A third consecutive dry day. Very pleasant with medium temp. Saw a few town cases cycling + Sund. Hall Lodge. Made out mileage to Velore¹ for Durnford² via Peebles + Colinton + via Carnwath. = 60 + 63. Took it + a map down to Elmpark³. Went to evening service with Dora⁴. Nancy, Barbara⁵ + Joan Robertson⁶ came to supper. David⁷ from home at Humbie + Edinburgh.

¹ Velore, Muiravonside [Maddiston], Stirlingshire; presumably the Durnfords were travelling there to visit Agnes’ aunt (Mrs Mack’s sister) Henrietta Brown née Watson (1862-1944), daughter of Sir John Watson, baronet, and Agnes Watson née Simpson, who had married William Brown, banker in 1896 at Hamilton

² Major Norman Stanley M Durnford (1889-1965), Army Service Corps, later a businessman of Stoke Bishop, Bristol, had married Agnes Watson Harper in July 1918 and was thus son-in-law to Mrs Mackintosh, formerly Harper née Watson (Mrs Mack)

³ Elm Park was the home of Agnes Mackintosh née Watson, formerly Harper (1859-1946)

⁴ Andrina Dorothy ‘Dora’ Muir (1882-1978), nurse and Dr Muir’s youngest daughter

⁵ Agnes Amelia ‘Nancy’ Roberts née Muir (1878-1948), Dr Muir’s second daughter and Andrina Henderson ‘Barbara’ Roberts, later Twhigg (1902-1996), his eldest granddaughter

⁶ Joan Robertson is not identified

⁷ David Charteris ‘Dav.’ Graham (1889-1963), M.B., medical practitioner and Dr Muir’s business partner

[Source: Scottish Borders Archives & Local History Service SBA/657/24, Dr J S Muir of Selkirk, medical practitioner, journal for 1921]

This letter is from the papers of the Douglas, later Scott Douglas, family of Springwood Park, Kelso

“My dear friend, Long ago should I have written to you, enclosing the paper I now send, but I heard you were at Malvern, & I feared to trouble you with our business at a time when you could not do any thing, being absent from London – I think it better now to delay no longer, as it may be that you will be able to settle the affair = Margaret will write on a paper which I will include, whatever is needful to say about the business, she is our right hand as you know & has a better & more business head than I have. . I am very particularly sorry not to be able to pay off more of our debt to you, not to meet your wishes in this respect pains us much – but at present it is not possible for us to do it, unless you very earnestly desired it, when we would do it certainly. I hoped that the legacy from my dearest father’s property would have enabled me to repay you dear friends, but Margaret & I had only £1000 left us, and God for help, for there seems no human aid now near us = Thank God my dear husband is just at present pretty well for him, but his state varies so much, that the anxiety can never sleep. – We have as usual had a busy summer – friends like to come to us, and we delight in seeing them – without this refreshment to our minds & hearts we should be apt to grow rusty & self-engrossed = Syrgenstein is more beautiful every year – by degrees we improve it , but it retains still its peculiar wild character; the unfortunate tower is repaired, & is safe I trust for our life = many new woodland walks have been made, shrubberies planted, and small improvements that tell much in the general effect. Early in October Mrs Whittle left us; her health improved greatly during her stay here, & she is now wonderfully well for a woman of her age. James, Margie & I went with her to Zurich. She went on to a every where she will spend the winter – Mt. went to Carlsruhe where she spent a very interesting & pleasant fortnight with our good friends the Edward Devrients. Js & I went to pooor dear Aettishausen [? Ettinghausen] to see it for the last time as it is sold & poor Mrs Allen will in a few weeks leave her dearly beloved home for ever = We did not meet again here, Mt. & ourselves, until late in October, for our winter flight – Mt. is going to Marseilles, & perhaps a tour along the Riviera with some friends; Js & I go to Vevey until Xmas, & then to Marienberg for a six weeks “Kur” – the last we took, last winter, was of real use to my husband, & we earnestly desire to try another -. Of our beloved Nannie we have poor accounts – she is suffering in many ways & will for a time I fear have much to contend against – one knee is swollen & lame, & she is scarcely able to walk. She is now at a Cold Water Establishment near Geneva, & Mr & Mrs R Pigott are in a pension at Veytaux near Chillons. Margie had a meeting with that dear Agnes Casamajor in her own beloved Gurzenbach – & it is just poetry to hear Mt. [Margaret] tell of that wee bit of a visit – how sweet & lovely that dear one was in her Châlet, & the repose & elegance there was around her, truly it is her happy Valley; we tried to coax here here but she is like one enchanted when once she sets foot in Gurzenbach = Margt. is better than she was, but she is very often poorly & a small thing knocks her down. I am a very good-for-nothing creature just now – suffering night & day more than I very well know how to do. I hope it is temporary only. My darling Sholta said she would like to see me in a black moire – behold me! Mrs W. brought me one from London, & I had it photographed. Those who love me best like the face & figure too. … Have you you none to send me in return, I should dearly love your two precious selves, if like. Now farewell = my sweet birches – when shall I see you in living presence again!” … M’s best love & J’s sincere regards. Ever your true friend Kate Whittle.”

