It was fresh all day but too calm + foggy for a thorough change. Still the streets were better for walking. Saw Erskine H.1 this morning. He is better2 + Graham3 is evidently going to attend his. I walked to Elmpark4, Dunsdale, Bleachfield Road +c. + then Lauriston + Heathpark.5 After lunch I got a message to Irvine6, Raeburn Place + walked there also. Had a C.C. comttee meeting in the surgery.
1 James Erskine Harper (1887-1953), son of Ebenezer Erskine Harper, sheriff substitute, and Agnes Harper née Watson later Mackintosh.
2 Erskine Harper had called for Dr Graham the day before but for some reason this had caused offence, see Dr Muir’s diary for 25 November 1923.
3 David Charteris ‘Dav.’ Graham (1889-1963), M.B., medical practitioner and Dr Muir’s business partner.
4 Elm Park, Selkirk, home of Dr Muir’s friend Agnes Mackintosh née Watson, formerly Harper (1859-1946).
5 Lauriston was on the road to Howden and Oakwood, while Heathpark was above Hillside Terrace.
6 John Irvine, powerloom tuner, tenant of a house in Raeburn Place, Selkirk, 1923 Valuation Roll.
[Source: Scottish Borders Archives & Local History Service SBA/657/26, Dr J S Muir of Selkirk, medical practitioner, journal for 1923]
The weather cock shifted from E.N.E. to S.W. but it was very calm + the frost gone without a very decided thaw. Jack1 motored to St Abbs2 + took Helen3 + Winifred.4 I went to forenoon service. About 1.30 Dav.5 called + told me that Erskine Harper6 had sent for him + the L.M.C.7 called later The kind soul was faintingly [?] distressed about it. In the morning Mr Wilson of Heatherlie8 preached + I went back to evening service chiefly as there was a retiring collec[ion ?] for Capital fund.
1 John ‘Jack’ Roberts junior (1876-1966), mill owner, of Wellwood, Ettrick Terrace, Selkirk, and husband of Nancy (see below).
2 The Roberts (probably Nancy and whichever children were travelling with her by 1923) had been holidaying at the Haven, St Abbs since early November (though Nancy was back in Selkirk at one point so presumably others – perhaps their domestic staff – were there too). Various parties, including Nancy, had flitted between Selkirk and St Abbs pretty regularly since then.
3 Helen Frances ‘Mousey’ Muir (1880-1963), Dr Muir’s third daughter and sometime housekeeper.
4 Margaret ‘Winifred’ Armitage (1874-1970), daughter of William Armitage, cotton merchant, and Margaret Petrie Armitage née Mills. Winifred’s sister Dorothy had married Francis ‘Frank’ Muir (1877-1972), electrical engineer and son of the Reverend Gavin Struthers ‘Guy’ Muir, Dr Muir’s brother.
5 David Charteris ‘Dav.’ Graham (1889-1963), M.B., medical practitioner and Dr Muir’s business partner.
6 James Erskine Harper (1887-1953), son of Ebenezer Erskine Harper, sheriff substitute, and Agnes Harper née Watson later Mackintosh. At his 1914 marriage Erskine was described as a gentleman. It is not clear what he had done.
7 L.M.C. must be a variant of M.C. or ‘Magic Cave’ as Dr Muir had previously named Agnes Mackintosh née Watson, formerly Harper (1859-1946) of Elm Park, Selkirk.
8 The Reverend James Wilson (fl.1921-1942), B.D., minister of Heatherlie Quoad Sacra Parish when he was described in Dr Muir’s diary of 11 December 1921 as “the new Heatherlie minister”.
[Source: Scottish Borders Archives & Local History Service SBA/657/26, Dr J S Muir of Selkirk, medical practitioner, journal for 1923]
Very keen dry frost + roads very bad for walking. It was a clear sunny day : some fog in valleys. Saw a dozen cases walking + motored to Midlem Old Manse to see John Cochrane1 who has Bright’s Disease (probably granular kidney). Went on to Lilliesleaf + Chapel. Helen2, Winifred3 + Mrs Mack4 went to Lord Dalkeith5 meeting in Union Hall.
1 Assume John Cochrane (about 1856-1929), joiner, recorded living with his wife Elizabeth at Burn Cottage, Midlem (1921 Census) but 1916-1925 recorded at Rose Cottage, Midlem (Valuation Rolls). It has not so been possible to match either of these with the Old Manse which was shown at the north west of the main road on contemporary Ordnance Survey mapping but at the north east end on modern mapping.
