Cold dull drizzling day up till 2 or 3 when it brightened + the evening was pleasant but cool. Walked to Hill St, Heathpark, Dovecot then Tower Street, Forest Road, Yarrow Terrace, Ettrickhaugh Cottages: back to Ettrick Road, Tower Mill + Mill Street: + lastly to Mavisbank, Gib. & Lum. [Gibson & Lumgair], Brown & Allan¹ + Ashybank. Began to make out accounts for 1^st Quarter of 20-21. Went over to Home after dinner. We had the first of our new potatoes + Dora [Muir] was making Gooseberry jelly – Stewart + Barbara² came up to see me.

¹ Brown and Allan, spinners, were at Riverside Mills, Dunsdale Road, Selkirk

² Andrina Henderson ‘Barbara’ Roberts, later Twhigg (1902-1996) and Stewart Muir Roberts (1908-2003), two of Dr Muir’s grandchildren

[Source: Scottish Borders Archives & Local History Service SBA/657/23, Dr J S Muir of Selkirk, medical practitioner, journal for 1920]

A cold, but dry, calm day. Was kept fairly busy. Cycled to Heathpark, South Port &c, Green, Lauriston (Jenny Smith¹), Yarrow Mill, Faldonside (Low + High) + Hospital getting back a little after 2. Saw a man Herkes² from Philiphaugh Sawmill. Had tea. Called at Viewfield. Boylan³ + Mrs Mack⁴ came to tea with Dora [Muir]. At 5 had to go to an accident at Thirladean Lodge, child Moody⁵, cycled there. Had busy consultation hour + after dinner was called down to Mrs Nichol⁶, Yarrow Terrace.

¹ Jenny Locke Smith (1882-1952), daughter of Thomas Smith, tweed manufacturer, and Katie Smith née Locke

² There was a Peter Herkes at Kirkhope [1920 Valuation Roll]

³ John Dun Boylan (1850-1924), civil engineer and sometime resident of Shawpark, Selkirk

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

⁵ Thomas Moodie was at a cottage at East Lodge, Philiphaugh [1920 Valuation Roll]

⁶ Assume Annie Nichol née Scott, wife of Alexander Nichol, millworker, who was at 9a Yarrow Terrace 1920 VR; if this assumption is correct the couple had married 17 March 1911 at Hook’s Temperance Hotel, Selkirk

[Source: Scottish Borders Archives & Local History Service SBA/657/23, Dr J S Muir of Selkirk, medical practitioner, journal for 1920]

Dovecot Park being cut for hay

N.E. calm: began to rain about midday + continued off + on all day. Message to Smedheugh to say Alexander Dagg had drowned himself¹. Cycled out. Found his poor wife in a sad state. Saw Miss Hall², Heathpark: then cycled to Castle Street &c down Long Close³ to Green + Yarrow Terrace, Ravensheugh, Philiphaugh Stables + home by Forest Road. Walked in afternoon to Tower Street, Marion Crescent, Glebe Terrace, Ettrick Road, Haining Lodge + Miss Dunn’s⁴. Went over to Viewfield after dinner. Usual crowd at consultation. Had to go up at 9.30 p.m. to see Miss Hall⁵ + gave her a hypo of heroin.

¹ Alexander Dagg (1885-1920), farmer, husband of Elizabeth Gardiner, died by drowning on 26 July 1920 at the Moss Pond, Smedheugh Farm, Selkirk; informant was his father Adam Dagg, farmer, of Gateshaw Farm, Kelso, death certified by John S Muir “M.B &c”

² Janet Hall was the Proprietor Occupier of a House at 3 Heath Park, Selkirk, 1920 Valuation Roll

³ Dr Muir has been at Castle Street at the top of Kirk Wynd and has walked down Long Close (the path between the graveyard and the Haining estate – the present car park behind Halliwell’s House abuts this close also) to come out at the bottom of West Port where it meets The Green before proceeding down Yarrow Terrace and across the Ettrick Water to Philiphaugh

⁴ Unidentified

⁵ Possibly Adamina Hall, died 1921, aged 51 but conceivably Helen Moffat Hall died 1924, aged 40

[Source: Scottish Borders Archives & Local History Service SBA/657/23, Dr J S Muir of Selkirk, medical practitioner, journal for 1920]

Fair morning [word deleted] calm + bright. Slight showers in forenoon + pretty wet in afternoon. Not so cold. Stewart¹ came down from Clovenfords + saw John Gray², Castle Street + Mrs Wright³ at Viewfield. I saw some town cases. Did not get to church. It was Communion + individual cups were to be used for the first time⁴. Dora went out for the first time since she came + we supped at Wellwood. Baptie⁵ holding the fort. Was called away from Wellwood at 8.30 to go to Warwick⁶, Shielshaugh.

