Author: rumblingclint

A blustery blowy mild day S.W. [wind]. I had a row with that prince of snobs + dipsomaniacs Lord Napier¹. He was coming down to see Lady N. + I persuaded him not to come. He promised + then came down + very much upset her. I saw him at Mauldsheugh + gave him a bit of my mind. He was very indignant that I should talk to him in such a way! Frank [Muir] went over to Hawick to see Mrs Baird at Hazelwood. Helen [Muir], Tina, + Hardinge walked to Bridgelands for tea². Charlotte’s nephew Alexander, a clergyman married to Mrs Dundas’s sister called.

¹ Francis Edward Basil Napier (1876-1941), 12th Lord Napier and 3rd Lord Ettrick, J.P., soldier and courtier known to Dr Muir as ‘The Weakling Lord’ or ‘An Awful Ass’; he appears to have been a constant irritant of Dr Muir’s, who regularly accused him of evading military service, indeed Lord Napier was charged with being absent without leave but failed to show at his trial at the Sheriff Court on the 13th August 1917. He was fined and entered Berwick Barracks a few days later as an ordinary soldier

² Presumably the Christine (or Christina) Patrick referred to in Dr Muir’s diary entry for 20th September 1919 (she is otherwise unidentified) and Gladys Harding a friend of Helen Muir’s

[Source: Scottish Borders Archives & Local History Service SBA/657/22, Dr J S Muir of Selkirk, medical practitioner, journal for 1919]

Jack motored to Moffat taking Stewart to School. Nancy + Frank went with them¹. They found they had gone a day too soon + had to bring Stewart back. Helen [Muir] + Harding [Gladys, Helen’s friend] went over to Gala with Barb + Louise² + saw them off to school. I was called out to Haining Henhouse to see Johnny Laidlaw + found him with appendicitis. David [Graham, co-partner] brought him into Mauldsheugh + operated at 9 p.m. I had Boylan³ to dinner to meet Frank who however was late in returning from Moffat + I had to leave early for the operation.

¹ John Roberts junior ‘Jack’ (1876-1966), mill owner and Provost of Selkirk and his wife Agnes Amelia ‘Nancy’ Roberts née Muir (1878-1948), Dr Muir’s second daughter, Stewart Muir Roberts (1908-2003), one of their sons and Frank Logan Muir (1863-), Dr Muir’s nephew

² Helen Frances ‘Mousey Muir (1880-1963), Dr Muir’s third daughter and housekeeper and Andrina Henderson ‘Barbara’ Roberts, later Thwigg (1902-1996) and Louisa Jane Roberts (1906-1982), Dr Muir’s granddaughters

³ John Dun Boylan (1850-1924), civil engineer, friend of Dr Muir, sometime resident of Shawmount, Selkirk

[Source: Scottish Borders Archives & Local History Service SBA/657/22, Dr J S Muir of Selkirk, medical practitioner, journal for 1919]

Much nicer day + no rain. Cycled to Kilncroft, Ettrickhaugh Mill, Dunsdale Cottages, Wad + Turn¹, Curror Street + Knowepark + then to Heathpark [?], Briarbank + Ladylands Toll. Banked some money. After lunch motored to see Jessie Henderson, taking Frank [Muir]. Sent Baptie round to Shielshaugh + we walked round the Duchess’ Drive, cutting down through Howebottom to Shielshaugh + then to Fauldshope + home². Got Lady Napier down to the Home. There was some trouble with motors + she didn’t arrive till six. Lord N. came with her + called at Elmpark, whom he at once asked for [beer?].

¹ If this is a correct reading it presumably refers to Waddel and Turnbull’s Riverside Mills, Dunsdale Road but would have been an anachronistic description, the mills having changed both ownership and name by 1919

² Howebottom, grid reference NGR NT419,269, Shielshaugh NT418,265 and Fauldshope NT412,256

[Source: Scottish Borders Archives & Local History Service SBA/657/22, Dr J S Muir of Selkirk, medical practitioner, journal for 1919]

David [Graham] attended Jessie Henderson, Bowhill Lodge. D. had a case of [circumcision?] at Robert Miller, Glebe Terrace + I gave chlor[oform]. Motored Frank [Muir] via Curror Street + Hospital to Yair + back by Ettrickbank Mill. It was cold + wet. Wrote [the Reverend James] Rennie + sent him some Panatellas [cigars]. Got some peat briquettes from [Newman + Burns?], Edinburgh. Helen’s friend Gladys Harding arrived. She is accommodated in Helen’s room, Frank in Jean’s + Jean in front lumber room. We all (but Jean + Tina¹) went to the cinema at night + I was called out to go up to see Lady Napier at Thirlestane. David not back till 1 a.m. this morning + did not get to bed till 2.

