Another dull sunless day, no frost + occasional drizzle. Helen¹ stayed last night at Elmpark² + I lunched there and supped at Wellwood³ where Helen + Mrs Mack also were. Walked some town cases + out to Haining Henhouse⁴ in forenoon. Went to evening service.

Wind S.E.

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

² Elm Park, Selkirk, home of Agnes Mackintosh née Watson, formerly Harper (1859-1946), ‘Mrs Mack’

³ Wellwood, Ettrick Terrace, Selkirk, home of Dr Muir’s daughter Agnes Amelia ‘Nancy’ Roberts née Muir, her husband John Roberts junior and their children Andrina Barbara Henderson ‘Barbara’, John Stewart ‘Jock’, Louisa Jane, Stewart Muir ‘Little Stewart’ and George Edward ‘Tim’

⁴ Henhouse, Selkirk, grid reference NGR NT469,271, on the south west edge of the Haining estate

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

Another posting in the occasional series of 1913 diary entries

I’d not get to bed till nearly 2.30 this morning with making out mileages. S.W. Gale + very wet in afternoon. Fresh. Alex^r Beattie¹ came in at 10 with a cut hand so that I did not get out till 11. Motored to Rectory, Curror Street, Pinegrove, Dunsdale, + Buccleuch Road + then came home to let Baptie² get his dinner. At 1.30 motored to Warrior’s Rest, Broadmeadows, Bluecairn³ + Ettrickbridgend. Have now got 899 applications⁴.

¹ Alexander Beattie, grocer, was Tenant Occupier of a house at 2 Hill Street, Selkirk, 1921 Valuation Roll [1921 Valuation Roll, VR007900012-/144, Selkirk Burgh, page 144 of 644]

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

³ Presumably to visit Robert Johnstone, carpenter, occupier of a house at Bluecairn, Selkirk, 1913 Valuation Roll [Valuation Rolls, VR011700008-/532, Selkirk County, page 532 of 617], see also diary entries for 4th, 7th, 15th, 17th, 18th and 21st February 1913

⁴ Dr Muir is referring to applications for health benefits (in particular free access to a panel doctor) under the National Insurance Act 1911

[Source: Scottish Borders Archives & Local History Service SBA/657/16, Dr J S Muir of Selkirk, medical practitioner, journal for 1913]

Slight frost but fresh during the day + roads got quite soft + muddy. Ran round in motor to town list of 6 + out to Henhouse¹. There we were delayed fully 15 m[inutes] by a hitch in the gearing + Baptie² actually started back on the reverse gear when it came right. I walked via Deepslade³ to Whitmuir + had just located the hounds in West Riddell when Baptie came out for me with a message to Rodono⁴. This was to see a girl Taylor⁵ who has been on my Panel all along. Helen⁶ + I dined at Elmpark⁷ + H. stayed there all night as Mrs Mack’s servants are all gone⁸.

¹ Dr Muir had been out to see John Laidlaw the Inhabitant Occupier at Haining Henhouse, Selkirk the day before

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

³ Deepslaids, Selkirk Common (Common Good), approximate grid reference NGR NT486,268, was tenanted by John Cairns, farmer, 1920 Valuation Roll

⁴ Rodono, St Mary’s Loch, Yarrow

⁵ The Editor cannot find any Taylors in the Rodono area in the 1920 or 1921 Valuation Rolls but Miss Jessie Taylor, teacher, was Tenant Occupier at the Schoolhouse, Mountbenger, Yarrow [1921 Valuation Roll, VR011700009-/340, Selkirk County, page 340 of 611]

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

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

⁸ Dr Muir’s diary for 18 January 1920 reported that all of Mrs Mackintosh’s servants were leaving and that she was considering moving to the County Hotel

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

Another posting in the occasional series of 1913 diary entries

Still quite fresh. River very flooded. Wind N.W. rather colder. Roads a little dryer. Some sunshine. Snow drifts on hills slowly disappearing. Motored to Bluecairn¹, Ettrickbridgend, Fairnilee (Mrs Hogg² awfully emaciated) + Bridgelands + in afternoon cycled to the Rectory, Curror Street, Pinegrove, Dunsdale + Gas Works. Sat late at night making out statement of mileages on form sent by Stalker³. I shan’t get much more than £20.

