Strong W wind all night had caused most of the snow to vanish + before dark none was visible about the town. In spite of or perhaps because of my supper of porridge I had my dyspeptic pain + could take hardly any breakfast but improved + at dinner took some rice soup + cornflour. I saw a few town cases + at 2.30 D. [David] came up + we arranged certain fees. I got some accounts made out. Helen + Nancy¹ + all the kids² went to tea with Jessie Boyd [Faldonside].

¹ Agnes Amelia ‘Nancy’ Roberts née Muir (1878-1948), Dr Muir’s daughter and wife of John ‘Jack’ Roberts junior and Helen Frances ‘Mousey’ Muir (1880-1963); Dr Muir’s second and third daughters respectively

² The Roberts family children, Dr Muir’s only grandchildren, Andrina Henderson ‘Barbara’, John ‘Jock’, Louisa Jane, Stewart Muir and George Edward ‘Tim’ Roberts

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

A cold slushy day with some rain but tending to frost at night. Roads heavy but quite motorable. Saw Crissie Hope¹, Mrs Miller + Mrs And. Johnstone, the Glebe² + motored to Yair + then to Scaurneuk where there was a message to see Mrs Geddes³. She had a little Bronchitis. I still had some indigestion + ate sparingly. Supped on porridge. Helen [Muir] at forenoon service but neither of us went at night.

¹ Assume Christina Mathieson ‘Chrissy’ Hope (1893-1964) scholar, later millworker, born and living at Hill Street, Selkirk, 1901 and 1911 Census; daughter of John Simon Hope, master bootmaker, and Euphemia Hope née Macbeth, married 1878, Edinburgh – she later married John Peacock Dodds, butcher

² Not identified

³ Assume Margaret Geddes née Graham (about 1855-?), a Feuar’s wife living at Scaurneuk, Yarrow, 1911 Census with her daughters Grace Gray Geddes and Helen Geddes, her mother Grace Graham and her sister-in-law Janet Geddes; daughter of Robert Graham, ploughman, and Grace Graham, she had married John Geddes, shepherd, 26 March 1880 at North Sinton, Ashkirk

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

Snowing most of the day + thawing making the streets very slushy. I motored to Cannon Street, Yair (Mrs K), Bowhill + Newarkburn + saw one or two town cases after. Did not get tea till 5.30. Feet very tired all evening. Helen [Muir] + I were asked to dine at Elmpark to meet Mr + Mrs Stow [sic] (the latter a daughter of Mrs Simpson¹) but I declined. H. went.

¹ Agnes Maude Ethel Stowe née Simpson (1878-) was the daughter of James Cowie Simpson, coal master, and Margaret ‘Maggie’ Simpson née Watson (about 1857-), who had married, 1877, at Hamilton, Lanarks.; Agnes herself married, 1899, at St Giles, Edinburgh, Griswold Stowe, treasurer of the Desha Lumber Company [USA] – the connection was that Maggie’s mother was the daughter of Sir John Watson, making Agnes the niece of Mrs Mackintosh who was born a Watson [there was clearly a reunion of the ‘Watsons’ going on, see also diary entry for 14th January]

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

Gale pretty well subsided: freezing hard + a sunny forenoon with hard dry roads but at 2 there was a heavy shower of snow (+ slightly less after) which was lying on the streets at night. Had dyspepsia last night + feet quite “off” all day. John Hope’s daughter Chrissy married to John Dodds was in labour + I saw her off + on all day. She had a d. [daughter¹] at 9 p.m. (C.F.S.) David went to. It turns out that Dundas never sent me a cheque at all but cash + the Aust. drafts we’re returned to me today I having sent them to London instead of handing them into the Bank! I was most relieved.

¹ Elizabeth Peacock Dodds, daughter of John P Dodds, butcher, and Christina Mathieson ‘Chrissy’ Hope, born 9 January 1920 at ; her parents had married 26 June 1919 at 14 Hill Street, Selkirk – her father was John Simon Hope, retired postman

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

Wind raged violently all night from N.W. + abated gradually clearing the day. It was milder also in afternoon but hardly any rain. Roads drier. I cannot get rid of my present feeling of tiredness. I have always slight headache when I rise + Helen [Muir] says my breath is foul. I had a [Mild Blue] last night which worked [effectively ?]. At 2 took a cup of Bovril + some biscuits. Saw town cases only. Dav. [Graham] + I shifted George Lunn¹ on to a Hospital bed under Chlor[oform]. D. was at Sunderland Hall &c.

¹ The Editor assumes this is George Lunn, tobacconist, of High Street, Selkirk

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

Fair strong frost S.W. which whereby cleared the ice off the streets + made walking much safer. Had a note from John Moir thanking me for my Xmas card. Betsy Heatlie, the Loan, very ill. Message to Wm Johnstone, Bowmont Villa. Walked down there. Gave Geo. Lunn chlor[oform] + found that the neck of his femur was fractured. Was much annoyed by losing a cheque for 21/- from Duncan for a [?] report on William Brockie for Scott. Prov. + also 2 drafts for 17/- + 15 from Aust. [illegible words]¹.

¹ See also diary entry for 9 January 1920

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

Still freezing: almost no “come”¹ + intensely cold. Road awful for walking. Gave little Greta Smith Chlor[oform] + extracted 3 teeth. Peter Peden² called. Motored to Curror Street, R.C. School, Glebe, Heather Mill, Cannon Street [and] Sunderland Hall. Got N.H.I. cheque for 71 19 14³ + War Bonus of £21 10 6. Helen + the Patons were at Elmpark⁴ for lunch + tea. Last night after the Rosses left Marion Paton began a venomous attack on Kate [?] and I just told her straight that I knew all the other side of the question at which she took a very red face.