¹ See footnote to diary entry for 24 July 1920

² John Gray, engineer, was Proprietor Occupier at 18 Castle Street, Selkirk, 1920 Valuation Roll

³ Not identified

⁴ There had been a dispute rumbling on for a couple of decades about the use of individual cups instead of a single cup to be shared, at the General Assembly of 1909 it was decided in favour of a compromise motion which stood half way between the Committee’s Report and the Minority Report, which stated “… they do not feel justified in forbidding the individual cup, much as they regret the introduction of a practice so novel and in many respects so undesirable. The General Assembly at the same time charge ministers and presbyteries to see that the harmony and peace of congregations are not disturbed over this holy ordinance and that those who desire it shall always have as convenient means and opportunity of partaking in the manner heretofore in use.” and, though the Procurator ruled that the individual cup was illegal according to church law, his ruling was ignored and the motion became the deliverance of the General Assembly – more information here https://www.churchservicesociety.org/sites/default/files/journals/1978-Nov-2-12.pdf

⁵ Thomas Baptie (1860-1929), driver and handyman for Dr Muir

⁶ Andrew Warwick, head gamekeeper, and Margaret Warwick née Jackson lived at Shielshaugh; they had lost a child the previous year

[Source: Scottish Borders Archives & Local History Service SBA/657/23, Dr J S Muir of Selkirk, medical practitioner, journal for 1920]

A dry clear sunny day with a sharp N.W. wind: grand for the hay crop. There was a very slight shower between 6 + 7. After doing Viewfield + a few others I motored to Heatherlie + Peelburnfoot. Went on to Clovenfords + left a message for Pussy Stewart¹ to come down tomorrow to see to Gray². Cycled to Lilliesleaf [and] Vaccinated Mrs Gourlay³ (Grace Alexander) + her sister Jessie⁴. There was a golf gymkhana going on. Mrs Mack⁵ went out with Tina⁶. Saw Bella⁷ twice at Viewfield. Bell Harkness⁸ made the black currant jam⁹.

¹ The Clovenfords reference has been no help in clarifying this identity: referred to as Stuart elsewhere in the diary, otherwise unidentified but, conceivably, Dr Muir’s very first locum or, perhaps, John Struthers Stewart (c.1846-1930), L.R.C.P.S., medical practitioner, sometime of Merchiston Place and of Bruntsfield Place, Edinburgh who would have been a near-contemporary of Dr Muir at Medical School – see also diary entries 15^th and 18^th July 1920 – in a 1916 return to the Scottish Medical Service Emergency Committee he was recorded as aged 70 and of 173 Bruntsfield Place, Edinburgh, General Practitioner:- non-panel

² Assume John Gray, engineer, Proprietor Occupier at 18 Castle Street, Selkirk, 1920 Valuation Roll – see diary entry for 25 July 1920

³ Grace Thomson B Gourlay née Alexander (1878-), she had married Adam Elliot Gourlay in 1904 at Newington

⁴ Jessie Alexander was a witness at her sister’s wedding; James Alexander was a farmer at Chapelmuir and Harelaw, both Lilliesleaf, 1920 Valuation Roll

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

⁶ Christina Robertson ‘Tina’ Patrick née Rodger (c.1846-1924), daughter of Peter Rodger (1804-1888), of Selkirk, solicitor and local government official; married David Patrick, solicitor

⁷ Isabella ‘Bella’ Paulin (1873-?1952), Dr Muir’s housekeeper

⁸ Isabella ‘Bell’ Harkness née Lockie (1859-1929)

⁹ Thomas Baptie had brought in a good quantity of blackcurrants on 23 July

[Source: Scottish Borders Archives & Local History Service SBA/657/23, Dr J S Muir of Selkirk, medical practitioner, journal for 1920]

