Another fair day + without the fog of yesterday morning. A busy day. Was called at breakfast time to Mrs Henderson¹, Goslaw Green who hung on all day but never required me. Cycled in town + to Curror Street, Sloebank², Dunsdale, Bridge Street, Yair, Bogle House, Faldonside (Jessie³ in Edinburgh), Bleachfield Road + after tea to Howden, Oakwood Mill, Oakwood, Howford Cottage + Beechwood = 32¹/₂ miles + finished quite fresh. Helen⁴ went with the Wellwooders⁵ to Picture House. Got a box of lovely grapes from Mrs Baptie (Molly Inglis) from Cape Town⁶.

¹ Mary Elizabeth Henderson née Murray, of Goslaw Green, Selkirk and wife of Edward Henderson, foreman woollen spinner, gave birth to a girl just after midnight, see diary entry for 29 April 1921 [778/ 41, Selkirk]

² Dr Muir has abbreviated Sloethornbank previously

³ Jessie Milne Brack Boyd (1867-1961), of Faldonside, plantswoman and gardener

⁴ Helen Frances ‘Mousey’ Muir (1880-1963), Dr Muir’s third daughter and sometime housekeeper

⁵ The Wellwooders, of Wellwood, Ettrick Terrace, Selkirk were John ‘Jack’ Roberts junior (1876-1966) and Agnes Amelia ‘Nancy’ Roberts née Muir (1878-1948) and their children Andrina Barbara Henderson ‘Barbara’ Roberts, later Thwigg (1902-1996), John Stewart ‘Jock’ Roberts (1904-1950), Louisa Jane Roberts, later Rutherford (1906-1982), Stewart Muir ‘Little Stewart’ Roberts (1908-2003) and George Edward ‘Tim’ Roberts (1911-2005)

⁶ Mary Jane ‘Molly’ Inglis (1876-?1961) of Forest Road, Selkirk married James Armstrong Baptie (1876-1951), hardware merchant or commercial agent, of Orange Grove, Bridge Street, Cape Town, South Africa on 20 July 1911 at Darling’s Regent Hotel, Waterloo Place, Edinburgh, officiating minister the Reverend Andrew Ross of the Lawson Memorial U.F. Church, Selkirk

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

Today began with dense welling fog but by midday the mist had cleared + the rest was delightfully bright + warm. The wind though E had no bite in it. It is the pleasantest day since the 1^st. After seeing a few town cases walking I cycled to Curror St Dunsdalehaugh through Sunderland Hall to Bogle House (it is a mile from Sund. Hall E. Lodge to N. + 1 mile from latter to Tweed Bridge), Beechwood, Bluecairn and Oakwood. It was after 3 before I got tea. Distributed Communion Cards + voting papers for election of elders. Crowd of people at night.

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

Complete + disagreeable change to dull cold wet weather. There was some heavy rain about 10 but not much after. It was raw + cold + the most awful contrast to yesterday. David¹ was called back to camp early so I didn’t see him. Motored in town + to Linglie Cottages, Beechwood + Oakwood. Then to Yair to see Mrs Lindough². Found them quite nice. Banked + drew some money. Got hair cut. Letter from Dora³ to say Indian affair quite off.

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

² Madelaine Harriette Mary Theresa Burns-Lindow née Boileau (1869-1948), wife of Isaac William Burns-Lindow, married 1896, Ormesby-St Margaret, Norfolk [for context see diary entry for 24 April 1921]

³ Andrina Dorothy ‘Dora’ Muir (1882-1978), nurse and Dr Muir’s youngest daughter

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

A perfect day. Brilliant sunshine. Clear sky but sharpish E. wind. Cycled early to Oakwood, Howford Cottage, Beechwood + Bleachfield Road. Dav.¹ came up + we talked over things. Just as he was starting yesterday he got a call from Lindough² + called at Yair. I got all the town accounts put up for delivery + did not get to church. Jessie Robertson³, Bleachfield Road rather ill with curious delirium. Hear Willow Wrens⁴ at Oakwood + Howford. In afternoon attended Mrs Heatlie, Ettrick Road with her 4^th baby⁵.

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

² Dr Muir has heard the name but not seen it written but he was in good company because the Valuation Roll has it wrong altogether, calling him Lieutenant Colonel Isaac William Burns Lindon when he was documented as tenant of Yair Mansion; he was in fact Isaac William Burns-Lindow (about 1868-1946), D.S.O., the last commanding officer of The South Irish Horse, one of the six southern Irish regiments of the British Army disbanded in 1922 following the creation of the new Irish Free State [Sources include: 1921 Valuation Roll, VR011700009-/306, Selkirk County, page 306 of 611; Robin Rhoderick-Jones (2019), ‘In Peace & War: The Story of The Queen’s Royal Hussars’]

³ Jessie Wight Robertson, later Kemp (1888-1966), daughter of Neil Robertson, engineer, and Helen Robertson née Brown; Neil was Proprietor Occupier of a house at 11 Bleachfield Road, Selkirk [1921 Valuation Roll]

