The finest day of the season as yet. Abundant sunshine: moderate W. wind, warm atmosphere + clear. Two operations at Viewfield viz. Miss Falconer¹, [illegible] for Hallux Valgus + May Walker² for her tuberculous neck. Then I cycled to Hospital, Bridgelands (Jas. Hardie³) + High Faldonside (Mrs Montgomery the cook⁴). Jessie⁵ introduced me to Lady Chalmers⁶ a sister of Sir Robert Lorimer⁷. Then I went on via Darnick to Bowden Moor where I had my tea + home via Clarilawmoor. H. + D.⁸ with Mrs Mack⁹, Barb¹⁰ + Wally¹¹ went to the pictures.

¹ Miss Falconer and her residence are both unidentified

² May (probably Mary) Walker is unidentified

³ Assume James Hardie (about 1841-1922), retired ploughman, husband of Margaret Nicholson, who was Inhabitant Occupier not rated at Bridgelands Lodge, Galashiels, 1920 Valuation Roll

⁴ Mrs Montgomery the cook is unidentified though it may be possible to identify her when the 1921 Census is published later this year

⁵ Jessie Milne Brack Boyd (1867-1961), of Faldonside, plantswoman and gardener

⁶ Janet Alice Chalmers née Lorimer (1878-1932), widow of Sir David Patrick Chalmers (1835-1899), colonial judge, first Chief Justice of the Gold Coast and Chief Justice of British Guiana (Guyana) [ScotlandsPlaces: Sir David Patrick Chalmers 1835 – 1899]

¹ Sir Robert Stodart Lorimer (1864-1929), K.B.E., Scottish architect and furniture designer

⁸ Helen Frances ‘Mousey’ Muir (1880-1963), Dr Muir’s third daughter and sometime housekeeper and Andrina Dorothy ‘Dora’ Muir (1882-1978), Dr Muir’s youngest daughter and a nurse

⁹ Agnes Mackintosh née Watson, formerly Harper (1859-1946), of Elm Park, Selkirk

¹⁰ Andrina Henderson ‘Barbara’ Roberts, later Twhigg (1902-1996)

¹¹ If this is a correct reading Wally is unidentified

[Source: Scottish Borders Archives & Local History Service SBA/657/25, Dr J S Muir of Selkirk, medical practitioner, journal for 1922]

A fine day but dull at first. Strong N.W. wind. After seeing Mrs McDonald¹, Clifton Road I cycled to Forest Road, Cutcarwood, Yarrow Hall, Deuchar Mill, Newarkburn + Haining Henhouse getting home at 2. Feet rather tired + had a sleep after lunch. Went to evening service. Rogerson from Gala preaching². Dora³ had to go to bed with pain in her stomach. in the course of the afternoon I lost my ring + searched all my pockets + elsewhere without success. Eventually Mrs Mack⁴ found it in a pocket I had already investigated!

¹ Mrs Macdonald is probably Janet Macdonald née Scott (Macdonald and McDonald are used completely randomly in the records), wife of Alexander Macdonald, tweed designer, married 7 April 1905 at Hawick, Roxburghshire (she was born at Southdean, Roxburghshire); they had children Ian Macdonald (1908-), James Hunter Scott Macdonald (1911-) and Alick Macdonald (1913-)

² The Reverend John Rogerson (1234-1234), Presbyterian Church minister at St Aidan’s Church, Gala Park Road, and himself Tenant Occupier of a house ‘Elwyn’, Galashiels [1921 VR003500014-
xxx]

³ Andrina Dorothy ‘Dora’ Muir (1882-1978), nurse and Dr Muir’s youngest daughter

⁴ Agnes Mackintosh née Watson, formerly Harper (1859-1946), of Elm Park, Selkirk

[Source: Scottish Borders Archives & Local History Service SBA/657/25, Dr J S Muir of Selkirk, medical practitioner, journal for 1922]

A splendid day: wind still N.W. but not so strong + had quite died away by evening. Walked to Clifton Road, Under Mill, Tweed Mill, Forest Mill, Forest Road, Market Place, Backrow +c + saw 9 cases not counting the mills. Went to a sale in connection with Girl Guides to introduce Mrs Jeffrey whose name I forgot when making my speech. Read a while in the bower. Lord Napier’s sequestration in announced in today’s Scotsman¹. Late at night David did a Caesarean Section on a primipara from Bluecairn (who was Mrs Murray Brown’s nurse²). She had a very narrow pelvis + the child – a boy – was a big one³. I didn’t get to bed till 1.30.

