A quite dry day with N.W. wind + a good deal of sun. Message from Birrell¹ to see Finlayson.² Cycled round town first + then to Lilliesleaf where I got a message from Mauldsheugh³ to see Jas. Elliot, Hermiston⁴ who had Pharyngeo-oesophageal gastric catarrh. I am inclined to think from tobacco + whisky. Took the opportunity of going along the old familiar road from Hermiston + Sinton Parkhead to Hawick Road.⁵ Wrote Helen⁶ + sent her a letter from Mrs Kennedy.⁷ Wrote Jack⁸ saying I would not likely get to Alnmouth⁹ + Jessie Boyd¹⁰ about Glendearg.¹¹

¹ Andrew Birrell (about 1857-1950), schoolteacher, at Lilliesleaf, 1891 Census and in VRs 1891-1940; born Monimail, Fife, he married 1882, Catherine ‘Kate’ Smith and had children Christina Maggie Birrell (1884-1971) and Andrew Smith Birrell (1886-1917), both born Lesmahagow, Lanarks. Birrell was described as ‘headmaster’, 1921 VR [sources: 1921 Valuation Roll, VR011600033-/556, Roxburgh County, Page 556 of 993; Christina’s death, 1971, 451/ 21, Newport On Tay].

² Finlayson is so far unidentified.

³ Mauldsheugh was Dr Graham’s home.

⁴ James Lambert Elliot was the Tenant at Hermiston farm and house, Lilliesleaf, Roxburghshire.

⁵ Dr Muir cycled from Hermiston, grid reference NGR NT512,231, south of Riddell, via Synton Parkhead, NT488,214, to what is now the A7.

⁶ Helen Muir (1880-1963), Dr Muir’s third daughter and sometime housekeeper, was evidently still away, presumably at Haslemere in Surrey.

⁷ Mary Balfour Kennedy née Alison (1889-1978) whose husband William Nicol Watson Kennedy (1888-1961), O.B.E., M.D., D.P.E., medical officer of health and school medical officer for Selkirkshire circa 1921 had flitted to a similar role in Croydon, Surrey.

⁸ John ‘Jack’ Roberts junior (1876-1966), mill owner and Dr Muir’s son-in-law.

⁹ The Roberts family had previously holidayed at Alnmouth in Northumberland. Dr Muir joined them 22-26 September 1922.

¹⁰ Jessie Milne Brack Boyd (1867-1961), of Faldonside, plantswoman and gardener, daughter of William Brack Boyd (1831-1918) and Elizabeth ‘Jessie’ Boyd née Wilson, married 1 July 1862 at Morebattle.

¹¹ The story of Glendearg has not yet been told.

[Source: Scottish Borders Archives & Local History Service SBA/657/26, Dr J S Muir of Selkirk, medical practitioner, journal for 1923]

Awful Earthquake in Japan¹

Robert Currie Rockville died today²

Went into Edinburgh by the 9.14 via Peebles + got along to Rutland Square in time for meeting of J.A.S.C. + R.P.S.C.³ We adjourned at 1.20 [?] for lunch which a party of us got at the Caledonian.⁴ I had to leave the meeting at 3.40 as I wanted to buy a date stamp + catch the 4.20. Dined at Levenlea⁵ with John Roberts, his daughter in law + her daughter⁶: Nellie Harrison + her daughter⁷ + Clive Craig Brown⁸ with whom I walked home. A little drizzle at night, otherwise a fairly good day.

¹ 関東大地震, the Great Kantō earthquake was of magnitude 7.9 M_w and was followed by fires and at least one firestorm. The disaster killed a number of individuals now quoted as 105,385 (immediately published numbers were higher). It was accompanied by the mass murder of foreigners, a precursor of Japanese atrocities during the invasion of Manchuria, the Second Sino-Japanese War, the invasion of French Indochina and across the Pacific Theatre of War after 7 December 1941. The history of the Great Kantō killings has been subject to revisionist writing including, notably, by J Mark Ramseyer of Harvard Law School [for commentary see for example Morris-Suzuki, Tessa. “Un-remembering the Massacre: How Japan’s “History Wars” are Challenging Research Integrity Domestically and Abroad.” The Georgetown Journal of International Affairs, October 25, 2021, https://gjia.georgetown.edu/2021/10/25/un-remembering-the-massacre-how-japans-history-wars-are-challenging-research-integrity-domestically-and-abroad/. Accessed 3 Sept. 2023.]