2 Helen Frances ‘Mousey’ Muir (1880-1963), Dr Muir’s third daughter and sometime housekeeper.
3 Margaret ‘Winifred’ Armitage (1874-1970), daughter of William Armitage, cotton merchant, and Margaret Petrie Armitage née Mills. Winifred’s sister Dorothy had married Francis ‘Frank’ Muir (1877-1972), electrical engineer and son of the Reverend Gavin Struthers ‘Guy’ Muir, Dr Muir’s brother.
4 Agnes Mackintosh née Watson, formerly Harper (1859-1946), of Elm Park, Selkirk.
5 Walter John Montagu Douglas Scott (1894-1973), 8th Duke of Buccleuch from 1935 but at this time Earl of Dalkeith. Lord Dalkeith was to take Sir Thomas Henderson’s parliamentary seat for Roxburghshire and Selkirkshire on 6 December 1923 when Dalkeith received 11,258 votes (43.1%) to Henderson’s 8,046 (30.8%) with George Dallas in third place with 6,811 (26.1%).
[Source: Scottish Borders Archives & Local History Service SBA/657/26, Dr J S Muir of Selkirk, medical practitioner, journal for 1923]
Pretty hard frost roads in town very slippery. Saw 14 town cases + gave chlor[oform] for a laparotomy – the butler’s wife from Peel1 which turned out to be cancer of colon + without adhesions. A colostomy on right side followed. D.2 was assisted by a medical friend friend home from India. Jack3 dined with us.
1 Assume Elizabeth Jane Cook née Whitford (1875-1924), wife of Charles Edward Cook, butler at Peel, Caddonfoot. In the 1921 Census the couple were recorded living at Peelburnfoot, Caddonfoot, with daughters Ida Ellen Cook, 15 and Elizabeth Jane Cook, 13.
2 David Charteris ‘Dav.’ Graham (1889-1963), M.B., Ch.B., medical practitioner and Dr Muir’s business partner.
3 John ‘Jack’ Roberts junior (1876-1966), mill owner and Dr Muir’s son-in-law.
[Source: Scottish Borders Archives & Local History Service SBA/657/26, Dr J S Muir of Selkirk, medical practitioner, journal for 1923]
Helen1 + Winifred2 went to Picture House. Between frost + fresh. Some sleety snow. Shower in forenoon. Streets very slushy. Saw 10 cases walking and finished by 1. Archie McIntyre3 improving. Old Willie Stoddart4 very weak. John Elliot5 a little better + can almost touch the top of his head with left arm. Got letter from Dora6 which I sent to Jean7 as I was writing her. She can get the shop + house8 for £1000 + Campbell9 offers to give her a bond for £600 at 5% [and] after paying interest + Feu duty she would have £14. 15. 0 left for taxes + as her present rent is £56 she would save something.
1 Helen Frances ‘Mousey’ Muir (1880-1963), Dr Muir’s third daughter and sometime housekeeper.
2 Margaret ‘Winifred’ Armitage (1874-1970), daughter of William Armitage, cotton merchant, and Margaret Petrie Armitage née Mills. Winifred’s sister Dorothy had married Francis ‘Frank’ Muir (1877-1972), electrical engineer and son of the Reverend Gavin Struthers ‘Guy’ Muir, Dr Muir’s brother.
3 Archie Sibbald McIntyre (1896-), motor mechanic, recorded at Eastfield, Viewfield Park, had injured himself getting out of a car on 20 November.
4 This may refer to William Stoddart (about 1850-), retired shepherd, recorded as a boarder at Deloraine Hope, Kirkhope, in the 1921 Census.
5 Perhaps John Elliot (about 1848-), retired forester, recorded at the Old Toll House on the Selkirk – Bowden road in the 1921 Census.
6 Andrina Dorothy ‘Dora’ Muir (1882-1978), nurse and Dr Muir’s youngest daughter, who was living and working in Egypt at this time.
7 Jane Henderson Logan ‘Jean’ Pike née Muir (1877-1941), Dr Muir’s widowed eldest daughter. She had married, 15 June 1920 at Mayfield U.F. Church, Newington, Edinburgh, Frederick Charles Pike (d.1921), theatrical agent.
