Shot a Jackdaw in spare bedroom which had come down the chimney

A delightful day sunny and mild. Wind slight E. + then S.E. Very little doing. Made 6 town calls + cycled to Linglie Cottages (Janet Dryden¹), Fairnilea (Nest), Peelburnfoot + home via Sunderland Hall + Curror Street. Finished posting March [accounts] into ledger. Arranged some accounts – I find my outlay at Viewfield on counting what I dropped by the sale of War Stock amounts to £53-9-0. Helen² went over again to Ovenscloss to the Girl Guides class. Letter from Guy³ to which I replied.

¹ Janet Dryden is unidentified, though Janet Dryden aged 36 was at Curror Street, Selkirk, 1911 Census

² Helen Frances ‘Mousey’ Muir (1880-1963), Dr Muir’s third daughter and sometime housekeeper

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]

Wind went round by S. to E. it was much warmer with a good amount of sunshine up till 3 + 4. Saw some town cases cycling + walking. Left at 12.30 + cycled to Low Faldonside. Meant to go on to call for Jessie Boyd¹ but met her cycling up to lunch at Mauldsheugh. Went on via Gattonside to meeting of Div. at Newtown². There were 13 present including Blair’s³ successor, Elliot⁴ + McLagan⁵ of Ayton. It was delightful cycling + the County quite spring like. Helen⁶ motored with Mrs Mack⁷ to the meet at Bowhill. I met the hounds on their way back near Bowden Toll⁸. David⁹ cycled today to Newark + then to Fairnilea.

¹ Jessie Milne Brack Boyd (1867-1961), of Faldonside, plantswoman and gardener

² The Medical Division, which met at Newtown, appears to have covered Berwickshire, Roxburghshire and Selkirkshire

³ William Blair (about 1837-1929), M.D., medical practitioner, at Jedburgh

⁴ Walter Armstrong Elliott (1887-1971), medical practitioner and Tenant Occupier of a house and garden at Abbey Green, Jedburgh [1921 Valuation Roll, VR004500011/105, Jedburgh Burgh, page 105 of 384]; succeeding Dr Blair at Abbey Green he does not appear to have stayed long but instead moved to Hampshire [the 1939 England and Wales Register] records him in General Practice at Southampton and he died at Winchester

⁵ Patrick Alexander Maclagan (1877-1949), M.B., Ch.B., medical practitioner, at Ayton, later at Biggar

⁶ Helen Frances ‘Mousey’ Muir (1880-1963), Dr Muir’s third daughter and sometime housekeeper

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

⁸ Assume Bowden Stand Dam Toll Post, commonly described as Bowden Toll, grid reference NGR NT551,297, adjacent to the junction where the Melrose and Bowden road leaves the Selkirk to St Boswells road see Ordnance Survey 6″ Roxburghshire Sheet VIII, published 1863

⁹ 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]

Mostly dull but no rain, temp. medium. Was not out of town except to walk as far as Linglie Cottages. Gave Mrs Rich^d Dunn¹ Chlor[oform] at Viewfield for Curetting. Got March [accounts] half posted with ledger. Banked David’s² 4^th instalment of £147 – 11 – 7. Helen³ motored to Ovenscloss where there is a school for training Girl Guides⁴. Letter from Jean giving a rather poor account of Pike⁵. Was called out 11 p.m. for Mrs W^m Walker⁶, Curror Street.

¹ Assume Agnes Ralph Dunn nee Waldie, widow of Richard Hewat Dunn (about 1846-1899); they had married 1887 at Earlston

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

³ Helen Frances ‘Mousey’ Muir (1880-1963), Dr Muir’s third daughter and sometime housekeeper

⁴ This school has not been identified

⁵ Frederick Charles Pike (1883-1921), theatrical agent, married Dr Muir’s daughter Jane Henderson Logan ‘Jean’ Muir in 1920 (much to Dr Muir’s disapproval) at Newington, Edinburgh

⁶ William Walker, millworker, was Tenant Occupier [1921 Valuation Roll, VR007900012-/178, Selkirk Burgh, page 178 of 644]

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

Wind N.W. sharp: slight shower at 11 fair after. Lot of moor burning. Cycled to Kirkwynd, Ettrick Road, Buccleuch Road and Sloethornbank. Walked out to Gala Rigg with Helen + Nancy¹ to see the hounds which met at Whitmuirhall. They came across to South Common but did not find until Haining. They went over Greenhill came round by West Riddell + back to Haining + we last saw them going as if for Outer Huntly². Got back at 4 + had high tea. H. + N. were at Mrs Harkness’³. Paid £50 on allotment of 200 10% Pref. Shares of … Commencement made of taking down the wall for War Memorial⁴.