² Robert Currie junior (about 1847-1923), woollen hosiery manufacturer, died 6 September 1923, death certified by D Charteris Graham M.B., Ch.B. The son of Robert Currie, hosiery manufacturer, and Mary Little and married to Mary Murray, Robert lived at Rockville, Selkirk. Though he was known as ‘junior’ he was actually the fourth of five generations of the Currie family at Selkirk with the given name Robert.

³ Two British Medical Association committees.

⁴ Assume the Caledonian Station Hotel, Edinburgh.

⁵ The Harrison family was at Levenlea, Selkirk (Leavenlea in 1921 Census) around this time. The family comprised John Harrison junior (1886-1981), tweed manufacturer, Beatrice Annie de Fraine (1884-1962) whom John had married in 1917 at Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire, and a daughter Beatrice de Fraine Harrison (1920-1998), born Selkirk..

⁶ Assume Sir John Tonkin Roberts (1845-1934), Eulalie Violet Roberts née Farquhar (1873-1931), widow of George Roberts (1872-1903) and Mary Eulalie Roberts (1899-1995), her daughter, all over from New Zealand in 1923 (though one cannot readily dismiss the idea that this refers to another daughter-in-law Catherine Emily ‘Emma’ Roberts née Downes (1884-1949) and her daughter, Dorothy Violet Roberts, later MacMillan (1909-).

⁷ Nellie Harrison and her daughter cannot be readily identified.

⁸ Clive Craig Brown (1876-1942), tweed manufacturer, sometime of Woodburn, son of Thomas Craig Brown and his successor in business.

[Source: Scottish Borders Archives & Local History Service SBA/657/26, Dr J S Muir of Selkirk, medical practitioner, journal for 1923]

Very dark + drizzling this morning + forenoon but faired after. Strongish W. wind : cold. Walked to Chapel Street, Backrow, Bank, Buccleuch Road, Halliday’s Park, Goslaw Green + Curror Street. Attended meeting of Hospital Committee + read annual report. Had P.C. [post card] from Nancy¹ from Boot a place in Eskdale² in the very south of Cumberland. Sent her a reply P.C. Wrote Helen.³ Mrs Mack⁴ called = grapes, pears + a tongue!

¹ Agnes Amelia ‘Nancy’ Roberts née Muir (1878-1948), Dr Muir’s second daughter.

² Boot, grid reference NGR NY176,010, is close to the eastern terminus of the Eskdale and Ravenglass Railway and reached from Ambleside and the rest of the Lake District via the Wrynose and Hardknott Passes.

³ Helen Muir (1880-1963), Dr Muir’s third daughter and sometime housekeeper, was evidently still away, presumably at Haslemere in Surrey.

⁴ Dr Muir’s generous friend 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]

Wet this morning + a shower during the day. Felt a wee bit stiff with the walk + pushing my bike 3 miles over the moor from Dirrington Law to the Lauder road.¹ Gave Chlor[oform] at Viewfield² for an appendicitis + saw a few town cases cycling. Got a returned letter of Dora’s³ to Willie Rodger⁴ dated May 27^th 1921. Wrote Willie + sent him the letter and wrote Dora. Got letter from Helen⁵ yesterday.

¹ Dr Muir had a rather unsatisfactory trip cross-country between Longformacus and the Choicelee – Westruther road, see his diary entry for 3 September 1923.

² Viewfield, the Muir and Graham medical partnership’s nursing home at the top of Viewfield Park and immediately behind the Victoria Halls.

³ Andrina Dorothy ‘Dora’ Muir (1882-1978), nurse and Dr Muir’s youngest daughter, was living and working in Egypt in 1923 but at Selkirk in 1921.