⁴ Willow Wren or Willow Warbler Phylloscopus trochilus

⁵ Assume John Mathieson Heatlie, born 1921 [778/ 43, Selkirk] but possibly Marjory Heatlie [778/ 87, Selkirk]

[Source: Scottish Borders Archives & Local History Service SBA/657/16, Dr J S Muir of Selkirk, medical practitioner, journal for 1921]

Sharp dry day. The river was a fuller [sic] today as there must have been heavy rain in the hills. It was pretty sunny all day. Motored first to Bleachfield Road +c, Oakwood, Howford Cottage + Beechwood, Bridge Street. Then to Whitmuir + Lilliesleaf + finally to Peelburnfoot. David¹ came over to stay till Monday. I had a busy day + a lot of people at night. Got a letter from Mrs Baptie (Molly Inglis²) from Cape Town.

¹ David Charteris ‘Dav.’ Graham (1889-1963), M.B., medical practitioner and Dr Muir’s business partner who had been away from Selkirk because of the emergency caused by the strike threatened for 15 April 1921,

² Mary J ‘Molly’ Inglis of Forest Road, Selkirk had married James Armstrong Baptie, hardware merchant, of Orange Grove, Bridge Street, Cape Town, South Africa on 20 July 1911 at Darling’s Regent Hotel, Waterloo Place, Edinburgh, officiating minister the Reverend Andrew Ross of the Lawson Memorial Church, Selkirk

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

Lovely bright morning + hoar frost. Wind just N. + then W.S.W. Duller in afternoon + much colder. Drizzle. I had a busy day, several people consulting in morn which kept me till near 10. Cycled to Bleachfield Road, Curror Street + Elmrow. Saw Fell¹ at Home + washed out his bladder. Then cycled to Glebe Terrace, Yarrow Terrace, Ettrickhaugh Road, Beechwood, Oakwood + Howford Cottage. It was near 3 when I got tea. Then I walked to Castle Street, Ettrick Terrace. Then cycled to Ashybank, Lindean School + Bridgelands + called for Jessie Robertson², Bleachfield Road. Consultation till 7.15. Dined + then motored to Oakwood. Mr Linton³ has had some internal haemorrhage + was pretty weak. ‘Phoned for a nurse.

¹ Tom Fell aged 75, born Long Newton (Newton Arlosh), Cumberland but latterly of Lilliesleaf was a patient at Viewfield Nursing Home, Selkirk, at the time of the 1921 Census.

² Jessie Wight Robertson, later Kemp (1888-1966), daughter of Neil Robertson, engineer, and Helen Robertson née Brown; Neil was Proprietor Occupier of a house at 11 Bleachfield Road, Selkirk [1921 Valuation Roll]

³ Simon Linton (1836–1921), farmer, of Manor, Peeblesshire and latterly of Oakwood, Selkirk

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

Got a copy of dear Kate’s¹ ‘Photo aet 17 from Rennie²

I was knocked up at 2 a.m. for Mrs Heard, Castle Street who had a d.³ before I arrived. Nurse Moffat⁴ was there. It was a clear frosty night but the frost gone in the morning. The day was fine till evening when there was a little rain. Was out early + saw 8 town cases at the Home. Gave Fell⁵ a cystic douche. Met Beck⁶ at Foster⁷, Glebe Terrace at 11.30 to [illegible] an abscess but he would have gas which I gave him at 3.30 + evacuated more than a pint of pus from his right thigh. Motored to Middlestead + Howford Cottage, taking up Mrs Tait’s⁸ account from Mauldsheugh. Was called in to see Mrs Linton⁹, Oakwood + came home by Beechwood. Helen¹⁰ went with Mrs Mack¹¹ to a performance of the “Hymn of Praise”¹² in W. U.F. Church¹³.

¹ Catherine Stewart ‘Kate’ Rennie née Muir (1829-1915), Dr John Stewart Muir’s sister and wife of the Reverend James Rennie

² The Reverend James Rennie (1826-1924), Church of Scotland minister, living at Prestwick, Ayrshire

³ Janet Louisa Heard, born 21 April 1921, daughter of Walter Heard, general labourer, and May Heard nee Avery [1921, 778/ 40, Selkirk]

⁴ Nurse Moffat is not yet identified

⁵ Thomas Fell (about 1857-1923), retired gamekeeper, married to Jane Ismay and living at Bewlie Mains Cottages, Lilliesleaf

⁶ Assume Elizabeth Fyfe Beck (1865-1954), nurse, born Dumfriesshire and died Ceres, Fife, she was District Nurse at Selkirk before and after the First World War

⁷ Not identified

⁸ Agnes Tait née Doherty (1887-1955), wife of Robert Tait, ploughman

⁹ Not identified with certainty but presumably either Elizabeth Carruthers Glendinning (1888-1962), wife of James Robert Linton (1873-1952) or Victoria Winona Johnstone (about 1890-1957), wife of Andrew Linton (1876-1951)