¹ Catharine ‘Kate’ Whittle née Taylor (about 1810-1883); author, described by Henry Reeve as a cousin and “a great invalid and never goes out. But she is returning to a Schloss (Syrgenstein) they have in Bavaria.” [Laughton, John Knox, Ed. (1898) ‘Memoirs of the Life and Correspondence of Henry Reeve, C.B., D.C.L’, Volume 2, page 213]

¹ Catherine Elizabeth Isabella ‘Cattie’ Scott Douglas (1824-1863)

¹ Edward Taylor (1784-1863); singer and Gresham professor of music

¹ Whittle

¹ Schloss Syrgenstein in Bavaria, near Lake Konstanz (Bodensee)

¹ Conceivably Agnes Margaret Casamajor (1801-1883), daughter of James Henry Casamajor and Elizabeth Rebecca Casamajor née Campbell, who has a strong connection with North Mimms, Hertfordshire but very little with Germany so this is a very speculative identification (and contact with her descendants does not suggest a link either), except that Agnes appears to be absent from the UK at the 1861 Census – around the relevant time – and that Julia Scharfer from Germany was a guest of Miss Casamajor in the 1881 Census

¹ Veytaux, near Chillon, Riviera-Pays-d’Enhaut, canton of Vaud, Switzerland

¹ Margaret ‘Margie’ Whittle (fl.1863)

¹ Assume (Philipp) Eduard Devrient (1801-1877); German baritone, librettist, playwright, actor, theatre director, and theatre reformer and historian and his wife Therese Schlesinger

¹ The Pigotts are not identified

¹ Marienburg spa, St. Gallen, canton of Thurgau, Switzerland]

¹ Karlsruhe, Baden-Württemberg, Germany

¹ This presumably refers to Samuel Johnson’s ‘Rasselas’ or ‘The History of Rasselas, Prince of Abissinia’ in which the Prince is shut up in the (so-called) Happy Valley “till the order of succession should call him to the throne”, though Kate Whittle appears to have overlooked the irony that those in Happy Valley are all dissatisfied, and quoted it literally; for a study of Johnson’s sources see Kolb, Gwin J. “The ‘Paradise’ in Abyssinia and the ‘Happy Valley’ in ‘Rasselas.’” Modern Philology, vol. 56, no. 1, 1958, pp. 10–16. JSTOR, http://www.jstor.org/stable/435481. Accessed 23 June 2021.

¹ John Edward Taylor (1809-1866), was from 1837 to 1851 partner to his uncle, Richard Taylor, who operated a printing house at Red Lion Court, London

[Source: Scottish Borders Archives & Local History Service SBA/513/5/3/2/1, papers of the Scott Douglas Family of Springwood Park, Kelso]

Another day without rain + some sunshine: cool. Guy¹ + Frank² left this morning + motored to Faldonside. Guy will go home by rail from Melrose + Frank goes to his friend Craw³ at Foulden. I cycled to Yarrow Terrace, Buccleuch Road, … +c (where I took 5 more swabs⁴) + Hospital. Had an idle afternoon. Put the books back in the smoke room book case. Signed + sent out a lot of circulars about the meeting at Hospital next week. Called at Elmpark⁵ after dinner. Agnes + Norman Durnford⁶ there.