¹ Agnes Amelia ‘Nancy’ Roberts née Muir (1878-1948) and Helen Frances ‘Mousey’ Muir (1880-1963), Dr Muir’s second and third daughters

² Outer Huntly is above the Hutlerburn Burn, Wollrig area, Ashkirk

³ The Editor assumes this is Isabella Harkness (1859-1929); the friendship if that is what it is, may stem from support given to Mrs Harkness when her daughter died in awful circumstances in 1915 – there are references to Helen (or Helen and Nancy or Barbara) visiting Bell Harkness on dates in 1916, 1917, 1918 and 1920

⁴ Selkirk War Memorial, Ettrick Terrace, Selkirk, unveiled in 1922, designed by architect Sir Robert Stodart Lorimer, KBE (1864-1929), Scottish architect and designer, was designed, sited and built (through a process in which Dr Muir appears to have been somewhat involved) with a donation of £1,000 by George Roberts and Co., woollen manufacturers

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

Fine day up till 4.30 when it rained a little. Walked to Linglie Cottage, Glebe Terrace + High Street + went to morning service. A minister from Gala was preaching. In afternoon attended Mrs Arch^d. Cockburn, Ettrick Road who had her 3^rd daughter¹. Helen² went to church in evening + we supped at Wellwood.

¹ Agnes McLaren Cockburn, born 3 April 1921, daughter of Archibald Cockburn, woollen warper and sometime trooper in the Lothians & Border Horse, and May Turnbull Cockburn née Buckham, married 12 September 1913 at Selkirk [birth, 1921, 778/36, Selkirk and marriage, 1913, 778/22, Selkirk]; her sisters were Margaret Moffat Cockburn, later Laidlaw (1913-2011) and Helen Foster Cockburn, later Arres (1916-2001)

² 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]

Quite cold again today but though there was first a threatening of drizzle in the morning (which prevented me from cycling up Ettrick) it kept fair though mostly dull. There was a message to see Jane Brunton¹ at Ettrick P.O. + I motored up calling also for Miss Brydon², Dundas Cottage. Miss Dunn’s servant ‘Phemia Haig³ was taken along to Viewfield. Helen⁴ was at Ovenscloss⁵ in connection with the Girl Guides.

Whin⁶ blooming.

¹ Jane Lauder Brunton née Amos (about 1849-1938), postmistress at Ramsaycleuch, Ettrick [Valuation Roll, 1919]

² Christina and Elizabeth Brydon were joint Tenant Occupiers of a house and garden ‘Dundas Cottage’, Thirlestane, Ettrick [1921 Valuation Roll, VR011700009-/312, Selkirk County, page 312 of 611]

³ Euphemia Haig (about 1876-1945), housekeeper, unmarried, born Legerwood, died at Hawick but at the time of her death was of Eastfield, Bowden; in 1911 she was recorded as the servant to siblings Thomas ‘Tom’ Dunn (about 1844-1921) and Hyndmer Rutherford ‘Miss’ Dunn (about 1843-1922) at 4 High Street, Selkirk [1911 Census 778/ 2/ 1, page 1 of 22]

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

⁵ The connection between Ovenscloss and Girl Guiding has not been established

⁶ Whin: the common gorse or furze Ulex europaeus [Dictionar o the Scots Leid]

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

Helen¹ made me an April Fool by a yarn about Mrs Mack² being engaged to marry an elderly Edinburgh clergyman!

What a delicious change of weather! Calm, sunny, warm it was + clear. It was a joy to be out of doors. I cycled to Elmrow, Bleachfield Road, Faldonside (Roy), Buccleuch Road + Oakwood. In afternoon sat in the bower³ + read Scotsman while a Bumble bee hovered above the Catkins + the air was full of insects. At night I gave a lecture on cycles + cycling to the boys at the Club under Isa Paton⁴. The boys were very appreciative. Mrs Mackintosh who returned from the south last night sent me a pair of [illegible words] + a nice tie. Wrote Dora⁵.