8 Jean ran a tea shop in Newington after the First World War. Presumably this is what she wanted to buy.
9 Campbell is unidentified.
[Source: Scottish Borders Archives & Local History Service SBA/657/26, Dr J S Muir of Selkirk, medical practitioner, journal for 1923]
There hadn’t been much snow last night but what there was lay in the shade. It was freezing slightly: calm + not a bad sort of day. Gave H [?] Law1 (Halliday’s) chlor[oform] at Viewfield while D.2 tried to reduce an old dislocation of humerus but the only result was a fracture. Examined a boy Welch at County Building for Reformatory.3 Made 14 [?] calls. Sent out a calendar with photo of Market Place. Helen4 + Winifred5 went to a concert with L.M.C.6
1 It is not possible to be sure whom the refers to but Richard Law, warehouseman, and his family lived at Halliday’s Park, Selkirk.
2 David Charteris ‘Dav.’ Graham (1889-1963), M.B., Ch.B., medical practitioner and Dr Muir’s business partner.
3 The boy Welch is unidentified.
4 Helen Frances ‘Mousey’ Muir (1880-1963), Dr Muir’s third daughter and sometime housekeeper.
5 Margaret ‘Winifred’ Armitage (1874-1970), daughter of William Armitage, cotton merchant, and Margaret Petrie Armitage née Mills. Winifred’s sister Dorothy had married Francis ‘Frank’ Muir (1877-1972), electrical engineer and son of the Reverend Gavin Struthers ‘Guy’ Muir, Dr Muir’s brother.
6 L.M.C. must be a variant of M.C. or ‘Magic Cave’ as Dr Muir had previously named Agnes Mackintosh née Watson, formerly Harper (1859-1946) of Elm Park, Selkirk.
[Source: Scottish Borders Archives & Local History Service SBA/657/26, Dr J S Muir of Selkirk, medical practitioner, journal for 1923]
Some showers of rain during the day + snow at night. Two accidents Willie Bryson’s younger boy1 (Springbank) when sledging sprained his knee + Archie McIntyre2 fell getting out of a car : got a lacerated wound of the scalp + had some concussion. Got Viewfield rent + banked it.3 This was polling day on the Prohibition question. Many cars coming + going to the Victoria Hall all day.4
1 Thomas Colledge Bryson (1908-), second son of William Bryson, woolsorter, and Jessie Bryson née Colledge. They lived at Springbank, Tait’s Hill, Selkirk [1921 Census and Valuation Roll 1923].
2 Archie Sibbald McIntyre (1896-), motor mechanic, recorded at Eastfield, Viewfield Park.
3 Dr Muir had purchased Viewfield for the use of the Muir & Graham medical partnership and took rent for it.
4 The Editor cannot identify this specific reference, though control of alcohol was being advocated at this time by both Nancy Witcher Langhorne Astor, Viscountess Astor (1879–1964), M.P. for Plymouth Sutton and the first woman Member to take her seat at Westminster, and Edwin Scrymgeour (1866-1947), M.P. for Dundee, the only person ever elected to the House of Commons on a prohibitionist ticket.
[Source: Scottish Borders Archives & Local History Service SBA/657/26, Dr J S Muir of Selkirk, medical practitioner, journal for 1923]
A most charming summer like day. Almost continuous sunshine + a very slight N.W. wind. I was going to Church when D.1 asked me to give Chlor[oform] for circumcision at the Home2 + I also got a ‘Phone to see old Jas. Hogg at Bowhill N. Lodge.3 Cycled there + leaving my bike at the watering trough I climbed Foulshiels Hill4 + had a lovely view except to N. + N.E. + E. It is only the 2nd or 3rd time I have been at the top. Jack + Nancy5 motored to Tushielaw6 to call for A Grieve7 + Helen8 went with them to Gilmanscleuch9. Jack + Nancy came to supper. I went to evening service.
1 David Charteris ‘Dav.’ Graham (1889-1963), M.B., Ch.B., medical practitioner and Dr Muir’s business partner.
2 Viewfield, the Muir and Graham medical partnership’s nursing home at the top of Viewfield Park and immediately behind the Victoria Halls.
3 Dr Muir had been visiting James Hogg at Bowhill North Lodge from time to time since November 1922 [see diary entries for 19, 20, 22, 25 November and 24 December 1922].
4 Foulshiels Hill, grid reference NGR NT427,302. The cattle trough may be that shown just south of Old Broadmeadows on Ordnance Survey 25 inch Selkirkshire Sheet XI.3, published 1899, at grid reference NGR NT418,297. There are no other troughs shown between Harehead and the unnamed bridge east of North Lodge on either Sheet XI.3, above, nor its counterpart to the south Ordnance Survey 25 inch Selkirkshire Sheet XI.7, published 1899.