¹ The Reverend Gavin Struthers ‘Guy’ Muir (1846-1927), Dr Muir’s brother

² Francis ‘Frank’ Muir (1877-1972), electrical engineer, Guy’s son and thus Dr Muir’s nephew

³ James Hewat Craw (1880-1933), farmer at West Foulden, Berwickshire; for more biographical information see Dr Muir’s diary entry for 12 September 1921

⁴ Dr Muir is continuing to take swabs (as tests) for the nasty outbreak of Diphtheria and Scarlet Fever at Selkirk in the summer of 1921

⁵ Elm Park, Selkirk, home of Agnes Mackintosh née Watson, formerly Harper (1859-1946)

⁶ Agnes Watson Durnford nee Harper (1888-1976), Mrs Mackintosh’s daughter,, and her husband Norman Stanley Maton Durnford (1889-1965), Major, Army Service Corps, later a businessman of Stoke Bishop, Bristol

[Source: Scottish Borders Archives & Local History Service SBA/657/24, Dr J S Muir of Selkirk, medical practitioner, journal for 1921]

No rain today + mild, though it had been raining during the night. Guy¹, Dora², Frank³ + Barbara⁴ all started at 10 + went to Loch Skene⁵ where they had a very pleasant time. Frank got a dozen all small. I saw a few town cases + gave Chlor[oform] at the Home while Dav.⁶ operated on Mrs Walt. Inglis⁷ + Mrs Dalgleish⁸, Whinfield Cottage. I was at it from 11 till 1.40. The book case in the smoke room fell last night + I had to get Smith⁹ to fix it. I bought 2 fish for Guy + Frank from Tyson¹⁰.

¹ The Reverend Gavin Struthers ‘Guy’ Muir (1846-1927), Dr Muir’s brother

² Andrina Dorothy ‘Dora’ Muir (1882-1978), nurse and Dr Muir’s youngest daughter

³ Francis ‘Frank’ Muir (1877-1972), electrical engineer, Guy’s son and thus Dr Muir’s nephew

⁴ Andrina Henderson ‘Barbara’ Roberts, later Twhigg (1902-1996), Dr Muir’s eldest granddaughter

⁵ Loch Skeen or Loch Skene is just above the Grey Mare’s Tail, off the Selkirk – Moffat road and just into Dumfries and Galloway

⁶ David Charteris ‘Dav.’ Graham (1889-1963), M.B., medical practitioner and Dr Muir’s business partner

⁷ Mrs Walt Inglis has not been identified

⁸ Mrs Dalgleish has not been identified

⁹ Smith has not been identified

¹⁰ It seems that nobody in Selkirk called Bertram Tyson was a fishmonger (and in fact Bertram and George Tyson of Selkirk were involved in a case which led to a proposal to repeal those parts of the The Tweed Fisheries Amendment Act, 1859 which put the onus of the accused to prove their innocence – see quotation from Hansard below) so it appears Dr Muir was buying fish from what we might these days call the Grey Market

“HC Deb 16 February 1893 vol 8 cc1570-1 1570
MR. THOMAS SHAW (Hawick) I beg to ask the Secretary for Scotland whether his attention has been called to the case of Bertram [and] George Tyson, who were recently tried at Selkirk and sentenced each to pay a fine, including expenses, of £5 19s., or suffer 21 days’ imprisonment, for being. in possession of salmon caught illegally; whether he is aware that there was absolutely no evidence in support of the charge of illegal fishing, and that this was admitted by the sheriff in giving judgment, and that the express ground of judgment was that it was no part of the prosecutor’s duty to prove the guilt of the accused, but that it rested upon the accused to prove their innocence; and whether it is the intention of the Government to bring in a Bill to repeal the sections of “The Tweed Fisheries Amendment Act, 1859,” which deprive accused persons of their ordinary rights at Common Law, or whether the Government will afford facilities to private Members for the introduction and passing of such a measure?”

