Got an awful surprise today by a letter from Camphill1 saying I would have to pay over £100 of death duty on Andrina’s money.2 Cold N.E. wind + inclined to thaw but frost again at night. Drove to Hospital, Ettrickbank (Alison Holmes3 back from Hospital), Broadmeadows + Oakwoodmill. Mrs Ross4 came at 2 + tried over some things from the Messiah with Foster5 + the soloists. I attended Mrs Richard Ballantyne, Backrow in afternoon.6 Reverend Ross7 came to tea. Fine performance of Messiah in church. 60 voices. Jean + Helen8 were singing. I went to the gallery with Dora9 + Mrs Ross. Pollok10 + Foster came to supper after the performance.
Overwritten at right angles: Party at Bridgelands Flower dressing competition.
1 Camphill is so far unidentified.
2 Dr Muir’s wife Andrina Barbara Henderson Muir née Rodger (1849-1902) had died 4 December 1902 at Thorncroft, Selkirk, aged 56, of cardiac failure caused by pulmonary embolism or thrombosis. She was the daughter of Peter Rodger (1804-1888), Procurator Fiscal of Selkirkshire, and Jane Rodger née Henderson.
3 Alison Holmes is unidentified and the is no previous reference to her in Dr Muir’s diary in early 1904.
4 Elizabeth Elder Ross née Sinclair (1875-1939), wife of the Reverend Andrew Ross (1871-1942).
5 Mr Foster is so far unidentified.
6 Perhaps Elizabeth Ballantyne née Reid, wife of Richard Ballantyne. They had married 1893 in Selkirk and Elizabeth had a daughter Mary Hislop Ballantyne at Selkirk in 1899.
7 The Reverend Andrew Ross (1871-1942), Church of Scotland clergyman, moved to Selkirk in 1903 and was there until his retiral with the exception of a period in early 1918 when he was in France with the Scottish Churches Huts.
8 Two of Dr Muir’s daughters Jane Henderson Logan ‘Jean’ Muir and Helen Frances ‘Mousey’ Muir.
9 Andrina Dorothy ‘Dora’ Muir, Dr Muir’s youngest daughter.
10 John Pollok (1858-1938), solicitor, Town Clerk and Procurator Fiscal.
[Source: Scottish Borders Archives & Local History Service SBA/657/7, Dr J S Muir of Selkirk, medical practitioner, journal for 1904]
Rumbling Clint's Scottish Notes 