… another dry day : very sharp N. to N.E. wind. Not a single message and only three people at night! Sic transit!1 Walked to a few cases + cycled down to Dunsdale. Got what I thought was a letter from Mary2 but it turned out to be a cheque from her to the London Hospital with a note to Lord [illegible]. She must have sent a letter for me to him. Got a Sunday Oregonian3 – a most American paper – from I suppose John or James Russell.4
1 Sic transit gloria mundi (Latin) or Thus passes the glory of the world.
2 Mary Jane Wallace née Muir (1836-1933), Dr Muir’s sister, widow of James Wallace (d.1922), and living at Scotstoune, Haslemere, Surrey.
3 The Sunday Oregonian (1881-), published at Portland, Oregon.
4 The Russells are so far unidentified but must have been local men who had emigrated.
[Source: Scottish Borders Archives & Local History Service SBA/657/26, Dr J S Muir of Selkirk, medical practitioner, journal for 1923]
A dry cold day though the pavements were wet in the morning. Keen N.W. wind, moderate. Helen1 went to St Abbs2 with Jack + his father.3 I cycled to Curror Street, Dunsdale, Cannon Street, Philiphaugh Cottages, Ettrickhaugh Road + after getting back to Glebe Terrace in all 5.85 [miles]. Mrs Mack4 called with eggs [and] cream. I was obliged to lunch off porridge as Clark5 had my upper plate repairing + I couldn’t chew with Logan’s6 old one, so the cream came in splendidly.
1 Helen Frances ‘Mousey’ Muir (1880-1963), Dr Muir’s third daughter and sometime housekeeper.
2 The Roberts family routinely holidayed on the east coast, in Berwickshire or Northumberland.
3 John ‘Jack’ Roberts junior (1876-1966), mill owner and Dr Muir’s son-in-law, and his father Sir John Tonkin Roberts (1845-1934).
4 Dr Muir’s friend Agnes Mackintosh née Watson, formerly Harper (1859-1946) of Elm Park, Selkirk.
5 Thomas Raeburn ‘T Raeburn’ Clark (1879-1943), dental surgeon, at 8 The Green, Selkirk, and of Ettrickbridge, 1920 Valuation Roll; married to Isabella Watson, he died, 9 July 1943, aged 63, at 153 Morningside Drive, Edinburgh, usual residence Elburn, Ettrickbridge.
6 Logan must have been Dr Muir’s previous dentist but does not appear to have practised in Selkirk.
[Source: Scottish Borders Archives & Local History Service SBA/657/26, Dr J S Muir of Selkirk, medical practitioner, journal for 1923]
Winter is here + from Broomhill I could see some of the Ettrick hills white. There was a strong N.W. wind + [illegible] showers of heavy rain but no snow fell here. Saw some cases + went to morning service + then motored to Bridgelands (Miss Scott1) + Broomhill (Mrs Graham2) + Curror Street. Dressed Margaret Dawson’s finger3 + was not out again. Wrote Jean4 + Dav. Inglis.5
1 Miss Scott is so far unidentified.
2 Mrs Graham is unidentified, though both Andrew and William Graham appear on Valuation Rolls for Broomhill in the early 1920s.
3 Margaret Dawson, Chapel Street cannot be identified.
4 Jane Henderson Logan ‘Jean’ Pike née Muir (1877-1941), Dr Muir’s eldest daughter, widowed but still living in Newington, Edinburgh.
5 Perhaps David Nicholson Ingles (1888-1933), A.R.H.A., portrait artist, who did Dr Muir’s portrait in 1913.
[Source: Scottish Borders Archives & Local History Service SBA/657/26, Dr J S Muir of Selkirk, medical practitioner, journal for 1923]
Fine morning : strong W. gale. Heavy blasts of rain in afternoon gradually becoming sleet. At night slush was lying in the streets. After seeing a few town cases I motored to Curror Street, Dunsdale, Philiphaugh Cottages, Yarrow School + Fastheugh.1 Luckily I was nearly back to the car on my way from the latter when one of the blasts came on. Dined at Elmpark2 with Jack3, Charlie4 + their father.5 Jack was hunting at Borthwickbrae + then was at a meeting at St Boswells. Helen6 had her tea with Mrs Harkness.7
1 Dr Muir had been attending Elizabeth Hutchison at Fastheugh, grid reference NGR NT392,289, at the west end of Black Andrew woods on the south side of the Yarrow Water.
2 Elm Park, Selkirk, home of Dr Muir’s friend Agnes Mackintosh née Watson, formerly Harper (1859-1946).
3 John ‘Jack’ Roberts junior (1876-1966), mill owner and Dr Muir’s son-in-law.
4 Charles Henry ‘Charlie’ Roberts (1877-1954), born New Zealand, tweed manufacturer, of Thornfield, 25 Scott’s Place, Selkirk and the brother of Jack Roberts junior.
5 Sir John Tonkin Roberts (1845-1934), father of John Roberts junior, Dr Muir’s son-in-law. Born Selkirk, he made his life in New Zealand but was over in Scotland in the summer of 1923.