“SIR G. TREVELYAN My attention has been called to the case of Bertram and George Tyson. (The offence was that of being in possession of salmon caught during close time and for, fishing other than by rod and line.) By the terms of the Act the proof that the fish 1571 were not taken contrary to its provisions lay upon the accused, and, judging from the report of the proceedings which I have seen, I think the statement made in the second paragraph of the question is well founded. The many anomalies of the Tweed Acts, of which the present case furnishes one illustration, will receive the earliest attention which the Government can give them, and there is no reason whatever in the view of the Government why the Tweed Laws should be at all different from the general law on the subject. I may mention further that Mr. Gladstone’s Government of 1886 had a Bill in preparation for the repeal of those provisions of the Tweed Acts to some of which the question refers.”

[Source: Scottish Borders Archives & Local History Service SBA/657/24, Dr J S Muir of Selkirk, medical practitioner, journal for 1921]

Raining nearly all day with some short fair intervals: very mild. I made 8 calls in forenoon + was called out about 5.30 to Mrs Ross¹, Glenlora. We had thought of going to Loch Skene but it was quite out of the question. Frank² motored (in his …³) Dora, Nancy, Barbara⁴, Joan Robertson⁵ + Tim to tea at the Patons⁶ + then took them to Bemersyde in pouring rain. I pottered at home over buckles + braces. Sent away 2 swabs from Alice Reid⁷ + Mrs Screen⁸ (the 2 from Tinnis [?] who were positive). Guy⁹ + I did some singing at night recalling “The Brown Cloak”¹⁰, …¹¹ “Nelly Bly”¹² &c.

¹ Alison Ross née Spottiswoode (about 1876-), of Glenlora, Selkirk, wife of Sinclair Ross, solicitor

² ‘Frank’ Muir (1877-1972), electrical engineer, Guy Muir’s son and thus Dr Muir’s nephew

³ ‘This is a vehicle of some sort, the Editor would welcome suggestions as to its identity or nickname

⁴ Andrina Dorothy ‘Dora’ Muir (1882-1978), nurse and Dr Muir’s youngest daughter; Agnes Amelia ‘Nancy’ Roberts née Muir (1878-1948), Dr Muir’s second daughter and two of her children Andrina Henderson ‘Barbara’ Roberts, later Twhigg (1902-1996) and George Edward ‘Tim’ Roberts (1911-2005)

⁵ Joan Robertson is not identified

⁶ Alice Reid is unidentified

⁷ Mrs Screen is unidentified

⁸ The Patons were Isabella Clementina ‘Isa’ Paton (about 1838-1929) and Marion Agnes Paton (about 1841-1940), sisters living on their own means [1901 Census], formerly of Selkirk they had flitted to Galashiels in May 1918

⁹ The Reverend Gavin Struthers ‘Guy’ Muir (1846-1927), Dr Muir’s brother

¹⁰ The Brown Cloak – Ballad – Roud Number: V3429: Lassie wi’ the brown cloak on. Tune: Cruskee lawn. [http://ballads.bodleian.ox.ac.uk/view/edition/21288] “Oh! some chaps they’re ne’er at rest | But ‘mong crowds of lasses pressed | A’ dressed up in the best, | Wi their kirk claes on; | But pleasures mair I find, | And as much content o’ mind, | Wi a lassie true and kind, | An a brown cloak on.

¹¹ Perhaps a misspelling of Raphoe?, otherwise the ballad is not identified

¹² Nelly Bly is not identified; it is felt that it is not likely to be the minstrel song of that name published in 1850 by Firth, Pond & Co. of New York.