⁴ William Brydone ‘Willie’ Rodger (1880-1959), son of George Rodger (about 1843-1885), solicitor, and Isabella Margaret or Maggie Rodger née Brydone. Born Selkirk, he was later a stockbroker (admitted to the London Stock Exchange, 1904, at which time he lived at Redcliffe Square, Earls Court, Kensington). He was at Sevenoaks, Kent, 1911 Census and at Trey Lodge, Malling, Kent, 1939 England and Wales Register.

⁵ Helen Muir was evidently still away, presumably at Haslemere in Surrey.

[Source: Scottish Borders Archives & Local History Service SBA/657/26, Dr J S Muir of Selkirk, medical practitioner, journal for 1923]

There was a little rain in the evening

Left 7.26 : perfect morning clear calm + sunny : probably a touch of frost. At Leaderfoot the Tweed was steaming when the sun struck it. I went to Melrose (where I got a Scotsman), Earlston, Greenlaw + turned off before Duns to Longformacus.¹ It is a long pull up but the views were splendid right away to Cheviot. I hardly recognised Longformacus. The last time I was there was to visit Madill² with Tom Dunn³ when we walked from Long Yester.⁴ I came back by the path at the base of Derrington Law to Cattleshiel but went off the track + arrived on the road east of Cattleshiel about a mile.⁵ Ran home to Westruther, Houndslow, Corsbie + Legerwood.⁶ Had a bottle of lager [?] at Melrose + got home to a crowd at 6.30. Dined at Elmpark⁷ to meet Leonie Charles.⁸ It was cloudy + dull in the late afternoon.

¹ Dr Muir must have turned off the Duns road near Pouterlany, grid reference NGR NT771,532.

² The Reverend James Millar Moorehead Madill (1879-1955), B.D., Church of Scotland minister, born Ireland, recorded lodging at Longformacus Mill, Longformacus in the 1911 Census and established at Elgin by the 1921 Census.

³ Thomas ‘Tom’ Dunn (about 1844-1921), one of Dr Muir’s oldest friends, a druggist, chemist and Registrar. The son of John Dunn, chemist & druggist, and Hyndmer Rutherford Dunn née Hewat. Of 9 High Street, Selkirk, he died 13 February 1921, aged 77 [778/ 13 Selkirk].

⁴ The pair must have crossed to Lammermuirs from Longyester, East Lothian, NT545,652, to Longformacus, presumably 12 years or so before when Mr Madill was at the latter (see footnote 3).

⁵ On an Ordnance Survey sheet it looks as if Dr Muir thought that he had taken the track that runs southwards from west of Longformacus at about NT687,570 and between Dirrington Great Law and Dirrington Little Law at about NT693,542. This track pops out onto the Westruther – Choicelee road opposite Kettelshiel at NT703,518. Considering the terrain which Dr Muir would have had to cross to reach the road that far east of Kettelshiel instead – including Shiningpool Moss and the Foul Burn – it is impossible to do anything but conclude that Dr Muir had instead started down the path at Henlaw Wood, NT712,550. This is very poor navigation indeed, or just as likely incompetent map-reading.

⁶ Dr Muir’s route home was via Westruther, NT634,499, Houndslow, NT631,472, Corsbie, NT606,441, and Legerwood, NT586,432.

⁷ Elm Park, Selkirk, home of Dr Muir’s good friend Agnes Mackintosh née Watson, formerly Harper (1859-1946).

⁸ Leonie Charles is unidentified.

[Source: Scottish Borders Archives & Local History Service SBA/657/26, Dr J S Muir of Selkirk, medical practitioner, journal for 1923]

The barometer has not been above ‘12 o’clock’ for weeks till today but for all that there were one or two slight showers in the forenoon otherwise it was a fine bright day with very little wind N. I went to morning service in the Victoria Hall¹ which was fairly well filled. Before that I cycled to Ettrick Terrace, Raeburn Place + Hospital. Spent the afternoon doing book work + in the evening made preparation for a possible run tomorrow. I was able to allow Bella² out for the first time since Helen³ left.⁴

¹ At a meeting of the Session it had been decided to worship at the Victoria Hall for the five to seven weeks it was going to take for the church to be painted, see Dr Muir’s diary entry for 19 August 1923.