¹ Presumably to visit Robert Johnstone, carpenter, occupier of a house at Bluecairn, Selkirk, 1913 Valuation Roll [Valuation Rolls, VR011700008-/532, Selkirk County, page 532 of 617], see also diary entries for 5th, 7th, 15th, 17th, 18th and 21st February 1913

² Janet Hogg née Anderson, wife of James Hogg, chauffeur, of Fairnilee, Caddonfoot, inhabitant occupier of a house at Fairnilee Stables, Caddonfoot

³ Donald Gordon Stalker (1867-1948), banker and law agent, who was Clerk to the National Health Insurance Committee, based at the British Linen Bank Buildings, Galashiels

[Source: Scottish Borders Archives & Local History Service SBA/657/16, Dr J S Muir of Selkirk, medical practitioner, journal for 1913]

Ground all white. I thought at first it was snow but it turned out to be hoar frost which quickly disappeared. Gave Mrs R Finney¹ chlor[oform] while D. curetted. Saw half a doz. town cases + walked to Henhouse (Jo. Laidlaw²). Pollok³ called about 3.30 to talk about the War Memorial. Then I cycled to Raeburn Place, Dandswall Lodge + Glenlora. Mrs And. Rodger⁴ + Mrs Wright⁵ arrived home from Infirmary. Helen had lunch at Thornfield⁶ + was at Elmpark + then went with Mrs Mack⁷ to the Gala Playhouse to see “Kissing Time” [?⁸]. S.E. [wind].

¹ Assume Helen Fairbairn Finney née Lockie who married Robert McLaren Finney, 1898 at Galashiels; Robert Finney, tweed warehouseman, was Tenant Occupier of a house at Station Haugh, Selkirk, 1920 Valuation Roll

² John Laidlaw was Inhabitant Occupier of a house at Haining Henhouse, Selkirk, 1920 Valuation Roll

³ John Pollok (1858-1938), Town Clerk and Procurator Fiscal, Selkirk

⁴ Conceivably Mrs Andrew Rodger (May Dobson), Tower Street, who had been attended by Dr Muir previously, see diary entry for 22 June 1916

⁵ Perhaps Isabella Wright née Johnstone (c.1874-1923), woollen birler and wife of Andrew Johnstone, tailor’s cutter (1871-1955)

⁶ Thornfield, home of Charles Henry ‘Charlie‘ Roberts (1877-), tweed manufacturer

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

⁸ Film or play not identified though it seems there was a musical theatre event of that name in 1919-20

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

Fog away + the sun shone out the whole day. There was a sharp frost + the roads, until the sun caught them, were hard. I was able to cycle + called at Wellwood, Beechwood, Lewinshope + Thirladean. Met May + Willie Lang¹. Had a cigarette at the Faside [sic] path + came home by Dunsdale &c + Hospital. Sad news of Tom Roberts’ death². He turned ill on Sunday + was operated on for appendicitis on Monday night + died early this morning. Finished my letter to Willie Rodger³ + sent him the photo of myself, Kelty⁴ + [illegible] + a P.C. [post card] of Viewfield.

¹ Margaret Graham ‘May’ Lang (1861-1968) and William Graham ‘Willie’ Lang (1856-1943), two of the children of Hugh Morris Lang of Broadmeadows and Margaret Lang née Graham

² Thomas James Scougal ‘Tom’ Roberts (about 1850-1921), son of George Roberts, tweed manufacturer, and Agnes Scott Roberts née Fowler; the Scotland, National Probate Index (Calendar of Confirmations and Inventories) notes that Roberts left estate valued at £253,246

³ See diary entry for 1 February 1921; assume William Brydone ‘Willie’ Rodger (1880-1959), son of George Rodger (about 1843-1885), solicitor, and Isabella Margaret or Maggie Rodger née Brydone (and thus nephew of Andrina B H Muir née Rodger, Dr Muir’s wife); he was born 27 December 1880, Selkirk, later a stockbroker and at Sevenoaks, Kent, 1911 Census

⁴ Kelty appears to have been the Muir family dog, mentioned several times before but particularly on 18 August 1917 when Dr Muir noted “I had Kelty & he killed a wee rabbit which I cut up & gave him the tit-bits.”