[Source: Scottish Borders Archives & Local History Service SBA/657/24, Dr J S Muir of Selkirk, medical practitioner, journal for 1921]

Lovely cloudless morning + fine + clear till about 3 after which it got cloudy then misty with some drizzle. Wire from Frank Muir¹ that he was coming up from Manchester + he arrived at 8. Guy² thought he would be bringing his wife + kids³ + Dora⁴ made preparation but one of the children had taken a sore throat. I left at 12 + cycled to Belses Bloomfield: straight down to Cleikum + round by Teviot Bridge to Lanton: through Rewcastle to the Dunion road⁵ + home by Denholm + Lilliesleaf. It is 5.4 from Denholm to Lilliesleaf. The views were splendid. I took my tea overlooking the Teviot opposite Lanton⁶.

¹ Francis ‘Frank’ Muir (1877-1972), electrical engineer, Guy’s son and thus Dr Muir’s nephew

² The Reverend Gavin Struthers ‘Guy’ Muir (1846-1927), Dr Muir’s brother

³ Frank Muir’s wife Dorothy Armitage (1873-1943) and their daughters Diana Marianne Muir, later Greener (1910-) and Margaret H Muir (1913-)

⁴ Andrina Dorothy ‘Dora’ Muir (1882-1978), nurse and Dr Muir’s youngest daughter

⁵ Belses, grid reference NGR 569,250, Bloomfield, NT588,240, The Teviot (or Ancrum) Bridge, NT639,237, Cleikum (or Cleikemin), NT639,234, and Ruecastle, NT612,201; the Dunion road would be the B6358 Denholm to Jedburgh road which passes north of Dunion Hill at its highest point, at NT625,195

⁶ Dr Muir must have taken a diversion southwards to do this which seems to contradict his comment “straight down to Cleikum”

[Source: Scottish Borders Archives & Local History Service SBA/657/24, Dr J S Muir of Selkirk, medical practitioner, journal for 1921]

No rain today: N.W. to N. wind. Colder: sunny: Saw a few town cases walking + worked away at the mileage list for David¹ who looked in in the afternoon to talk over a new arrangement for Viewfield. We decided to call a number of friends to discuss the question of reviving a fund for patients unable to pay, we giving our services gratis as our contribution. Dora² went up to Innerleithen in the car + brought Guy³ down in time for tea. Gave Dav. a receipt for last year’s + this year’s payment for the practice. I think I should have worded it for a “share of the practice.”

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

² Andrina Dorothy ‘Dora’ Muir (1882-1978), nurse and Dr Muir’s youngest daughter

³ The Reverend Gavin Struthers ‘Guy’ Muir (1846-1927), Dr Muir’s brother

[Source: Scottish Borders Archives & Local History Service SBA/657/24, Dr J S Muir of Selkirk, medical practitioner, journal for 1921]

A day of incessant heavy rain which began between 9 + 10 continued till 8 p.m. The wind (very slight) was NE. I motored to Hospital, Buccleuch Road + Scaurneuk where I found Jo. Geddes¹ sinking + they ‘Phoned in the afternoon that he died at 1.50. I got a message then to John Mitchell², Mount Benger + went on. Dora³ has been complaining for a few days of her old dysenteric pains. They were better but returned today.

¹ John Geddes, shepherd, of Scaurneuk, Yarrow, died 29 August 1921, aged 78 [1921, 779/1 2, Yarrow]; he had been Proprietor Occupier of a house, Scaurneuk, Yarrowfeus, Yarrow [1921 Valuation Roll, VR011700009-/340, Selkirk County, page 340 of 611] and his wife Margaret Geddes née Graham (about 1855-1937), was Proprietor Occupier 1922 onwards (she was born about 1855, supposedly at Libberton, Lanarks, and died 1937 at Dunsyre, Lanarkshire 78)

² John Hume Mitchell (about 1883-1940) farmer, was tenant of various properties at Mountbenger and Bengerburnhope, Yarrow [1922 Valuation Roll, VR011700009-/389, Selkirk County, page 389 of 611]

³ Andrina Dorothy ‘Dora’ Muir (1882-1978), nurse and Dr Muir’s youngest daughter had dysentery during the Salonica Campaign in 1915-16 – see diary entry for 28 August 1921

[Source: Scottish Borders Archives & Local History Service SBA/657/24, Dr J S Muir of Selkirk, medical practitioner, journal for 1921]

Again fair all day up to 5 p.m. + then some rain. It was a lovely clear sunny morning + forenoon + Ettrick looked its very best as I motored to Craighill to see Mrs Anderson¹. I got back just as the Church was coming out. David² came up at 3 + we spent some time going over books, accounts +c. I was not at church at all. Dora³ was not feeling well with her old post-dysenteric symptoms + was also stung on the neck by a wasp.

