Author: rumblingclint

Raining still + the rivers bigger than yesterday. Barometer down to 28.38. It faired however about midday and the sun shone out but at night there was rain again. Dav.¹ was at a confinement at Crosslee² + asked me to see some town cases which I did in the car. Then I left at 1.20 + motored to Black Andro Cottage to see Jemima Storie’s kid³ at her sister Mrs Reid.⁴ Then I had a lovely walk to Fastheugh⁵ + saw Miss Hutchison.⁶ Met May Lang⁷ going there on my way back. Clark⁸ fitted my new lower denture which does not trouble my under lip quite so much as the old one.

¹ David Charteris ‘Dav.’ Graham (1889-1963), M.B., Ch.B., medical practitioner and Dr Muir’s business partner.

² Bertie Graham Gowans was born 27 October 1923 at Crosslee Cottages, Ettrick, the son of William Gowans, ploughman, and Alison Gowans née Dalgleish. The parents had married 8 December 1911 at Selkirk.

³ Joan Scott Storie, born 21 August 1923 at 30 Curror Street, Selkirk, the daughter of Jemima Storie, woollen darner.

⁴ Janet Reid née Storie, married 1904 at Selkirk to Walter Reid, woodman, and living at Black Andro, Selkirk.

⁵ Assume Elizabeth Hutchison (about 1832-), sister of Thomas Hutchison (about 1848-), estate manager, both recorded at Hangingshaw Cottage, 1921 Census, which must mean the inconsistency sits with the Census, because Dr Muir and the 1920s Valuation Rolls are consistent in linking Thomas Hutchison with Fastheugh. The property is at the west end of Black Andrew woods on the south side of the Yarrow Water, see Ordnance Survey six inch Selkirkshire Sheet XI.NW, published 1900.

⁶ Margaret Graham ‘May’ Lang (1861-1958), daughter of Hugh Morris Lang and Margaret Lang née Graham; born Largs, Ayrshire, died Selkirk; a cyclist [see diary entry 13 May 1916], Miss Lang was Tenant Occupier of the mansion house, stable and grounds at Harewoodglen, Selkirk [1921 Valuation Roll, VR011700009-/326, Selkirk County, page 326 of 611].

⁷ Thomas Raeburn ‘T Raeburn’ Clark (1879-1943), dental surgeon, at 8 The Green, Selkirk, and of Ettrickbridge, 1920 Valuation Roll; married to Isabella Watson, he died, 9 July 1943, aged 63, at 153 Morningside Drive, Edinburgh, usual residence Elburn, Ettrickbridge.

[Source: Scottish Borders Archives & Local History Service SBA/657/26, Dr J S Muir of Selkirk, medical practitioner, journal for 1923]

There was heavy rain last night as shown by the flooded river but it kept fair all day with [a] sharp W. wind. Barometer rose very slowly + at 7 p.m. stood at 28.65. Walked to Curror [?] Street to Drew Brown¹ + Dunsdale, Mill Street (where Baptie² caught me with a message to Elizabeth Martin, Philiphaugh Cottages).³ Then I came back to see D.C.A.⁴ about a notice I got re the Feu Duty, Forest Road, Kirkwynd [and] Rosemount. Dav.⁵ called in afternoon. Menzies⁶ tells me all our resignations are in.⁷ Nancy⁸ + Helen⁹ went for a motor run to Bemersyde + came back here for tea.

¹ Drew Brown is so far unidentified.

² Thomas Baptie (1860-1929), driver and handyman for Dr Muir.

³ Elizabeth Martin is so far unidentified.

⁴ David Carnegie Alexander (1856-1928), sometimes ‘Carnegie Alexander’ or ‘D.C.A.’, solicitor.

⁵ David Charteris ‘Dav.’ Graham (1889-1963), M.B., Ch.B., medical practitioner and Dr Muir’s business partner.

⁶ James Morris Menzies (1871-1926), M.B., Ch.M. Edin., 1894, M.D., 1902, of Ettrick Lodge, Selkirk.

⁷ An article in the British Medical Journal, Vol. 2, No. 3279, 3 November 1923, recorded that 94% of insurance practitioners had resigned in a show of “remarkable unanimity and determination” and that the Minister of Health had “receded from his original position” and given “specific assurances” to the representatives of the Insurance Acts Committee. The negotiators were seeking a specific concession with regard to rural practitioners The budget proposed for remuneration in the year 1924, to increase from £210,000 to £250,000, appears to have satisfied that demand. [“The Insurance Crisis: Emancipation.” The British Medical Journal, vol. 2, no. 3279, 1923, pp. 827–827. JSTOR. Accessed 23 Oct. 2023.]

⁸ Agnes Amelia ‘Nancy’ Roberts née Muir (1878-1948), Dr Muir’s second daughter.