¹ A word used regularly by Dr Muir “CUM, Come, n.2 “A thaw” (Rxb. 1927 E. C. Smith Braid Haaick 10, come); “moisture in the air” (m.Dmf.3 c.1920, cum); “sweat on ice when frost begins to yield” (Dmf. 1925 W. A. Scott in Trans. Dmf. and Gall. Antiq. Soc. 22, cum). [kʌm]” [Source: ‘Dictionar o the Scots Leid’]

² It is not clear which of two men named Peter Peden this would have been; one a shepherd, aged 56, was at Deepslades, the other a gamekeeper, aged 53, at West Broadmeadows Lodge

³ This was Dr Muir’s capitation under the National Health Insurance Act 1911; when the Editor was at school £71 19 shillings and 14 pence would have been presented as £72 0 2; explanations welcome!

⁴ Elmpark or Elm Park, Scott’s Place, Selkirk was the home of Agnes Mackintosh, née Watson, formerly Harper (1859-1946)

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

Alex Johnston¹ was found dead near Leslie Cottage.

Freezing this morning but rather more “come”² during the day making walking rather precarious. It was freezing again at night. I felt better today + saw a town list of 14. There was a message to Mrs Ordish + one to Barrie, Newarkburn which Dav. [Dr David Graham] did. I got the Factory return completed. Carnegie³ has got my war investments all in order + I have still [left blank]. I dropped [left blank] on the sale of those for the price of Viewfield. The Rosses⁴, Patons⁵ and [illagible]⁶ came for dinner. Gave Ross some cigars.

¹ Alexander Johnstone, joiner and cabinetmaker, aged 64, was found dead “about 4.30 p.m. on the public road near to Leslie Cottage, Selkirk, usual residence Ladylands, Selkirk”, of heart failure , certified by D Charteris Graham M.B., Ch.B.; Johnstone was the son of Alexander Johnstone, woollen mill foreman, and Jessie Johnstone née Grossart and was married to May Sinclair [Death Registration and Register of Corrected Entries]

² A word used regularly by Dr Muir “CUM, Come, n.2 “A thaw” (Rxb. 1927 E. C. Smith Braid Haaick 10, come); “moisture in the air” (m.Dmf.3 c.1920, cum); “sweat on ice when frost begins to yield” (Dmf. 1925 W. A. Scott in Trans. Dmf. and Gall. Antiq. Soc. 22, cum). [kʌm]” [Source: ‘Dictionar o the Scots Leid’]

³ Assume David Carnegie Alexander, ‘Carnegie Alexander’ or ‘D.C.A.’ (1856-1928), solicitor

⁴ Presumably the Reverend Andrew Ross (1871-1942), Church of Scotland minister, and Elizabeth Elder Ross née Sinclair (d.1937), their children Andrew and James could conceivably have been there too

⁵ Paton, Isabella Clementina ‘Isa’ (about 1838-1929) and Marion Agnes Paton (about 1841-1940), sisters living on their own means

⁶ This may read ‘Briarbank’ in which case the Hills, farmers, were the guests but the Editor is not aware that they were part of Dr Muir’s social circle; the other reading is perhaps ‘Barbara’ i.e. Andrina Henderson ‘Barbara’ Roberts, later Twhigg (1902-1996), his elder granddaughter

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

Was able to go out today. Walked to Betsy Heatlie¹, the Loan, Douglas, Hillside, Mavisbank, Curror Street. Hospital + then had to go down to Mrs Lawton², altogether I walked about about 3¹/₂ miles + felt decidedly tired. David [Graham] went to Sunderland Hall (in Swift) + on to see Beasley, Gattonside³. Helen [Muir] was in bed with a cold. I wrote Jean, Dora, Mary Rodger, PU.S., Surveyor of Customs & Excise, Douglas & Foulis⁴, Brit. Med. Assoc. [BMA] and Mr Dunn, Castle Douglas.

¹ There were a Miss Betsy Heatlie and a Mrs Betsy Heatlie at the Loan in the 1919 Valuation Roll

² This may be Mrs Justina Lawton, widow and tenant occupier of a house and garden at Elm Row, Selkirk or Mrs Mary Lawton, widow and tenant occupier at 24 Heatherlie Terrace, Selkirk

³ Lewis Beesley or Beesly (1877-1954), L.R.C.P.S., surgeon, was Tenant Occupier of Fauhope House, Melrose, 1920 Valuation Roll; joint author of ‘Manual of Surgical Anatomy’ [various copies listed at https://www.worldcat.org/title/manual-of-surgical-anatomy/oclc/809315145&referer=brief_results/]

⁴ Douglas & Foulis, booksellers, of 9 & 11 Castle Street, Edinburgh

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

Feeling better + rose to breakfast which was as 9: but I didn’t go out. It was very dull tending to thaw + snowed sleetily at night. David was going to Sunderland Hall + Fairnilea + Jessie Boyd went with him, dropping dropping him at the Melrose Road end while Baptie took her on to Faldonside. In afternoon D. was at Lilliesleaf + Borthwickbrae + was very late of getting back so I was glad when Annie got a chance up with Davidson of Deloraine¹.

¹ William Davidson (1877-1946), Langholm-born farmer, was tenant at Easter Deloraine, Kirkhope, in the 1911 Census and 1920 Valuation Roll

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