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

Dense fog the whole day but no rain of course no drying either. N.E. [wind] slight. Pottered round the town. David at Bowhill seeing the Duke¹. Ah me!! How are the mighty fallen!!² Did clerical work in afternoon. Helen + Nancy³ were doing the Girl Guide work. Mrs Mack, Nancy + Barbara⁴ came to high tea at 6 (which I was prevented going by a crowd of panels⁵) + went to ‘Mr We’⁶ at the Picture House. Got a Dumfries paper, presumably from Kate McD, with a very appreciative notice of her husband⁷.

¹ John Charles Montagu Douglas Scott, 7th Duke of Buccleuch (1864-1935)

² This is not the first time that Dr Muir has expressed sorrow at being overlooked on account of his age: on 4 September 1916 he wrote “Got a terrible shock from a letter of Mrs Dunlop’s announcing that she has been ill & had called in another medical man as ‘we thought we would rather have a younger man’.” and in a memorandum to Mrs Dunlop “I am unconscious of any signs or sensations of Senility. It certainly cannot be physical for I cycled 81½ miles the day before yesterday & was quite fit at the end. Without boasting, I don’t believe there is another medical man in the Border Counties who can do the same thing.” [Heritage Hub SBA/657/19/47]

³ Helen Frances ‘Mousey’ Muir (1880-1963) and Agnes Amelia ‘Nancy’ Roberts née Muir (1878-1948), Dr Muir’s third daughter/sometime housekeeper and second daughter respectively

⁴ Agnes Mackintosh née Watson, formerly Harper (1859-1946), of Elm Park, Selkirk and Andrina Henderson ‘Barbara’ Roberts, later Twhigg (1902-1996), Nancy’s eldest daughter

⁵ Panel patients refers to those for whom the National Insurance Act (Part 1) 1911 provided compulsory health insurance for workers earning under £160 per year who, through a tripartite funding model, received healthcare via a panel of medical practitioners (The Panel) [Sources: The National Insurance Act 1911; Noel Whiteside, 2009, ‘La proteccion social en Gran Bretana … el caso del seguro sanitario’ in S Castillo (editor) La Prevision Social en la Historia, pp. 519–53; and Kirsti Bohata et al, 2020, ‘Disability in Industrial Britain A cultural and literary history of impairment in the coal industry, 1880–1948’, Manchester University Press, p.97]

⁶ Not identified

⁷ Katherine Isabella ‘Kate’ Macdonald [or McDonald] née Paton (about 1862-1932), wife of James Cumming Raff Macdonald (1859-1921) W.S., died 26 January 1921 at Dumfries

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

Another dismal day of N.E. drizzle + rain. Was in town all forenoon + in afternoon went up with Dav.¹ to Beechwood to give Davidson² the coachman chlor[oform] while his leg (which was broken above the ankle) was set. Helen + Nancy³ walked to Bowhill. Wrote Willie Rodger⁴ (at least began a letter). Later Dav Tom Roberts⁵ has been operated on for appendicitis by Stiles⁶ in Edinburgh.

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

² James Davidson, coachman and gardener, was Inhabitant Occupier not rated of a house at Beechwood, Heatherlie, 1920 Valuation Roll

³ Helen Frances ‘Mousey’ Muir (1880-1963), Dr Muir’s third daughter and sometime housekeeper and Agnes Amelia ‘Nancy’ Roberts née Muir (1878-1948), Dr Muir’s second daughter

⁴ William Brydone ‘Willie’ Rodger (1880-1959), son of George Rodger (about 1843-1885), solicitor, and Isabella Margaret or Maggie Rodger née Brydone (and thus nephew of Andrina B H Muir née Rodger, Dr Muir’s wife); he was born 27 December 1880, Selkirk, later a stockbroker and at Sevenoaks, Kent, 1911 Census

⁵ Thomas James Scougal ‘Tom’ Roberts (1850-1921), tweed manufacturer, son of George Roberts, tweed manufacturer, and Agnes Scott Roberts née Fowler