⁹ Helen Frances ‘Mousey’ Muir (1880-1963), Dr Muir’s third daughter and sometime housekeeper.

[Source: Scottish Borders Archives & Local History Service SBA/657/26, Dr J S Muir of Selkirk, medical practitioner, journal for 1923]

The Barometer rose very slowly + reached 28.5. There was more wind today + a good deal of rain in the afternoon but only a little earlier. I was called out at breakfast to see a child Emond in Tower Street¹ who had been knocked down by a car but had only a bruised knee. Cycled to Curror Street + then to Haining Henhouse (John junior²) + on through Riddell to Miss Fraser, Sprot Homes.³ Found messages to Sandy Ingles⁴ (pleurodynia) + Miss Hutchison, Fastheugh⁵ (possibly senile gangrene). How the trees have grown in Black Andro since I was there last.⁶ Letters from Barbara⁷ + Mary.⁸

¹ This child is unidentified.

² John Laidlaw junior (1904-), bank clerk, son of John Laidlaw, sawmiller, and Agnes Laidlaw née Taylor. The entire family was recorded at Henhouse, Haining, Selkirk in the 1921 Census.

³ The Editor cannot find any evidence of a Miss Fraser at the Sprot Homes, Lilliesleaf.

⁴ Either Alexander Ingles (about 1849-), retired postman, recorded at Forest Road, Selkirk or Alexander Charles Scott Ingles (1866-), recorded at Easter Kershope, Yarrow, a cashier and bookkeeper for D.C. & C. Alexander, solicitors [both 1921 Census].

⁵ Assume Elizabeth Hutchison (about 1832-), sister of Thomas Hutchison (about 1848-), estate manager, recorded at Hangingshaw Cottage, 1921 Census, which must mean the inconsistency sits with the Census, because Dr Muir and the 1920s Valuation Rolls are consistent in linking Thomas Hutchison with Fastheugh. The property is at the west end of Black Andrew woods on the south side of the Yarrow Water, see Ordnance Survey six inch Selkirkshire Sheet XI.NW, published 1900.

⁶ Dr Muir must mean that it was a while since he travelled deep into the woods because he must have passed them frequently heading up to Yarrow.

⁷ Andrina Henderson ‘Barbara’ Roberts, later Thwigg (1902-1996), daughter of John ‘Jack’ Roberts junior and Agnes Amelia ‘Nancy’ Roberts née Muir. Aged 21 she had left on 4 October 1923 for what turned out to be a new life in New Zealand.

⁸ Mary Jane Wallace née Muir (1836-1933), Dr Muir’s sister, widow of James Wallace (d.1922), and living at Scotstoune, Haslemere, Surrey.

[Source: Scottish Borders Archives & Local History Service SBA/657/26, Dr J S Muir of Selkirk, medical practitioner, journal for 1923]

Strange to say although the Barometer rose only 0.12 i.e. 28.22, it was a fine sunny day with just a very slight shower + there was slight hoar frost. I walked to Clark’s + got my another the cast fitted¹: then to Mill Street, Dunsdale and Goslaw Green. Motored to Hawick + along with Fleming² + Davidson of Kelso³: Tyrell, Gala⁴ + Barrie, Hawick⁵ interviewed Sir Thomas Henderson⁶ at his office. Brought Tyrell back in the car to get train to Galashiels.⁷ Got B.A.U. Dividend of £33 – 3 – 8 being balance Dividend from year ended 30/6/23.

¹ Thomas Raeburn ‘T Raeburn’ Clark (1879-1943), dental surgeon, at 8 The Green, Selkirk, and of Ettrickbridge, 1920 Valuation Roll; married to Isabella Watson, he died, 9 July 1943, aged 63, at 153 Morningside Drive, Edinburgh, usual residence Elburn, Ettrickbridge.

² Alexander Dickson Fleming (1865-1955), M.B., Ch.B. (Edin.), medical practitioner, physician at Kelso Dispensary and Medical Officer to Kelso Union.

³ Samuel Davidson (1871-1958), M.D., medical practitioner at Kelso.

⁴ Edward Munro Tyrrell (1863-1940), M.B., C.M., medical practitioner, born India, of Wellwood, Galashiels in 1923 [UK and Ireland, Medical Register, 1923].

⁵ William Turnbull Barrie (1859-1935), M.B., C.M., medical practitioner, born Castleton, Roxburghshire, of Bridge Street, Hawick in 1923 [UK and Ireland, Medical Register, 1923].

⁶ Sir Thomas Henderson (1874-1951), woollen manufacturer and Liberal Party. politician. He was a director of Messrs Innes, Henderson and Co. Ltd., hosiery manufacturers of Hawick, and briefly served as Member of Parliament for Roxburghshire and Selkirkshire (1922-1923).

