Another fine day: warm but with a cool N.W. breeze. No rain. Did a town list of 12 cycling + on to Newarkburn + Thirladean. Was called to Mrs Alex^r Heatlie, Bridge Street at 2 + got her over at 10 minutes to 4 (a.m.)¹. Got tea there. David [Graham, co-partner] had to go to Dryhope at night, Mrs Gray not being so well. Mrs Mackintosh + Helen went to the Picture House.

¹ Christine Sharp Heatlie, born 3 hours 55 minutes p.m. 27 June 1919, at Bridge Street, Selkirk, daughter of Alexander Heatlie, wool sorter, and Mary Heatlie née Pringle, married 28 January 1910, at Selkirk

[Source: Scottish Borders Archives & Local History Service SBA/657/22, Dr J S Muir of Selkirk, medical practitioner, journal for 1919]

A very nice sunny day with cool N to NE breeze. David quite forgot an appointment to curette Mrs Taylor, Ettrickhaugh Road in the morning so I met him there at 2. In the forenoon I cycled to [?] Street, Bridgehaugh Mill, Ashybank &c. Drew £150 from the firm for myself. Stamped Baptie’s + Bella’s insurance cards¹. Spent the afternoon putting my clothes etc together for my holiday. I am taking a box of Helen’s + my larger kit bag.

¹ Thomas Baptie (1860-1929), Dr Muir’s driver and Isabella ‘Bella’ Paulin (b.1873), the Muir family housekeeper

[Source: Scottish Borders Archives & Local History Service SBA/657/22, Dr J S Muir of Selkirk, medical practitioner, journal for 1919]

Still cold + windy + some heavy showers in evening. Cycled to a few in town + Ettrickbank Mill. Made out some accounts in afternoon. Mrs Mackintosh came to supper when we had crab pie, new potatoes + Port, all provided by her, besides which we had a fine salmon for breakfast, also from her.

[Source: Scottish Borders Archives & Local History Service SBA/657/22, Dr J S Muir of Selkirk, medical practitioner, journal for 1919]

N.W. wind still blowing but moderated during the day + went round to N.E. at night + calm. Some showers during the day + very steady rain from 7 o’clock. Gave Miss Arnot gas + Dav. [Dr David Graham] opened a cervical abscess¹. Saw some town cases + cycled to Forest Mill, Sunderland Hall West Lodge + stables. Made out some accounts in afternoon. Walt Dobson fitted a new light suit². Baptie had to drive D. in the Swift again. Helen went down to Elmpark to see Mrs Mackintosh who returned from Edinburgh.

¹ Margaret Arnot née Grieve, wife of Gideon Arnot, master plumber, married 1908, with one son, born 1909

² Walter Dalgleish Dobson (1861-1936), tailor, at 19 Tower Street, Selkirk, with his wife Jessie Grierson [1911 Census]

[Source: Scottish Borders Archives & Local History Service SBA/657/22, Dr J S Muir of Selkirk, medical practitioner, journal for 1919]

Cold N.W. gale + some heavy showers in evening. Very little sunshine. Made 11 town calls cycling + then went to Bridgelands, Yair, Sunderland Hall West Lodge + Cannon Street. D. [Dr David Graham] was at Whitehillbrae, Sundhope + Lewinshope + later at Sunderland Hall Lodge + Yair Stables when there was a message to see the chauffeur’s sister. Sent Jean, Dora + Patrick [three of Muir’s children] “Southern Reporter” with account of the Friday Common Riding.

[Source: Scottish Borders Archives & Local History Service SBA/657/22, Dr J S Muir of Selkirk, medical practitioner, journal for 1919]

A sunless rather chilly day with S.W. wind: slight shower in forenoon and again at night. Baptie heard a peel of thunder. Walked to Tower Street + Castle Street + down to Raeburn Place where I gave Mrs Hall Chloroform for D. [Dr David Graham, co-partner] to curette which however he did not carry out as the uterus was distended. We then went in the Swift [car] to Lewinshope + removed tonsils + adenoids from Nelly Stewart + on to Dryhope returning by Newarkburn about 2. I was in the house till service except going down to see Bella Henderson. Jack, Nancy + the Birches came to supper. They had motored to Brampton [?] to see horses [?].

[Source: Scottish Borders Archives & Local History Service SBA/657/22, Dr J S Muir of Selkirk, medical practitioner, journal for 1919]

Went down to Mauldsheugh at 9 when D. [Dr David Graham, co-partner] operated on Joan Girdwood’s little boy for hernia¹. Came back to Castle Street to Rob. Ruthven who had an attack of malaria. Then home + cycled to Forest Road, Newarkburn + Thirladean. David [Graham] attended Mrs Gray, Dryhope, this morning. She is the daughter of Davis née Linton + her husband is one of the Grays of Ashkirktown. The child is the first grandchild on both sides². Spent the afternoon making out list of necessaries for Glenluce [holiday] + studying maps. Mrs Stewart, Lewinshope, called with her first + I arranged to have her tonsils + adenoids removed tomorrow³. Helen has [?] a new carpet in my dressing room made of bits of the carpet that is in the bedroom.