⁶ Sir Harold Jalland Stiles (1863-1946), KBE FRCS FRCSE FRSE, MB ChB (Edinburgh) 1885, British surgeon; he held various posts at Edinburgh and in 1919 was to succeed Prof Francis Mitchell Caird (with whom Dr Muir was familiar) as Regius Professor of Clinic Surgery at Edinburgh University

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

Disagreeable change of weather. East wind + rain all day though never heavy. Did a list of 16 walking + finished at 2 by going to Bank + calling on May Scott¹, Forest Road to ask her to go to cook at Viewfield². The Taylor girls³ + Mrs Mack⁴ came to tea + I recited “The Borderland”⁵ to them in the drawing room. I cut [?] the Taylor’s’ Quin’s flowers⁶ + “A Hand of Romance”⁷. Got a letter from Jean⁸. Wrote Dora⁹. Nancy¹⁰ returned from Keswick. She did a 24 mile walk one day.

¹ May Scott is not identified

² Viewfield was the Muir and Graham medical partnership’s new (1920) premises

³ Not identified

⁴ Agnes Mackintosh née Watson, formerly Harper (1859-1946), of Elm Park, Selkirk

⁵ ‘The Borderland’ by Roger Quinn (1850-1925), ‘The Tramp Bard of the Borders’ of whom Sir George Brisbane Douglas wrote that his verses “are harmonies evolved out of the very depths of sadness.” Its lyrics reproduced below were taken from Archie Fisher who sang Borderland on his album ‘Off the Map’ and who wrote “My own setting of the poem by ‘The Tramp Bard of the Borders’ Roger Quinn. I see most of the places mentioned in the song every day when I am home, and it’s all true.”

From the moorlands and the meadows | to this city of the shadows | Where I wander old and lonely | comes a call I understand | In clear soft notes enthralling | it is calling ever calling | ‘Tis the spirit of the open | from the dear old borderland.

For this grim huge city daunts me | its wail of sorrow haunts me, | A nameless figure tossed amidst | the human serf that beats, | Forever and forever in a frenzy of endeavour | All along the cruel barriers | of its never ending streets.

But I’ll leave it in the morning | slip away without a warning | Save a handclasp from the friend | that knows the call that leads me on | in the city’s clang and clatter, | one old man the less won’t matter | And no one here will say my name | or care that I am gone.

By Caddonfoot I’ll linger | it has charms to stay the singer | And from the bridge a painter’s dream | of beauty there I’ll see | But I’ll leave it all behind me | when the purple evening shadows find me | past the vines of Clovenfords | to haunted Torwoodlee.

Fair Dryburough and Melrose, | touched by the wizard’s spell arose | And Bemerside and Leaderfoot | Elwyn’s fairy dene | With the Tweed serenely gliding, | clearly seen and shyly hiding | where Eildons raise their triple crest | to sentinel the scene.

But alas the dream is over | I awake now to discover | The city’s rush the bustling crowds | and the din on every hand | But my ears a-softly falling | I can hear the curlews calling | And I know that soon I’ll see them | in the dear old borderland.

[‘Origins: ‘Borderland’ (the Archie Fisher version) at The Mudcat Cafe https://mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=162362%5D

⁶ The allusion to Quin’s flowers is unclear but in this context must refer to Roger Quinn too

⁷ The allusion to “A Hand of Romance” has not (yet) been traced

⁸ Jane Henderson Logan ‘Jean’ Muir (1877-1941), Dr Muir’s eldest daughter

⁹ Andrina Dorothy ‘Dora’ Muir (1882-1978), nurse and Dr Muir’s youngest daughter

¹⁰ Agnes Amelia ‘Nancy’ Roberts née Muir (1878-1948), Dr Muir’s second daughter

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

Feeling A very fine day: dry, mild + sunny. It is marvellous to see the snowdrops + aconite fully out. I had a very easy day + went to forenoon service. Spent the afternoon at the books + wrote Jean¹. Also Dr Graham² (Edin.) asking him to come here + lecture to the Red Cross. Janet Dunlop³ came to supper.

¹ Jane Henderson Logan ‘Jean’ Muir (1877-1941), Dr Muir’s eldest daughter

² Not identified

³ Janet Jardine Dunlop (1880-1956), daughter of Charles Walter Dunlop of Whitmuirhall and Edith Dunlop née Sugden

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