⁷ This is not as illogical as it seems. The Selkirk – Galashiels train was very direct compared with its Hawick – Galashiels counterpart which swung eastwards through St Boswells and Melrose before reaching Gala.

[Source: Scottish Borders Archives & Local History Service SBA/657/26, Dr J S Muir of Selkirk, medical practitioner, journal for 1923]

Barometer down to 28.1 + with the exception of a clearer [?] interval between 12 + 1 it rained all day. Almost no wind S.E. Dismal weather! I walked to Dunsdale + Mill Street + went to the dentist for another impression. Then I walked to Middlestead returning via Hartwoodburn [?]. Called for Mrs Mitchell, Rosemount.¹ After lunch had to go to Mrs Gutridge, Ettrickhaugh Road.² Took the car. Got up my part for tomorrow’s interview with Sir Thomas Henderson.³ Letter from Dora.⁴

¹ Mrs Mitchell cannot be identified at Rosemount, 30 Hillside Terrace, Selkirk which was, according to the Valuation Rolls, occupied by the Kirkpatrick family throughout the 1920s and 1930s. It is possible that she is a domestic but is not recorded at Rosemount in the 1921 Census.

² Elizabeth Dalgleish Gutridge née Hogg had married, 28 April 1918 at Selkirk, Edward Gutridge, woollen millworker and in March 1919 they had a son James Edward Gutridge. The family lived at 11 Ettrickhaugh Road, Selkirk.

³ Sir Thomas Henderson (1874-1951), woollen manufacturer and Liberal Party. politician. He was a director of Messrs Innes, Henderson and Co. Ltd., hosiery manufacturers of Hawick, and briefly served as Member of Parliament for Roxburghshire and Selkirkshire (1922-1923).

⁴ Andrina Dorothy ‘Dora’ Muir (1882-1978), nurse and Dr Muir’s youngest daughter, was living and working in Egypt.

[Source: Scottish Borders Archives & Local History Service SBA/657/26, Dr J S Muir of Selkirk, medical practitioner, journal for 1923]

Barometer fell to 28 – 35 [?]¹ + remained there all day. There were showers with some blinks of sun between. Motored to Mit Mrs Mitchell, Rosemount², Middlestead (Brockie³), Heather Mill, Dunsdale + Curror Street. Went to Clark the dentist⁴ at 12 + got cast taken for a new lower denture. The process was very painful. After lunch made some notes for the interview with Sir Thomas Henderson⁵ on Wednesday. Had to go down to Mill Street at 4 to see a man Sharp⁶ who had fallen at Linglie Mill+ sprained his ankle.

¹ The Editor does not recognise the numbers or the notation here.

² Mrs Mitchell is unidentified.

³ John Brockie, shepherd, was Inhabitant Occupier of a house at Middlestead, Selkirk [1923 Valuation Rolls VR011700009-/431, Selkirk County, page 431 of 605].

⁴ Thomas Raeburn ‘T Raeburn’ Clark (1879-1943), dental surgeon, at 8 The Green, Selkirk, and of Ettrickbridge, 1920 Valuation Roll; married to Isabella Watson, he died, 9 July 1943, aged 63, at 153 Morningside Drive, Edinburgh, usual residence Elburn, Ettrickbridge.

⁵ Sir Thomas Henderson (1874-1951), woollen manufacturer and Liberal Party. politician. He was a director of Messrs Innes, Henderson and Co. Ltd., hosiery manufacturers of Hawick, and briefly served as Member of Parliament for Roxburghshire and Selkirkshire (1922-1923).

⁶ John Sharp (about 1872-), powerloom weaver, born Crieff, Perthshire, living at 35 Mill Street, Selkirk and working for Edward Gardiner & Sons woollen manufacturer, Linglie Mill, Level Crossing Road, Selkirk [1921 Census].

[Source: Scottish Borders Archives & Local History Service SBA/657/26, Dr J S Muir of Selkirk, medical practitioner, journal for 1923]

Wet morning : very heavy shower at 8 but fair after till evening. Glass [barometer] very low. Walked to Dunsdale + called for Nancy.¹ Did not get to Church as David² had some minor operations at Viewfield.³ Went in the evening. Spent most of the day reading “The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse” a novel with the scene set in Argentina + France during before + during the war + which has been filmed + has just been shown in Galashiels.⁴

¹ Agnes Amelia ‘Nancy’ Roberts née Muir (1878-1948), Dr Muir’s second daughter, living at Wellwood, Ettrick Terrace, Selkirk, who had recently been diagnosed with Exophthalmic goitre or Graves Disease.

² David Charteris ‘Dav.’ Graham (1889-1963), M.B., Ch.B., medical practitioner and Dr Muir’s business partner.

³ Viewfield, the Muir and Graham medical partnership’s nursing home at the top of Viewfield Park and immediately behind the Victoria Halls.