6 Helen Frances ‘Mousey’ Muir (1880-1963), Dr Muir’s third daughter and sometime housekeeper.
7 Isabella ‘Bell’ Harkness née Lockie (1859-1929), daughter of Hugh Lockie, woollen millworker, and Helen Lockie née Fairbairn, married to John Harkness, baker. Her daughter Ella Fairbairn Harkness (1893-1915), woollen millworker, had died in 1915, aged 22, at Curror Street, Selkirk, of phthisis pulmonalis 18 months, certified by Dr John S Muir and members of the Muir family appear to have reached out to her every year since, see for example Dr Muir’s diary entry for 2 October 1920.
[Source: Scottish Borders Archives & Local History Service SBA/657/26, Dr J S Muir of Selkirk, medical practitioner, journal for 1923]
Fine clear sharp morning but glass [barometer] falling. There was a slight [illegible] in the afternoon. Margaret Dawson1, Chapel Street, had her right forefinger crushed at St Mary’s Mill + I got her to the Home + [illegible] the phalanx under Chlor[oform]. David2 operated for appendicitis on the youngest Mitchell from Ettrickbridgend.3 I cycled round the town + saw 8-9 cases. Mrs Mack4 called with various gifts. Had to return a refill for my electric cycle lamp which I got from Gray as the metallic contacts don’t fit.5
1 Margaret Dawson, Chapel Street cannot be identified.
2 David Charteris ‘Dav.’ Graham (1889-1963), M.B., Ch.B., medical practitioner and Dr Muir’s business partner.
3 The youngest Mitchell is so far unidentified.
4 Dr Muir’s generous friend Agnes Mackintosh née Watson, formerly Harper (1859-1946), of Elm Park, Selkirk.
5 By refill Dr Muir means battery or cell.
[Source: Scottish Borders Archives & Local History Service SBA/657/26, Dr J S Muir of Selkirk, medical practitioner, journal for 1923]
Some hoar frost + fog but cleared up to a fine day. Had I not had to go to Edinburgh I would have had a run. Went in by 10.13 + called on Jean1 with a bunch of Chrysanthemums. Jean looking well but complaining of Neuritis in her right arm. Called at Young’s2 with my throat lamp. Had lunch at Picture House (five courses for 2/- and they went out for a bottle of lager) + spent nearly an hour seeing the picture. Meeting of Branch Council at 4.3 Nothing important. Got out by the 6 train. Helen4 called at Glenmayne but Mrs Murray5 was out. Bar. 29.6 20.5.
1 Jane Henderson Logan ‘Jean’ Pike née Muir (1877-1941), Dr Muir’s eldest daughter, widowed but still living in Newington, Edinburgh.
2 Presumably Archibald Young & Son, medical instrument makers, at 57-61 Forrest Road, Edinburgh.
3 This was one of the British Medical Association’s many committees and sub-committees.
4 Helen Frances ‘Mousey’ Muir (1880-1963), Dr Muir’s third daughter and sometime housekeeper.
5 Thomasina Maude Murray née Shearer (1867-1943) lived with her husband at Glenmayne, above the A7 and overlooking the River Tweed, for more detail see Dr Muir’s diary entry for 30 October 1923.
[Source: Scottish Borders Archives & Local History Service SBA/657/26, Dr J S Muir of Selkirk, medical practitioner, journal for 1923]
A fine day. I had no rain but Helen1 told me there was a heavy shower about 1. Breakfasted at 7 + cycled to Brotherstone2, where the hounds met, via Darnick + Newstead. It is exactly 12 miles. They found immediately on the hill behind the farm + I saw the run splendidly from the top for more than an hour when they ran to ground + killed. After that they found again in a field below the farm but I came away home via Clintmains + St Boswells to Eastfield.3 Got back at 2.15. Very tired + hungry. After lunch cycled to Dunsdale + Philiphaugh Cottages. Saw Charlie Herdman.4 Spoke to Summers5 who said the scent was bad.
1 Helen Frances ‘Mousey’ Muir (1880-1963), Dr Muir’s third daughter and sometime housekeeper.
3 Dr Muir seems to have crossed the Mertoun Bridge and returned home via Eastfield, Bowden, just south of the Selkirk – St Boswells road [1921 Census], where he had been attending Robert Ballantyne (1905-), see Dr Muir’s diary entry for 28 October 1923.
4 Charles William ‘Charlie’ Herdman (1880-1956), Proprietor Occupier, Friarshaugh, Friarshall and Fauhope Mains, Melrose, Roxburghshire [1922 Valuation Rolls, VR011600033-/933, Roxburgh County, page 933 of 972VR011600033-/934, and page 934 of 972]. Born 1880, Newington, he was at Melrose until about 1930, appears in the 1939 Register at Shipston-On-Stour, Warwickshire, with his wife Lucy Cameron Grace Campbell (1896–1981) and son John C Herdman (1931-2014), and died at The Grange, Kemerton, Worcestershire [not Gloucestershire as noted in some sources, where it had not been since boundary changes in 1931].