A slight rain in forenoon but fine + sunny after. Quite pleasant in the garden. Baptie¹ brought in a big lot of black currants + strawberries for jam. The latter are a fine crop. Dora [Muir] jam making. Bella² a little better at Viewfield. Gave a girl McGuffie³ gas at Viewfield + pulled a tooth. Saw town cases walking + distributed Communion Cards. Felt strangely fagged in afternoon. Finished posting June [accounts]. People in [consultation] from 6 to 7.50 + after dinner I had to go to Paterson, Ettrick Road⁴ + Johnstone⁵, South Port for a child Brown⁶.

¹ Thomas Baptie (1860-1929), driver and handyman for Dr Muir

² Isabella ‘Bella’ Paulin (1873-?1952), Dr Muir’s housekeeper

³ Not identified

⁴ James Paterson, gardener, was Proprietor Occupier at 4 Ettrick Road, Selkirk, 1920 Valuation Roll

⁵ James Johnstone, tailor, was Proprietor Occupier at 18 South Port, Selkirk, 1920 Valuation Roll

⁶ Not identified

[Source: Scottish Borders Archives & Local History Service SBA/657/23, Dr J S Muir of Selkirk, medical practitioner, journal for 1920]

Sunshine + showers in pretty equal proportions: fine evening: glass falling. Motored round town. Got Bella¹ over to Viewfield as it was getting too much for Dora². Her temp. rose to 105^o after she went but it was entirely nervous + fell to 99.4 at 7. Letter from Helen³: wrote her. Agnes Logan⁴ wrote offering a visit but I had to put her off. Letter from Mrs Thomson⁵, Ramsaycleuch, about Mrs Hope⁶: replied. Did some posting of June [accounts].

¹ Isabella ‘Bella’ Paulin (1873-), Dr Muir’s housekeeper

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

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

⁴ Assume the daughter of Alexander Stuart Logan, advocate & Sheriff of Forfarshire and Agnes Logan née Greig, thus Dr Muir’s cousin

⁵ Possibly Nettie Thomson who was a witness at the marriage of Robert Hope and Janet Hamilton – see footnote 6

⁶ Robert Hope, shepherd, and Janet Hamilton, domestic servant, both of West Buccleuch, married 5 March 1920 at Ettrick Manse

[Source: Scottish Borders Archives & Local History Service SBA/657/23, Dr J S Muir of Selkirk, medical practitioner, journal for 1920]

A very fine day + quite dry and even warm. Was called up about 2.30 about Mrs Nisbet¹, Yarrow Terrace but didn’t go down. Saw about 12 town cases + Bridgelands cycling: called for Charlotte² who was a little distant at first. Bella³ still ill: tendency to rigors but at night was perspiring for the first time. Went to meeting of Panel Comm^ttee at Railway Hotel⁴. Menzies⁵, Somerville⁶, Tyrell⁷ + Hiddleston⁸. Sudden death of old housekeeper at Haining⁹. From “Magic Cave”¹⁰ an enlarged photo of Selkirk from behind the Firs. Nancy¹¹ came home from Buttermere. Got two letters from David + wrote him.

¹ Gordon Mary Nisbet née Wright (1874-1920), wife of John Nisbet, woollen millworker, of 14 Yarrow Terrace, Selkirk

² Dr Muir has always called her Carlota but this is conceivably Elizabeth Charlotte ‘Carlota’ Rodger (1884-), Dr Muir’s wife’s 1st Cousin Once Removed, sometime of Bridgelands, Selkirk

³ Isabella ‘Bella’ Paulin (1873-), Dr Muir’s housekeeper

⁴ The Railway Hotel, Newton, Roxburghshire, a regular venue for Panel Committee meetings

⁵ James Morris Menzies (1871-1926), M.B., Ch.M., M.D., medical practitioner, of Ettrick Lodge, Selkirk

⁶ Dr James William Somerville (1866-1934), of Galashiels

⁷ Edward Munro Tyrrell (c.1862-1940), M.B., C.M., medical practitioner, of Wellwood, Galashiels

⁸ John Murray Hiddleston (1891-1954), L.R.C.P.S., L.R.F.P.S., medical practitioner