¹ The Editor has been unable to find information about Lord Napier’s Sequestration

² It is possible that this refers to the wife of James Murray Brown who was the proprietor of the Traquair Arms, Innerleithen, 1925 Valuation Roll; it is a good fit geographically with their marriage at Peebles

³ John Halliday Stephen, born 11.30 p.m. on 27 May 1922 at Viewfield Nursing Home, Selkirk, the son of John Ritchie Stephen, dairyman, of Bluecairn, Bowhill, Selkirk, and Mary Amos Stephen née Halliday, married 22 June 1921, Peebles; his difficult birth did John Stephen no apparent harm and he died in the Scottish Borders in 2017, aged 95

[Source: Scottish Borders Archives & Local History Service SBA/657/25, Dr J S Muir of Selkirk, medical practitioner, journal for 1922]

Dull morning + very heavy shower at 11 but cleared up to a sunny day with a strong drouthy¹ N.W. wind which will spoil the fresh young foliage I fear. Felt a little tired + stiff after yesterday². Saw 6 cases to Hospital. Paid telephone accounts + took it easy in the house. Read Bradley’s Northumberland³ which Madge Ogilvie⁴ sent [? lent] me. Got nice note from Mrs Dunlop⁵. Helen and Dora⁶ were at Viewfield for supper.

¹ “Drouthy, adj. Also drouthie, droothy, drowthy, -ie; druthy (Uls. 1880 Patterson Gl. Ant. and Dwn.). Gen.Sc. forms of Eng. droughty. 1. Dry, gen. applied to the weather.” [Dictionar o the Scots Leid]; Dr Muir used a variant of this word in his diary of 5 April 1920

² The day before Dr Muir had cycled a little over 90 miles, a circular trip via Peebles down the River Tweed to Moffat and home via Birkhill, see his diary entry for 25 May 2022

³ Assume Arthur Granville Bradley, 1908, ‘The Romance of Northumberland’, Methuen and Co., London

⁴ Katherine Margaret ‘Madge’ Ogilvie née Scott Anderson (1879-1965) of Kirklea, Ashkirk

⁵ Assume Edith Mary Dunlop née Sugden (1846-1926), widow of Charles Walter Dunlop of Whitmuirhall, Selkirk who had died on 6 May 1922

⁶ Helen Frances ‘Mousey’ Muir (1880-1963) and Andrina Dorothy ‘Dora’ Muir (1882-1978), Dr Muir’s third and youngest daughters respectively

[Source: Scottish Borders Archives & Local History Service SBA/657/25, Dr J S Muir of Selkirk, medical practitioner, journal for 1922]

Run to Peebles + Moffat

Left at 6.5. Lovely morning clear + calm. Got to Peebles at 8.10. To the Tontine Hotel in 21.2. Had breakfast there + left about 9.15. Met Willie Johnstone (Annie Steele’s husband)¹. Went over the hill road to Manor Water². Fine views from top: passes Sir H Ballantyne’s place – Craigerne³. It is about ½ mile further. Lovely run up Tweed + road splendid right to the County March after which it is pretty rough from the Talla [?]⁴ to near Moffat. Stopped beyond Teva + had a smoke + a look at the Scotsman. Reached Moffat [at] 2 + had lunch at the Annandale where I was charged 10^d for a bottle of lager! Went on to Beattock Ho.⁵ where I turned down a road to the 3 Water Foot which I don’t remember of [sic] having been before which added 3½ to the mileage⁶. The wind helped me up Moffat Water as it had got stronger. Stopped near 3^d milestone + had a smoke. Rode right up the Birkhill burn⁷ + ran down to Chapelhope in 11 mins⁸. Called At Cutkerwood [sic] + reached home at 7.35. Most enjoyable run of 92½ or nearly⁹.

