Another fair day : duller at night. Slight E. wind. Very little doing. Cycled to Mill Street + Faldonside, Jessie Boyd¹ improving: message to Mrs Simpson, Wellwood². Called at Elmpark to tell Mrs Mc [Mackintosh³] that Jessie Boyd would take her cat. Made out some accounts. Message to see James Johnstone’s wife, Crook Cottages [Over Kirkhope]. Left at 6.55 + got back at 9.30 in D’s car. Helen at a dance at Sims.

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

² Assume the housekeeper, otherwise unidentified; Wellwood is Dr Muir’s daughter’s home

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

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

A really fine day at last. There was bright sunshine from early morning till 6 O’clock. There was a sharp hoar frost = 7⁰ at Elmpark. Slight N.E. to E. wind. Colder in afternoon. Cycled down Forest Road to Beechwood: back by Backrow to Hill Street + Rosemount + then to Harvey, Yair Cribs¹ returning via Lindean + Curror Street = 15.2. Made out some accounts finishing [the letter] E. Sent card to Mrs Chas. McGilchrist².

¹ Perhaps John Harvey, shepherd, at Hen Row, Yairbridge, Caddonfoot, 1920 Valuation Roll; it is not immediately clear why Cribs, though it is below Cribs Hill

² Presumably Jessie Catherine Turnbull, widow of Charles Robert Bryden McGilchrist, (about 1853-1920), shipping merchant – see diary entry for 7 April 1920

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

Another dark morning + rain up till midday after which it faired + at last the sun came out, the first time for nearly a fortnight. Was called up at 4 a.m. for Mrs R Walker¹, Hill Street, but it was a false alarm. Got back to bed at 5.15. Saw a dozen cases walking, including Netty Mackay², Ettrickhaugh Road + was at accounts the rest of the day except going down to Mavisbank. H. [Helen] went with the Wellwoods³ to the P. to P. [point to point] races at Netheraw⁴ + at night I went with H. + Mrs Mackintosh⁵ to a concert in the Union Hall got up by Mellalieu⁶ to raise money for the Musical Association. Heard of the death of Charlie McGilchrist⁷.

¹ There was a Jane Watt Walker as Tenant Occupier at 5 Hill Street, 1918 Valuation Roll and a Richard Walker as Tenant at the same, 1919 and 1920 Valuation Rolls

² James Mackay, millworker, was at 1 Ettrickhaugh Road, 1920 Valuation Roll; perhaps the same James who married Margaret Thomson in Selkirk, 1914

³ John ‘Jack’ Roberts junior (1876-1966), 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 (1906-1982), Stewart Muir ‘Little Stewart’ Roberts (1908-2003) and George Edward ‘Tim’ Roberts (1911-2005)

⁴ Assume Netherraw, north of Newcastleton, grid reference NGR NY506,939

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

⁶ William Norman Mellalieu (1887-1952), music teacher and organist

⁷ Charles Robert Bryden McGilchrist died June Quarter 1920, aged 66 [Birkenhead Registration District 8a 621]; he and Jessie Turnbull had married in May 1880 at Spittal on Rule, Roxburghshire at which time his address was recorded as Higher Tranmere, Birkenhead, Cheshire – he was the author of ‘Birkhill. A Reminiscence by a Liverpool Merchant’, John Lewis, Selkirk, 1899 and son of the Reverend John McGilchrist (about 1797-1858), minister of the United Presbyterian Church and Eliza McGilchrist nee Gray – he was born in South Leith thus his connection with Dr Muir may be via Leith and his father, or Selkirk and Roxburghshire, or even both

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

Still calm. Weathercock went round from N.E. (where it was yesterday) to N. then W. It kept fair but not a glint of sunshine. David¹ looked in when I was shaving having attended Mrs Girdwood, Castle Street.² He went to Edinburgh for to give Chlor[oform] to Adam Inch³ upon whom Fraser was operating. I was bad all day with dyspepsia. Saw a few town cases walking. Took no lunch but went with H⁴ to tea at Elmpark.⁵ Norman Durnford⁶ there. Helen went to Lauriston for high tea + she + Cath⁷ went to the theatre after.

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

² Joan Girdwood nee Johnstone, attended presumably for the birth of her twin sons Robert Johnstone Girdwood and Adam Girdwood (her first was John Hislop Girdwood in 1918); she had married Adam Girdwood, then Gunner 10272 Royal Naval Reserve in 1916 – in 1920 he was a postman and they were living at Castle Street [1920 Valuation Roll].

³ See also diary entry for 24 April 1920; this is probably Adam Inch (1909-), son of John William Gibson Inch (c.1867-1939), farmer and tenant at Broadmeadows in 1920 Valuation Roll (though it has not been possible to rule out that it is Adam Inch (c.1877-1935), J W G Inch’s brother); Adam junior was born at Edrom, Berwickshire, John his father died at Pathhead, Midlothian.

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

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

⁶ Norman Stanley M Durnford (1889-1965), Major, Army Service Corps, later a businessman, of Stoke Bishop, Bristol. Married to Agnes Watson Harper and son-in-law of Mrs Mackintosh, formerly Harper née Watson of Elmpark, Selkirk.

⁷ Catherine Adam ‘Cath’ Smith (1874-1929), her home was Lauriston, Selkirk, at this time.

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

Come again to the place
Where your presence was as a leaf that skims
Down a drouthy way whose ascent bedims
   The bloom on the farer’s face.

   Come again, with the feet
That were light on the green as a thistledown ball,
And those mute ministrations to one and to all
   Beyond a man’s saying sweet.

   Until then the faint scent
Of the bordering flowers swam unheeded away,
And I marked not the charm in the changes of day
   As the cloud-colours came and went.