⁹ Unidentified

¹⁰ Agnes Mackintosh née Watson, formerly Harper (1859-1946), of Elm Park, Selkirk, aka ‘the Magic Cave’

¹¹ Agnes Amelia ‘Nancy’ Roberts née Muir (1878-1948), Dr Muir’s second daughter, who had continued her holiday at Buttermere when Dr Muir went home

[Source: Scottish Borders Archives & Local History Service SBA/657/23, Dr J S Muir of Selkirk, medical practitioner, journal for 1920]

Inclined to drizzle in the forenoon but fine in afternoon + beautiful calm warm evening. Very wet up Ettrick above Tushielaw. Motored to Bridgelands, Heatherlie, Kirkhope Cottages, Kilsyke¹, Crook Cottage, Ettrickhall. Got back at 2.20 + at 3.30 motored to Middles + Lilliesleaf. Saw Mrs Dobson², Forest Road at 5.30. Dined at Elmpark. Dora [Muir] couldn’t go as Bella³ was very ill, T. 103 again. Tina⁴ + I went.

¹ Kilsyke, near Ettrickhall and SE of Hopehouse, estimated grid reference NGR NT275,149

² Helen Dobson née Hope (c.1859-1920), widow of George Dobson, woollen designer, living at Kirkwood, Forest Road, Selkirk, 1920

³ Isabella ‘Bella’ Paulin (1873-), Dr Muir’s housekeeper

⁴ Christina Robertson ‘Tina’ Patrick née Rodger (c.1846-1924), daughter of Peter Rodger (1804-1888), of Selkirk, solicitor and local government official; married David Patrick, solicitor; of Hamilton but at Selkirk, 1901 Census

[Source: Scottish Borders Archives & Local History Service SBA/657/23, Dr J S Muir of Selkirk, medical practitioner, journal for 1920]

A brilliant morning + a very pleasant day but towards evening the wind blew strongly from S.W. + it got duller. It is the nicest day we have had since I came home + no rain. Motored round town + down to Faldonside where I saw Mrs + Ralph Dees¹. Found Mrs D. very nice. Called for Dawn + Jessie². Found the former much better than I expected after David’s report. In afternoon cycled to Viewfield, Firs + Philiphaugh Stables. Called for Mrs Steel + saw her baby, a lovely boy³. Mrs Smith, Ralph + Edith⁴ have gone to France. Tina⁵ had tea at Elmpark. Letter from Nancy⁶.

¹ The couple are presumably Edith Mary Boileau Dees née Henderson and her son Ralph Andrew Irwin Dees (1913-1988); Edith’s husband Robert Irwin Dees (1872-1923) had inherited approximately £90,000 on the death of his uncle Robert Richardson Dees, solicitor, of Wallsend, in 1908 – for which he was known as Robber Dees around Tyneside – and had taken on the tenancy of Faldonside in 1920

² Dawn Gordon Belle Brack Boyd Wilson, later Boyd Wilson Milne (1894-1980) and Jessie Milne Brack Boyd (1867-1961), of Faldonside, plantswoman and gardener

³ Perhaps James Malcolm Strang Steel, born on 4 November 1919, Chelsea Registration District, son of Samuel Strang Steel of Philiphaugh, later 1st Baronet, and Hon. Vere Mabel Cornwallis; later a Lieutenant in the Grenadier Guards, he was killed in action, 17 March 1943, aged 23, in North Africa

⁴ Alice Smith née Paterson (1863-1943), wife of Patrick Smith (1858-1930), advocate and sheriff-substitute, and two of their grown-up children Ralph Colley Smith (1891-1957) – very badly maimed during the First World War – and Edith Margaret Smith (1896-)

⁵ Christina Robertson ‘Tina’ Patrick née Rodger (c.1846-1924), daughter of Peter Rodger (1804-1888), of Selkirk, solicitor and local government official; married David Patrick, solicitor; of Hamilton but at Selkirk, 1901 Census

⁶ Agnes Amelia ‘Nancy’ Roberts née Muir (1878-1948), Dr Muir’s second daughter

[Source: Scottish Borders Archives & Local History Service SBA/657/23, Dr J S Muir of Selkirk, medical practitioner, journal for 1920]