5 John ‘Jack’ Roberts junior (1876-1966), mill owner, and Agnes Amelia ‘Nancy’ Roberts née Muir (1878-1948), of Wellwood, Ettrick Terrace, Selkirk.
6 Tushielaw, Ettrick.
7 Grieve is unidentified.
8 Helen Frances ‘Mousey’ Muir (1880-1963), Dr Muir’s third daughter and sometime housekeeper.
9 Gilmanscleuch, Kirkhope.
[Source: Scottish Borders Archives & Local History Service SBA/657/26, Dr J S Muir of Selkirk, medical practitioner, journal for 1923]
From my room at the Haven1 I saw from a window facing S.S.E. a magnificent sunrise. It kept fair all day with sunshine in forenoon but with a cold N.W. wind. In the forenoon Jack + Nancy2 walked with me to the village + then I went on to the Head. Saw Solan geese fishing3: picked a few springs of bell heather in flower. Called for the Wilsons4 at [illegible] House. Got back to lunch at 1 + then Jack + I walked along the shore to where a burn comes in at the targets5 + we turned up to the Eyemouth road + home by Coldingham. Miss Cowe6 arrived in the evening + kissed every one of us. I recited to them in the evening ‘Tam & the Leeches’7 + ‘The Pill’8.
6 Miss Isobel Cowe was the Proprietor of the house, offices and garden named St Abbs Haven, St Abbs, Coldingham [1925 Valuation Roll] but is otherwise unidentified.
7 Tam and the Leeches from ‘The Auld Doctor, and Other Poems and Songs in Scots’ by David Rorie (1867-1946), D.S.O., M.D.C.M., D.P.H., doctor, folklorist and poet. An extract reads “Faith there’s a hantle queer complaints | To cheenge puir sinners into saints | An’ mony divers ways o’ deein’ | That doctors hae a chance o’ seein’ | The Babylonian scartit bricks | To tell his doots o’ Death’s dark tricks.”
8 The Peel (Pill) from ‘Fancies of a Physician, Medical and Otherwise, in Scots and English’ by Dr John F Fergus (1865-1943), Brown Son & Ferguson, Glasgow, 1938. Its penultimate verse reads “Syne it was a hard to name it, but it was waur to heal | But the doctor, couthy body, garr’d the fella rak’ a peel: | An oh, it was an unco peel made up wi’ money a pushion, | There was scammony and jalap in’t, an aloes in profusion, | And calomel and rhubarb – but it cured him a’ the same | O’ the awful’ unco feelin’ that was wummlin’ in his wame.”
[Source: Scottish Borders Archives & Local History Service SBA/657/26, Dr J S Muir of Selkirk, medical practitioner, journal for 1923]
Fair : cold + a little frost. Roads pretty bad. Saw a dozen town cases motoring. Left at 2 + did Lilliesleaf + Sprot Homes.1 Went on to Newtown + met Jack2 who was at a Unionist meeting at which Dalkeith was adopted Candidate.3 We left Newtown at 4 in Jack’s Citroën + went via Stitchill, Eccles, Leitholm, Duns, Preston + Reston to the Haven, St Abbs.4 which we reached about 6.20. Found Nancy5 pretty well. Got warmed + had a comfortable supper. We encountered a heavy fall of snow between Leitholm + Duns.
1 Six almshouses at Lilliesleaf provided by the Miss Frances Sprot Trust endowed in 1881 by Miss Frances Sprot and formally known as the Miss Frances Sprot Homes.
2 John ‘Jack’ Roberts junior (1876-1966), mill owner, of Wellwood, Ettrick Terrace, Selkirk, and husband of Nancy (see below).
3 Walter John Montagu Douglas Scott (1894-1973), 8th Duke of Buccleuch from 1935 but at this time Earl of Dalkeith. Lord Dalkeith was to take Sir Thomas Henderson’s parliamentary seat for Roxburghshire and Selkirkshire on 6 December 1923 when Dalkeith received 11,258 votes (43.1%) to Henderson’s 8,046 (30.8%) with George Dallas in third place with 6,811 (26.1%).
4 The Roberts family routinely holidayed on the east coast, in Berwickshire or Northumberland. Other members of the family had travelled to St Abbs on 5 November.
5 Dr Muir’s daughter Agnes Amelia ‘Nancy’ Roberts née Muir (1878-1948) had been diagnosed with Exophthalmic goitre or Graves Disease earlier in 1923.
[Source: Scottish Borders Archives & Local History Service SBA/657/26, Dr J S Muir of Selkirk, medical practitioner, journal for 1923]
Rumbling Clint's Scottish Notes 