   Through the dark corridors
Your walk was so soundless I did not know
Your form from a phantom’s of long ago
   Said to pass on the ancient floors,

Till you drew from the shade,
And I saw the large luminous living eyes
Regard me in fixed inquiring-wise
   As those of a soul that weighed,

   Scarce consciously,
The eternal question of what Life was,
And why we were there, and by whose strange laws
   That which mattered most could not be.

This poem was written in 1905 sometime after Hardy’s introduction to Florence Dugdale¹ later to become his second wife. First published as ‘After the Visit’² it was republished as ‘After the Visit (to F.E.D.)’ following the death of Hardy’s first wife’³. It ostensibly reports the details of that first meeting (her eyes, the scent of the plants⁴) at his Dorchester home Max Gate but the details are reported differently by Michael Millgate in ‘Thomas Hardy, His Career as a Novelist’⁵ and Thomas Hardy, A Biography Revisited’ and Claire Tomalin in ‘Thomas Hardy, The Time-Torn Man’⁶. Suffice to say the poem records the heightened senses of a man newly in love, albeit one who appears throughout his adult life to have enjoyed the rush of being newly in love more than the long term give and take.

¹ ‘Life behind the gates Newly discovered letters from Thomas Hardy’s wife Florence’ by Angelique Richardson https://www.the-tls.co.uk/articles/newly-discovered-letters-thomas-hardy-wife-florence/

² The Spectator, 13 August 1910

³ Hardy, Thomas, ‘Satires of Circumstance, Lyrics and Reveries, with Miscellaneous Pieces’, MacMillan & Co., 1914

⁴ Millgate, Michael, ‘Thomas Hardy, a biography revisited’, Oxford University Press, 2004

⁵ Millgate, Michael, ‘Thomas Hardy: His Career as a Novelist’, The Bodley Head, 1971

⁶ Tomalin, Claire, ‘Thomas Hardy, The Time-Torn Man’, Penguin, 2006

Actually no rain today : calm + mild but no sunshine + no drouth¹. Roads execrable, they are getting worse + worse: cycled to Beechwood, Yarrowford, Whinfield, Dunsdale + Faldonside = 18.7 [miles]. Helen² was at Mauldsheugh for tea + Isa Graham³ came to dinner + the two of them went to a theatrical performance in the Victoria Hall. David [Graham] also went.

¹ Drouth, n. and v. Also drooth, drowth, †druth. Sc. forms and usages of Eng. drought. The forms drouth and drowth are now only in dial. or poet. use in Eng. Cf. Drocht. [Dictionar o’ the Scots Leid]; it is probably best known in Scots language and literature though not exclusively, see for example Thomas Hardy’s poem of new love ‘After The Visit’ which is cut down here but posted in full in the following post “Come again to the place | Where your presence was as a leaf that skims | Down a drouthy way whose ascent bedims | The bloom on the farer’s face.”

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

³ Isa Graham was Dr David Charteris Graham’s sister, see diary entry for 4 April 1920.

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

It was lighter today + less fog but no sunshine + a dropping rain all day though never heavy. There was less wind N.E. Was at both morning + evening service + only saw 4 town cases. David [Graham] was at Midgehope + Ramsaycleuch + after getting home had to go to Altrieve. He + his sister Isa, a very pretty girl just back from India, came to supper with Jack, Nancy, Barb. + Jock¹. Jack was bilious + had to leave the supper table + go home.

¹ John ‘Jack’ Roberts and Agnes Amelia ‘Nancy’ Roberts née Muir and two of their children Andrina Henderson ‘Barbara’ and John ‘Jock’ Roberts

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

The same miserable weather with continuous drizzle + occasional rain. David’s car is going again. I would have cycled to Faldonside but it was wet so I had to wait till he returned from Bowhill and Broadmeadows at 11.30 when I went to Faldonside. The vision had partly returned in Jessie’s eye¹. Spent the afternoon at ledger + finished posting March. Dav. was at Midgehope in afternoon. Helen + Nancy walked to Sunderland to see what I take to be a damson in flower.²

¹ Jessie Milne Brack Boyd (1867-1961), of Faldonside, plantswoman and gardener had suddenly lost the sight of an eye, see diary entry for 2 April 1920

² Prunus domesticata subsp. insititia

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

Still wet this morning but fairing about 12 + cycled to Henderland. There was a strong N.E. wind which helped me going but of course retarded me coming back. I had to don my cape at Harewoodglen but doffed it again beyond the Garden. Had tea at Henderland. Found Jim going on well. Got back at 6.30. Hot bath + dressed for dinner! Jean left at 6. Got note from Mrs Wilson asking me to see Jessie Boyd¹ who had suddenly lost the sight of an eye.

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

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

Another day of leaden skies + drizzle. It was fair at night. Gave chlor[oform] at the House to Miss Jenkins on whom D. [Dr David Graham] operated for chronic appendicitis. Before that I had seem Mrs Baptie (Molly Inglis)¹, Rosemount² who had pains. Saw her on + off all afternoon. Had tea there + brought a son at 3.30. Saw her again at night. Jean came at 7.24 + I met her. She is very dull poor girl. It seems she is thinking of buying a tea house. Dav. [Graham] was at Crook Cottage to see at tramp, who was reported sick but had disappeared before D. arrived.

¹ Thomas Inglis Baptie, born 1 April 1920 at Rosemount, Selkirk; son of James Armstrong Baptie and Mary J ‘Molly’ Baptie née Inglis, married 20 July 1911 at Edinburgh, at which time he was recorded as of Cape Town and she of Forest Road, Selkirk

² It is not clear why the birth was at Rosemount, Hillside Terrace, Selkirk which was owned and occupied by James Kirkpatrick, wool agent

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