5 George Dever Summers (1872-1948), huntsman to the Duke of Buccleuch Hunt 1902-48. Inhabitant Occupier of a house at The Kennels, St Boswells, 1922 Valuation Roll and 1921 Census. At that time he lived there with his wife Louise Montier Summers née Strange and their daughter Mabel Louise Summers (1899-), though Mabel had married Hugh Robert Alexander Thomson of Musselburgh earlier in 1923.
[Source: Scottish Borders Archives & Local History Service SBA/657/26, Dr J S Muir of Selkirk, medical practitioner, journal for 1923]
Raining in the morning + at night but fair most of the day. Barometer rose from 28.9 to 29.13. Walked to Wylie1, Market Place, Mill Street + Dunsdale. Took swab from Nan Falla’s2 throat. Gave Mrs Clark3 Chlor[oform] at Viewfield4 for Curetting. Motored to Black Andro + walked to Fastheugh.5 Took Kelty.6 Miss Hutchison7 weaker. Williamina Scott, Dovecot, died this evening.8 Helen9 cycled to Glenmayne10 to call. Wrote Mary whose 87th birthday is tomorrow.11
1 There were two individuals named Wylie at Market Place, Selkirk – James and William – but it is not yet possible to know which Dr Muir was referring to.
2 Assume Janet Falla (about 1862-), described as a sick nurse, living at 31 Raeburn Place, Selkirk, 1921 Census.
3 Mrs Clark is so far unidentified.
4 Viewfield, the Muir and Graham medical partnership’s nursing home at the top of Viewfield Park and immediately behind the Victoria Halls.
6 Kelty was a dog that Dr Muir records taking for a walk very infrequently since at least 1917 but either someone else must have been his regular walker or he was not their dog.
7 Elizabeth Hutchison (about 1832-), sister of Thomas Hutchison (about 1848-), estate manager, both living at Fastheugh near Black Andro, Selkirk. For further detail see Dr Muir’s diary entry for 27 October 1923.
8 Wilhelmina Kiddy Scott (1843-1923), dressmaker, born Lilliesleaf, died 30 October 1923 at 29 Dovecot Park, Selkirk, aged 79, death certified by J S Muir M.B. She was the daughter of Robert Scott, auctioneer, and Elizabeth Scott née Whitworth. Wilhelmina never married.
9 Helen Frances ‘Mousey’ Muir (1880-1963), Dr Muir’s third daughter and sometime housekeeper.
10 Glenmayne, Galashiels, grid reference NGR NT497,337, home of Henry Smith ‘Harry’ Murray (1858-1924), mining company director and sometime soldier, and Thomasina Maude Murray née Shearer (1867-1943). Glenmayne is the house sitting dramatically above the A7 and overlooking the River Tweed more or less opposite Faldonside. It is visible on Ordnance Survey 25 inch Selkirkshire Sheet VIII.10, published 1899.
11 Mary Jane Wallace née Muir (1836-1933), Dr Muir’s sister, widow of James Wallace (d.1922), and living at Scotstoune, Haslemere, Surrey.
[Source: Scottish Borders Archives & Local History Service SBA/657/26, Dr J S Muir of Selkirk, medical practitioner, journal for 1923]
Although the pavements were wet it looked promising + there was some sun in the forenoon. The Barometer too had risen to 29.05 but by 1 the rain came on + it was wet all afternoon + on into the dark + then glass was falling again. I saw a town list of 21 cycling + had to go down specially to Stewart, Ettrickhaugh Road2 after being at Philiphaugh Cottages. Nancy3 went to Stables with a nurse.
1 Andrina Dorothy ‘Dora’ Muir (1882-1978), nurse and Dr Muir’s youngest daughter, was living and working in Egypt.
2 David Stewart, joiner, had a house and garden at Ettrickhaugh Road, Selkirk [1924 Valuation Rolls VR011700009-/488, Selkirk County, page 488 of 605].
3 Agnes Amelia ‘Nancy’ Roberts née Muir (1878-1948), Dr Muir’s second daughter, was unwell at this time.
[Source: Scottish Borders Archives & Local History Service SBA/657/26, Dr J S Muir of Selkirk, medical practitioner, journal for 1923]
Raining this morning as usual but faired by 10 + was a fine drying day. Glass still very low but rose to 28.8. Motored round town + then as it seemed fine I cycled to Eastfield1 going + coming via Midlem. It is just a fraction over 6 [miles] that way. Stopped between Eastfield + Midlem + enjoyed the lovely row. Cheviot was bathed in sunshine but there was rain at Peel Fell2 + then went to Thornfield3 to tea.
1 Dr Muir may have been at Eastfield, Bowden, just south of the Selkirk – St Boswells road [1921 Census] to attend Robert Ballantyne (1905-), born Ashkirk, son of Arthur Ballantyne and Violet Ballantyne née Wilson. On 13 August 1923 Mrs Ballantyne and Robert had presented themselves at evening consultation in some sort of difficulty and Dr Muir had also seen then since then.
2 Looking E.S.E. Dr Muir saw sun over the Cheviot but turning S.S.E. he saw rain at Peel Fell which sits above the road from Saughtree to Kielder.
3 Thornfield was the home of Charles Henry ‘Charlie’ Roberts (1877-1954), younger brother of John Roberts junior, 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]
Rumbling Clint's Scottish Notes 