[Last word is from entry for following day]

¹ Presumably the Christine (or Christina) Patrick referred to in Dr Muir’s diary entry for 20th September 1919; she is otherwise unidentified

[Source: Scottish Borders Archives & Local History Service SBA/657/22, Dr J S Muir of Selkirk, medical practitioner, journal for 1919]

At the House saw Barbara Henderson + D. [Dr David Graham, co-partner] curetted. Alice Smith helped. Anniversary services. Mr Black, Broughton Place, officiated¹. I went to late morning + evening services. In the afternoon motored to Fauldshope + took Frank [Muir?]. We went to Hartwoodmyres + up to the Woll March + returned through Bowhill. I was knocked up at 4 a.m. for a Mr Murray, a visitor at the Temp. [Temperance] Hotel, from Edinburgh who came to the Surgery with retention. Saw a few town cases. Very cold.

¹ Assume the Reverend James Macdougall Black (1879-1949), Free Church later Church of Scotland minister; at this time of Broughton Place Church, 33 Broughton Place, Edinburgh and later Moderator of the Church of Scotland

[Source: Scottish Borders Archives & Local History Service SBA/657/22, Dr J S Muir of Selkirk, medical practitioner, journal for 1919]

Bitterly cold + snow actually lying on the tennis green + of course on the hill tops. David [Graham, co-partner] attended Mrs Wilson, Fauldshope, Yesterday morning + I motored up to see her. D. came up in the morning + told me what had been going on. He was down one day at Abbotsford seeing some one Crawford who turned out to have known his people in India. Mrs And: [Andrew] Lawson, Knowepark¹ called to consult me. She has goitre. Jack + Nancy² motored home from Troon + arrived at 7.24. Christine Patrick [?] is also here + we have a full house.

¹ Knowe Park or Knowepark, Selkirk now the site of a primary school; the house is named on the 25 inch Ordnance Survey Selkirkshire XII.5, published 1860 https://maps.nls.uk/view/74968564and shown unnamed on the 25 inch sheet XII, published 1899 https://maps.nls.uk/view/82905330. Note however that the latter shows Knowepark School at an earlier location nearby

² Agnes Amelia ‘Nancy’ Roberts née Muir (1878-1948), Dr Muir’s daughter and wife of John ‘Jack’ Roberts junior (1876-1966), Mill owner and Provost of Selkirk, later knighted “for political and public services in Selkirkshire”

[Source: Scottish Borders Archives & Local History Service SBA/657/22, Dr J S Muir of Selkirk, medical practitioner, journal for 1919]

Left Prestwick at 7.30. Rennie was fast asleep + I didn’t waken him. There was a strong NW to N wind which was in my favour. At Sorn it began to rain + continued to Greenock Water¹. My left leg was quite wet. After Mairkirk² the sun came out but it was very cold & my hands got renumbed. On Thankerton Moor thin rain + heavy hail showers + a few flakes of snow + I could see a white powdering on Culter Fell³. I stopped for a smoke after Muirkirk + took off my cape + at Douglas I had some biscuits, cheese and beer. I was very ready for tea at Peebles + thoroughly enjoyed it but my hands were never really warm till Innerleithen. I got back at 7 having ridden 91.5 miles. I felt the effects more than I did on Monday.

¹ Dr Muir has tracked the River Ayr (not always closely) east from Sorn and would have crossed the Greenock Water at grid reference NGR NS630,272 a few miles before reaching Muirkirk

² Dr Muir’s ‘Mairkirk’ – Muirkirk – is similar to the local pronunciation and may well be a conscious attempt to capture the sound

³ In the Southern Uplands at grid reference NGR NT052,290; the highest point in South Lanarkshire, between Coulter, across the River Clyde from Symington, South Lanarkshire, and Tweedsmuir, Peeblesshire

[Source: Scottish Borders Archives & Local History Service SBA/657/22, Dr J S Muir of Selkirk, medical practitioner, journal for 1919]

Complete change of weather strong S W gale and heavy rain all forenoon but it cleared from about 2 till 5-6. Jack and Nancy [Roberts] did not go to the Races yesterday as I had a bilious attack but they went today. I was mostly in the house except that I ran down to see Jessie [Miller née Rennie] in the afternoon but found her out. Jack called for me on his way back from the races + I dined with him, Frank + Nancy at Troon this being the anniversary of Nancy’s wedding. Mitchell motored me back.