¹⁰ Helen Frances ‘Mousey’ Muir (1880-1963), Dr Muir’s third daughter and sometime housekeeper

¹¹ Agnes Mackintosh née Watson, formerly Harper (1859-1946), formerly of Elm Park, Selkirk

¹² Hymn of Praise may be a generic reference to that piece of the Divine Service that follows the Kyrie (though that would hardly constitute a performance) or a reference to a Mendelssohn’s Lobgesang (Hymn of Praise) Op. 52 (MWV A 18), his 13-movement ‘Symphony-Cantata’, or perhaps to another as yet unidentified piece

¹³ West United Presbyterian Church or Baptist Chapel was in Backsides (now The Valley), adjacent to the top of the Stey Brae [Canmore ID 231637]

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

Some frost last night but the wind round to S. + S.W. + the temperature decidedly higher. It was a delightful sunny day. Cycled in town and to Lowrie¹, Philipburn, Beechwood, Bluecairn. Pulled some Cowslips + another blue flower for Jean² in Bowhill. Dora³ left at 2.40 + took them in. Was 3 [times] at the Home⁴ seeing Fell⁵. Got the County accounts put up for posting. At 8.30 got message to Tait⁶, Howford Cottage + motored up. Lovely moonlight. Helen⁷ supped at Viewfield.

¹ Not identified

² Jane Henderson Logan ‘Jean’ Pike née Muir (1877-1941), Dr Muir’s eldest daughter

³ Andrina Dorothy ‘Dora’ Muir (1882-1978), nurse and Dr Muir’s youngest daughter

⁴ Viewfield was the Muir and Graham medical partnership’s new (opened 4 June 1920) surgery and cottage hospital, now the Andrew Lang Unit

⁵ Thomas Fell (about 1857-1923), retired gamekeeper, married to Jane Ismay and living at Bewlie Mains Cottages, Lilliesleaf

⁶ Agnes Tait née Doherty (1887-1955), wife of Robert Tait, ploughman

⁷ Helen Frances ‘Mousey’ Muir (1880-1963), Dr Muir’s third daughter and sometime housekeeper

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

Dry, sunny, cold, hoar frost N.E. [wind] Quite a pleasant day for moving outside. Started at 9 + walked to [word deleted] Kirkbank Cottage (Thomson¹ much better), Castle Street, Bleachfield Road, Curror Street + Knowepark. Then cycled to Ya Glebe Terrace, Yarrow Terrace, Mauldsheugh, Cannon Street, Linglie Cottages, Beechwood, Middlestead, + Howden. Had cigarette beside the [?] ruin at Oakwoodmill Bridge. Got tea at 3 + then cycled to Whitmuir getting back before 6. Had to give Mrs Neil² both douche + enema. Meg Linton³ + Miss Suttie⁴ called. ‘Phoned David⁵ + dissuaded him from coming out on Thursday as Matron said she could not undertake any more cases.

¹ John Thomson, chauffeur, Inhabitant Occupier not rated of a house and garden Kirkbank Cottage, Forest Road, Selkirk [1921 Valuation Roll, VR007900012-/162, Selkirk Burgh, page 162 of 644], see also diary entry for 18 April 1921

² Christina Neil née Scott had given birth to Agnes Grey Neil on 14 April 1921

³ Meg Linton has not yet been identified

⁴ Gladys May Wallace Suttie (1901-1926), companion at Oakwood, engaged to Thomas Mitchell

⁵ 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]

Letter from Patrick¹

Snow fell heavily … from 7 till 10 + everything was coated [?] white. By 3 p.m. not a trace remained + there was bright sunshine with a shower of rain. I saw 14 town cases motoring + also Beechwood + finished early but had to go out afterwards, first to Lang² , Castle Street + then to Jessie Robertson³, Bleachfield Road. Made out list of accounts + estimated the income of 1920-21 to be not less than £2766⁴. Was called out late to Thomson⁵, Kirkbank Cottage, who had symptoms of appendicitis, gave him an enema with much relief.

¹ Patrick Rodger Stewart ‘Pat’ Muir (1879-1961), Dr Muir’s only son, living in New Zealand since 1902

² Not identified

³ Assume Jessie Wight Robertson, later Kemp (1888-1966), daughter of Neil Robertson, engineer, and Helen Robertson née Brown; Neil was Proprietor Occupier of a house at 11 Bleachfield Road, Selkirk [1921 Valuation Roll]

⁴ Though Dr Muir’s figure may be an unadjusted one, and bearing in mind that the income will be shared, by comparison in 1920 a tram driver might have hoped to earn 30s a week or about £75 a year [Source: Hansard ‘Average Weekly Wages’ House of Commons Debate 30 July 1925 vol 187 cc671-3W]

⁵ John Thomson, chauffeur, Inhabitant Occupier not rated of a house and garden Kirkbank Cottage, Forest Road, Selkirk [1921 Valuation Roll, VR007900012-/162, Selkirk Burgh, page 162 of 644]

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