² Isabella ‘Bella’ Paulin (1873-?1952), the Muir family housekeeper, daughter of James Paulin, groom, and Grace Paulin née Cranston, born Ladykirk, Berwickshire [Sources include: ‘A Souter’s Bairn, recollections of life in Selkirk’ by Jenny Corbett with Avril Jack, published Selkirk Common Good Fund, 1993].

³ Helen Frances ‘Mousey’ Muir (1880-1963), Dr Muir’s third daughter and sometime housekeeper.

⁴ The Editor finds in outrageous that Dr Muir’s housekeeper hasn’t had a day off, as seems to be reported here, since Helen travelled south to Haslemere with Dr Muir on 16 July 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 except for a shower between 5 + 6. I had a good night’s rest but for slight cramp. Cycled to Hospital where I met Menzies¹ + the McMillan girl who is a Dr at Greenock.² There was a flower show in Victoria Hall and a cycle parade for Rugby Club. The procession passed here. There were a number of very pretty costumes + collecting boxes were going [?]. Mrs Mack³ came here to see them. There was a heavy shower as the procession passed here.

¹ James Morris Menzies (1871-1926), M.B., Ch.M. Edin., 1894, M.D., 1902, of Ettrick Lodge, Selkirk.

² The Editor has searched the Medical Registers and cannot find a female doctor named McMillan or Macmillan in practice at Greenock in the 1920s.

³ Dr Muir’s good friend 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]

After getting through the little I had to do + cycling to Hospital, I left at 12 + cycled via St Boswells¹ to Jedfoot + walked up the Roman Road 2¼ miles. I could only cycle a few short distances as the road is disused + overgrown. I struck the Jedburgh – Cessford road before Crailinghall + went on to Cessford, Morebattle, Linton, Frogden, Grahamslaw, Kirkbank + home by Ancrum. From Kalefoot to home fully 18 miles I came in 2 hours. The whole journey was 52.2 + with 1.4 in morning 53.6. I took my lunch on the Roman Road. There was rain all round but I got none although it was dropping of [sic] the trees between Ancrum + Ashieburn. In some places the roads were very wet.

¹ Dr Muir’s trip was via St Boswells, NT591,307, Jedfoot, NT661,240, Dere Street (running S.E. from Jedfoot Bridge), Crailinghall, NT699,220, Cessford, NT735,235, Morebattle, NT772,249, Linton, NT773,265, Frogden, NT763,280, Grahamslaw, NT723,273, Kirkbank, NT707,271, Ancrum, NT627,245 and Ashieburn, NT604,251.

[Source: Scottish Borders Archives & Local History Service SBA/657/26, Dr J S Muir of Selkirk, medical practitioner, journal for 1923]

First day without rain since 19^th at least during the day for the slates + pavement looked as if it had been raining in the early morning. Walked to Hospital. Gave anaesthetic for tonsils and adenoids at Home.¹ Walked to Bank + a few + then to Shawpark.² Wrote a long letter to Patrick³ + enclosed one I had from Dora⁴ this morning + a photo of the Viewfield staff.

¹ Viewfield, the Muir and Graham medical partnership’s nursing home at the top of Viewfield Park and immediately behind the Victoria Halls.

² Dr Muir had been attending Shawpark, Selkirk from time to time to see John Dun Boylan (1850-1924), a civil engineer, who had a heart attack on 11 March 1923.

³ Patrick Rodger Stewart ‘Pat’ Muir (1879-1961), Dr Muir’s only son, living in New Zealand since 1902.

⁴ Andrina Dorothy ‘Dora’ Muir (1882-1978), nurse and Dr Muir’s youngest daughter, was living and working in Egypt.

[Source: Scottish Borders Archives & Local History Service SBA/657/26, Dr J S Muir of Selkirk, medical practitioner, journal for 1923]

It began to rain today about midday + poured on all afternoon + was still raining at 9.30. Walked to Hospital + Curror Street +c. Gave Chlor[oform] for adenoids at Home. Walked to Hospital + got very wet. Was in house all afternoon. Mrs Mack¹ called with pies : grapes : cream : fresh herrings : a cake : pair of stockings + a miniature Burns! Had meeting of Cycle Club committee at night.

¹ Dr Muir’s generous friend 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]