⁴ ‘The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse’ by Vicente Blasco Ibáñez. First published in 1916, Dr Muir was probably reading Charlotte Brewster Jordan’s 1918 English translation. The book was filmed twice, the first adaptation, in 1921, a Hollywood treatment starring Rudolph Valentino.

[Source: Scottish Borders Archives & Local History Service SBA/657/26, Dr J S Muir of Selkirk, medical practitioner, journal for 1923]

The barometer, which had risen slightly, fell again. There was some sunshine in the morning but from about 10 there were blasts of rain from S.W. Breakfasted 7 + walked out to the Lindean Heights to see the hounds which met at Lindean School. It was lovely at first + Sunderland Hall with the sun on it + the tinted [?] woods with the background of the Tweed + Caddon hills culminating in Windlestraw Law made an entrancing picture. I saw them draw Lindean Woods + then they vanished [?]. I got pretty wet coming back but had my Burberry¹ [sic]. Found a message from David² to Eagle’s Nest³ + motored there.

¹ Thomas Burberry pioneered the gabardine fabric made from the finest Egyptian cotton threads, designed to repel water by waxing the cotton thread as it was woven into the fabric, see illustation below courtesy of Pinterest.

² David Charteris ‘Dav.’ Graham (1889-1963), M.B., Ch.B., medical practitioner and Dr Muir’s business partner.

³ Eagles Nest, Yarrow, grid reference NGR NT315,259, where Dr Muir attended the Anderson family on 3 February 1923.

[Source: Scottish Borders Archives & Local History Service SBA/657/26, Dr J S Muir of Selkirk, medical practitioner, journal for 1923]

The barometer fell ¾ inch during the night + it must have rained heavily as the river was very full. I have less + less to do.¹ Walked to Viewfield, Wellwood, Curror Street, Dunsdale, Kilncroft + Kirkwynd + was finished by 12 o’clock. Finished the record cards to date. At Viewfield² Miss Wallace³ came up + Dav.⁴ opened an abscess in her neck. The conference of Local Insurance + Panel Comm^ttee in London yesterday refused the Government’s offer + I sent in my resignation today.⁵ It was raining at night.

¹ This has been Dr Muir’s occasional complaint since creating a medical Co-partnership with Dr David Graham in 1920.

² Viewfield, the Muir and Graham medical partnership’s nursing home at the top of Viewfield Park and immediately behind the Victoria Halls.

³ Miss Wallace was Jane Wallace (1874-), sometime nurse to the Roberts children, Dr Muir’s grandchildren. For detailed notes see Dr Muir’s diary entry for 11 September 1923.

⁴ David Charteris ‘Dav.’ Graham (1889-1963), M.B., Ch.B., medical practitioner and Dr Muir’s business partner.

⁵ Medical practitioners’ mass resignation was a tactic in the Insurance Acts Committee’s negotiation with the Minister of Health seeking concessions on the Medical Insurance Scheme and on the budget allocated for remuneration.

[Source: Scottish Borders Archives & Local History Service SBA/657/26, Dr J S Muir of Selkirk, medical practitioner, journal for 1923]

Very dull morning : bright from 1 till 2 then dull again + raining at night. Only saw a few town cases walking. Banked some money. Helen¹ came home looking very well indeed. Baptie² met her with the car at Gala. Did some more work at record cards + finished [the letter] T. Pollok³ sent me Lord Ernest Hamilton’s book of reminiscences⁴, with portraits of the old old + the old Duke + Duchess, on loan.

¹ Helen Frances ‘Mousey’ Muir (1880-1963), Dr Muir’s third daughter and sometime housekeeper, who had been away from Selkirk for a long time since she and Dr Muir travelled south to stay with Muir relations in Surrey on 16 July 1923.

² Thomas Baptie (1860-1929), driver and handyman for Dr Muir.

³ John Pollok (1858-1938), sometime Town Clerk, Procurator Fiscal, and Clerk to the Property & Income Tax Commissioners.

⁴ Lord Ernest William Hamilton (1858-1939), soldier, politician, author, fascist fellow-traveller and M.P. for Tyrone North 1885-1892. The book that best fits here is Hamilton’s memoir ‘Forty Years On’ but Hamilton was the author of novels including ‘The Outlaws of the Marches’ and ‘The Mawkin of the Flow’ (set in the Scottish Borders in the late sixteenth and early seventeenth centuries) and ‘Mary Hamilton’ based on Mary Hamilton or The Fower Maries, Child Ballad 173, Roud 79. After the First World War Hamilton published ‘The Soul of Ulster’ in which he argued that Ulster Protestants are descended from Scottish Border Reivers.

[Source: Scottish Borders Archives & Local History Service SBA/657/26, Dr J S Muir of Selkirk, medical practitioner, journal for 1923]