¹ Helen Frances ‘Mousey’ Muir (1880-1963), Dr Muir’s third daughter and sometime housekeeper

² Agnes Mackintosh née Watson, formerly Harper (1859-1946), of Elm Park, Selkirk

³ Dr Muir has previously referred to a bower in his garden

⁴ Isabella Clementina ‘Isa’ Paton (about 1838-1929) was well known to Dr Muir but seems very elderly to be supervising a boys’ club

⁵ Andrina Dorothy ‘Dora’ Muir (1882-1978), nurse and Dr Muir’s youngest daughter, living and working away from the Scottish Borders at this time

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

Mining Strike¹

Buds appearing on Rowan tree 31st

Bright for a short time but dull all the rest of the day. Dry, rather cold. Message before breakfast to see Mrs And. Rodger² (Mary Dobson) who had considerable haemorrhage from the malignant tumour in her Axilla³. Saw town cases walking + motored to Beechwood + Gib + Lum⁴. Got small payment from Allan + Hanbury⁵. Worked up some remarks on cycles + cycling for the Boys Club⁶. Got some photos from Singer⁷ of old style bicycles. Buds appearing on Rowan.

¹ What happened on 1 April 1921 was actually a lock-out rather than a strike being the mine owners’ reaction to the miners’ rejection of the owners’ terms. During the First World War the coal industry was nationalised by the government and under government control wages, hours and safety improved. At the end of the war miners wanted to retain these improvements. Sir John Sankey led a Commission to investigate and recommended that nationalisation should continue. Under pressure from mine owners the Prime Minister, David Lloyd George, rejected the recommendation and returned the mines to their owners in 1921.

² Mary Rodger née Dobson (1880-1921), wife of Andrew Rodger, woollen millman; they lived at Tower Street, Selkirk

³ The Axilla is the armpit and tumours here are most commonly metastatic lymph nodes of breast cancer but the axilla contains a number of different tissues so there may be other causes of masses here

⁴ Gibson & Lumgair, woollen manufactuerers at St Mary’s Mill, Selkirk

⁵ Allen & Hanburys Limited, pharmaceutical manufacturers, Incorporated 1893 and later absorbed by Glaxo Laboratories (now GlaxoSmithKline)

⁶ Dr Muir spoke to the Boys Club on 1 April 1921

⁷ It is not clear what was Dr Muir’s interest in old bicycles by Singer of Coventry

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

Lovely morning + fine all forenoon with stiffish W wind. Duller towards evening+ inclined to drizzle at night. Helen¹ went with Jack + Nancy to the the Point to Point at Melkington² beyond Cornhill, where Jack was running his horse “Jock”. I cycled first to Fairnilea Lodge + Nest + called to say “….” to Mrs Dubs³. Came home + had my tea at 1.30 + then cycled to Deuchar Mill, Yarrow Manse + Lewenshope. Helen + I dined at Mauldsheugh.

¹ Helen Frances ‘Mousey’ Muir (1880-1963), Dr Muir’s third daughter and sometime housekeeper

² Dr Muir’s son-in-law and daughter Jack and Nancy Roberts had been out to Melkington, Cornhill-on-Tweed, Northumberland, grid reference NGR NT873,411 on the 21 March 1921 too, on that occasion with their eldest daughter Barbara

³ This entry finally establishes precisely when Margaret Forsyth Dubs, formerly Smith, née Arthur (1853-1935) moved to her new house ‘Woodbourne’ at Wemyss Bay, Inverkip, Renfrewshire; she had married, 2ndly, 1909 at Blythswood, Frank Albert Dubs (1860-1920), retired engineer, around the time that he moved from Glasgow to Yair Mansion, Caddonfoot, Selkirkshire

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

Brilliant morning. Just a slight powdering of snow lying on roofs +c. It was a sharp drying forenoon from W. + the roads improved rapidly but about 6.30 p.m. there was some very heavy rain. Walked in town in forenoon + in afternoon cycled to Fairnilea Lodge + Yair. The Lauderdale hounds, which met at Gala, were hunting around the Yair woods. I wondered how they had crossed the Tweed which was very heavy. Helen¹ cycled to call for Miss Scott at Hawkshaw. She got news of the engagement of Mr McKenzie to a Gala girl, daughter of Tait the painter + decorator!²

¹ Helen Frances ‘Mousey’ Muir (1880-1963), Dr Muir’s third daughter and sometime housekeeper

² No such marriage appears to have taken place

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