[Source: Scottish Borders Archives & Local History Service SBA/657/22, Dr J S Muir of Selkirk, medical practitioner, journal for 1919]

The same fine weather. I went for a run to Ayr, Dalmellington + Straiton. I have only been once in the latter viz when I motored Jim from Newton Stewart to Prestwick in the Arrol Johnston. It is a boring wee village. I had tea there. This was the first day of the revived Ayr races + I met many people motoring there. I returned via Kirkmichael + Minnishant¹. Ayr was crowded with sailors from the Queen Elizabeth which is lying off Ayr². I walked down to Redstone [sic³] after supper. Nancy Jack took Rennie for a run to Maucline [sic – Mauchline] and Tarbolton.

¹ Minishant, grid reference NGR NS330,143

² H.M.S. Queen Elizabeth, oil-powered dreadnought battleship, she was built at Portsmouth in 1913 and served as flagship of the Atlantic Fleet 1919-1924

³ Redston, Prestwick [Monkton, Ayr], home of Jessie Logan Miller née Rennie (1860-1920) and Edward Caird Miller, iron and steel founder; Jessie was Dr Muir’s niece

[Source: Scottish Borders Archives & Local History Service SBA/657/22, Dr J S Muir of Selkirk, medical practitioner, journal for 1919]

A lovely warm day + I feel not a bit fagged. Indeed, last night I could have ridden further. Called for Jessie at Redstone¹. They have bought the house having been left £21,000 by an aunt of Eddie. Poor Jessie has had colostomy for cancer of the rectum which she doesn’t know. She looks very well + much the better of a month at Kinloch Rannoch. Phoned to Nancy [Roberts née Muir] at the Marine Hotel Troon² but she wasn’t up. Met Jack + Frank with a man Campbell at the club house , I walked while they played a round. It was almost oppressively hot where sheltered from the sea air. In the afternoon I read in the garden at Ladyton, + then Nancy motored Rennie³ + me to Ayr + gave us tea at Fleury Meng⁴ + then took us for a run to Alloway Kirk + on to Maybole Hill road returning by Dunure. It was very lovely. Fanny arrived at Redstone + she, Jessie + Eddie came up at night.

¹ Jessie Logan Miller née Rennie (1860-1920), daughter of James Rennie (1826-1924), Presbyterian minister, and Catherine Rennie née Muir and wife of Edward Caird Miller, iron and steel founder; they lived at Redston, Prestwick [Monkton, Ayr]

² The Hotel, to the south of Troon, was adjacent to the Golf Club, see Ordnance Survey 6 inch Ayrshire Sheet XXVII.NW, published 1911 https://maps.nls.uk/view/75494615

³ The Reverend James Rennie (1826-1924), Dr Muir’s brother-in-law, widower of his late sister Catherine

⁴ Fleury Meng’s pastry and confectionery premises in Newmarket Street, Ayr (Nos. 44, 46 & 48) and there were other branches at 22 Fawcett Street, Sunderland and 3 St Ann’s Passage, Manchester
Florian ‘Fleury’ Meng (about 1858-1915), baker, confectioner and pastry cook was resident at Newmarket street, Ayr, 1891 Census, aged 33, with Lucius or Lucian Meng, brother and Ursula and Agatha Meng, sisters.
They were the children of Christian Meng, farmer, and Barbara Meng née Gadient and born in the Canton of Graubünden (Grisons), Switzerland.
Fleury Meng died April 1915 [Source: June Quarter 1915, Sunderland 10a 946], aged 57. His obituary stated “OBITUARY. A SUNDERLAND CATERER The death has occurred at his residence, Lemonfield, Roker, of Mr Fleury Meng, well-known caterer in the north. Meng was of Swiss nationality, and went to Scotland when a young man. After commencing business as a baker in Glasgow, established himself at Ayr. Subsequently extended his business … [Newcastle Journal, 5 April 1915]
Lucien Meng had died at 68 Newmarket Street, Ayr, 2 February 1894, aged 30 and Agatha Meng, retired bakery manageress, unmarried, at Park Circus, Ayr, 25 January 1947, aged 77. On Lucien’s death certificate Florian is noted as of “Fawcett Street, Sunderland”. Ursula Meng married, 20 November 1905, at 70 Newmarket Street, Ayr, Gilbert Watson, builder.

[Source: Scottish Borders Archives & Local History Service SBA/657/22, Dr J S Muir of Selkirk, medical practitioner, journal for 1919]