¹ Probably John Hislop Girdwood, born 13 August 1918 at 15 Kilncroft, Selkirk, son of Adam Girdwood, postman and gunner, Royal Naval Reserve, and Joan Girdwood née Johnstone

² Margaret Annie Gray, born 21 June 1919, at Dryhope, Yarrow, daughter of William Gray, farmer, and Margaret Violetta Miller Gray née Davis, married 14 May 1918, at Ashkirk

³ Assume Helen Nichol Stewart, born 28 February 1909 at Lewinshope farm house, Yarrow, daughter of Robert Stewart, farmer, and Margaret Brydon Stewart née Mitchell, married 15 June 1905 at Kirkhope

[Source: Scottish Borders Archives & Local History Service SBA/657/22, Dr J S Muir of Selkirk, medical practitioner, journal for 1919]

Had an attack of indigestion during the night: probably amylaceous. Motored down to Sunderland Hall stables after breakfast + came back by Forest Road. Left at 11.15 in Jack’s motor + picked up Dav. [Dr David Graham] + Pat Smith¹ + went to Tom Anderson’s Funeral². It was a beautiful day. There was [a] service in the Church taken by Kirkpatrick³: Mackenzie⁴ at the grave + McMillan ⁵ pronounced the benediction. Had one of the chords with Ogilvie, Q.S. + U. + S. Alexander + a man I didn’t know⁶. In afternoon went for a run to St Boswells, Courthill, Nenthorn, Mellowlees + walked the road from Cove House to Craig House⁷ coming home via Leaderfoot + Gattonside [?] 35½.

¹ Patrick ‘Pat’ Smith (1858-1930), advocate and sheriff-substitute for Selkirk and Peebles

² Thomas Scott Anderson (1852-1919), M.D., landowner, sheep farmer and author, never practised as a medical practitioner, since 1891 of Ettrickshaws, Kirkhope

³ The Reverend R Kirkpatrick, minister of Yarrow Church

⁴ The Reverend George E Mackenzie, Minister of Kirkhope Church 1918-1934

⁵ The Reverend Hugh Macmillan (1842-1930), former Minister of Kirkhope, later at Edinburgh

⁶ The funeral is described relatively briefly in the Southern Reporter 26 June 1919; the pallbearers are not identified

⁷ Mellowlees, Nenthorn Parish, grid reference kilometre square NGR NT6537, Covehouse, NT628379 and Craig House, Mertoun Parish, approximate grid reference NT6237 [Craig House is clearly shown on the Ordnance Survey 6 inch Roxburghshire Sheet VIII.1897 / 1899 while the route from Cove House across Brotherston Moor and below Redpath Hill may be clearly seen on Roxburghshire Sheet IV.SE, 1898 / 1899]

[Source: Scottish Borders Archives & Local History Service SBA/657/22, Dr J S Muir of Selkirk, medical practitioner, journal for 1919]

I thought of going for a cycle run today but and rose at 6 for that purpose but there was such a S.W. gale + the glass was still falling that I gave it up. It rained a little in the morning but not much. There was very little doing. David came up + we sat till 12 o’clock over money matters which, with the aid of Sandie Telfer, we have now got squared. To date we have drawn last year £1941 + there is still to come. The expenses are heavy = about £575 but they will never be so much again. Walked to Forest Road + Ettrickhaugh Road. In evening had to go down to Sunderland Hall to see the girl Rose.

[Source: Scottish Borders Archives & Local History Service SBA/657/22, Dr J S Muir of Selkirk, medical practitioner, journal for 1919]

Was called up at 4.15 a.m. for Mrs And. Brown (Lizzie Inglis) who had a d. [daughter] at 6.45 all right¹. Cycled in forenoon to Old Mill Farm, Newarkburn + Thirladean. Came down Under Walk from the school + had a cigarette just below Harewoodglen + watched a grey wagtail for nearly an hour. Attended meeting of Hospital Committee at 3 + War Memorial Committees at 9.30 in Town Hall. When the Brit. Lin. [Bank] Garden was finally decided on a site, only 4 voting for the Victoria Hall². There was a stiffish S.W. wind + the glass was falling.

¹ Margaret Nicholson Brown, born 18 June 1919, at 33 Forest Road, Selkirk, daughter of Andrew Brown, foreman woollen twister, and Elizabeth Scott ‘Lizzie’ Brown née Ingles, married 2 August 1911, Selkirk

² The Southern Reporter 19 June 1919 includes a detailed account of the meeting, its speakers and the options debated; the plot chosen was the Ettrick Terrace / Chapel Place end of the garden of the British Linen Company, subseqently Bank of Scotland, branch in Market Square as clearly shown on the Ordnance Survey 1:500 (10.56 ft to 1 mile) Selkirk Sheet XII.31 of 1865 https://maps.nls.uk/view/74416838/

[Source: Scottish Borders Archives & Local History Service SBA/657/22, Dr J S Muir of Selkirk, medical practitioner, journal for 1919]