¹ Grace Linton Anderson née Davidson, had a baby on 1 August 1921 at Craighill, Ettrick; the wife of John Laidlaw Anderson, shepherd, they had married 7 March 1919, at Ettrick

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

³ Andrina Dorothy ‘Dora’ Muir (1882-1978), nurse and Dr Muir’s youngest daughter, worked as a nurse, on the southern edge of the Balkan campaigns during the First World War, in Salonika (Thessaloniki – Θεσσαλονίκη), Greece; on Friday 10 December 1915 Dr Muir noted “Letter from Dora. She is in Hospital with dysentery.”, again on Monday 23 October 1916 “Got a letter from Miss Bilton, Matron of No 28 Gen Hosp to say that Dora was down again with dysentery but not seriously.” and finally on Tuesday 24 October “Was relieved to get a letter from Dora dated 12th (just two days after Miss Biltons) in which she writes quite cheerfully & expects to get to Malta to convalesce.” which she did, via Egypt

[Source: Scottish Borders Archives & Local History Service SBA/657/24, Dr J S Muir of Selkirk, medical practitioner, journal for 1921]

Like yesterday, though not as fine, it kept fair till 4 + was wet after. The river was very full. I cycled to Clifton Road, Buccleuch Road + Scaurneuk¹. Stopped by the river above Yarrowford + has a smoke. Dora² + I went to tea at Elmpark³. Jack + Nancy⁴ + a party from Innerleithen (Slaters⁵ + …⁶) were expected but turned up very late owing to car trouble. We had a glorious tea purveyed by Mrs Mack⁷. Walked down to Hospital after. A brace of grouse I got from Norman Grieve⁸ a week ago were found to be alive with maggots + had to be [burned ?].

¹ John Geddes, shepherd, to 1921 and Mrs Margaret Geddes née Graham (about 1855-1937), 1922 onwards, were Proprietor Occupiers of a house, Scaurneuk, Yarrowfeus, Yarrow [1921 Valuation Roll, VR011700009-/340, Selkirk County, page 340 of 611]

² Andrina Dorothy ‘Dora’ Muir (1882-1978), nurse and Dr Muir’s youngest daughter

³ Elm Park, Selkirk, was the home of Agnes Mackintosh née Watson, formerly Harper (1859-1946)

⁴ John ‘Jack’ Roberts junior (1876-1966), mill owner and Provost of Selkirk, and Dr Muir’s son-in-law and Agnes Amelia ‘Nancy’ Roberts née Muir (1878-1948), Dr Muir’s second daughter

⁵ Slaters refers to William Work Slater (1864-1925), company director, and Janet Wilson ‘Jenny’ Slater née Kirkwood (1876-1935), see also Dr Muir’s diary entry for 10 August 1921

⁶ Stowe appears to be the likeliest reading but no such name appears in the relevant Valuation Rolls

⁷ Agnes Mackintosh née Watson, formerly Harper (1859-1946), of Elm Park, Selkirk

⁸ Norman William Grieve (about 1852-1936), appears to have taken an interest in property in the Selkirkshire and Roxburghshire areas around 1911; it is likely that he is the Norman William Grieve (about 1852-1936), born Hawick, who worked in tropical agriculture and as the director of public companies (rubber and tea companies according to A Hawick Word Book), and left £308,574

[Source: Scottish Borders Archives & Local History Service SBA/657/24, Dr J S Muir of Selkirk, medical practitioner, journal for 1921]