¹ William Johnstone and Annie Steele are unidentified

² Dr Muir has taken Bonnington Road south out of Peebles, turning west past Edderston, grid reference NGR NT240,394, to reach the fine views at Manor Sware, area of NT234,398

³ The Editor can find no evidence that Craigerne was Sir Henry Ballantyne’s (he lived at Minden, Peebles), and in the early years of the 20th Century its proprietor was in fact Thorburn, see Valuation Rolls; Craigerne and the early stages of Dr Muir’s journey from Peebles are visible on Peebles-shire Sheet XIII.SW, published 1900

⁴ Perhaps Dr Muir meant the Talla which debouches into the River Tweed at NT102,247

⁵ Beattock House, NT078,026

⁶ Dr Muir took a route that did indeed prolong his ride if he hit Threewater Foot, NT095,024, a little too far to the south of his ideal route

⁷ Presumably Birkhill and the Birkie Cleuch, the two coinciding at grid reference NGR NT201,158, more or less exactly at the watershed from which Dr Muir would have commenced his fast descent

⁸ Chapelhope, NT230,190

⁹ It has been noted previously but is worth emphasising that Dr Muir is 76 at this time; his route measurements may be taken as accurate because it is established that he had a mileometer

[Source: Scottish Borders Archives & Local History Service SBA/657/25, Dr J S Muir of Selkirk, medical practitioner, journal for 1922]

A delightful day: calm, mild with a good deal of sunshine + a very slight N. wind. I saw 10 town cases cycling + then went to Haining Henhouse (via, by mistake, Ladylands Toll, Southport + Castle Street), Kirklea (where I gave Ogilvies¹ the route I had made out from Holefield to Buttermere². Madge asked me to see their servant (having ‘Phoned for Graham³) then I went on via Hartwoodmyres to Fauldshope⁴ + got home at 3.45. Had the salmon for breakfast and dinner: one of the best I ever bought. H. + D.⁵, Barb.⁶, Wally⁷ + Mrs Mack⁸ at Picture Ho.

¹ On 15th and 17th May Dr Muir had discussed with Katherine Margaret ‘Madge’ Ogilvie née Scott Anderson a riding trip from Holefield to Buttermere which she was planning with her husband William Henry ‘W H’ or ‘Will’ Ogilvie (1869-1963), poet, author, journalist and one of Australia’s great Bush poets

² Holefield farm, Sprouston, where W H Ogilvie was born, to Buttermere, Cumberland where, by coincidence, Dr Muir had holidayed in late June and early July 1920

³ David Charteris ‘Dav.’ Graham (1889-1963), M.B., medical practitioner and Dr Muir’s business partner; Dr Muir has never, in the Editor’s recollection of eight years of transcription, called him by his surname and the feeling is that he is spitting with frustration that his personal friends have asked for his much younger colleague

⁴ Fauldshope, Kirkhope

⁵ Helen Frances ‘Mousey’ Muir (1880-1963), Dr Muir’s third daughter and sometime housekeeper and Andrina Dorothy ‘Dora’ Muir (1882-1978), Dr Muir’s youngest daughter and a nurse

⁶ Andrina Henderson ‘Barbara’ Roberts, later Twhigg (1902-1996)

⁷ If this is a correct reading Wally is unidentified

⁸ Agnes Mackintosh née Watson, formerly Harper (1859-1946), of Elm Park, Selkirk

[Source: Scottish Borders Archives & Local History Service SBA/657/25, Dr J S Muir of Selkirk, medical practitioner, journal for 1922]

Dull dark morning mild + slight rain: very calm. Cleared up about 5 + was a lovely evening. Saw town cases walking + gave Geo. Reid¹ gas at Viewfield for tonsils + adenoids. Intended cycling to Cutkerwood [sic]² but the rain prevented so took the car. The roads were much wetter above Tinnis than below. Jean³ left at 5.54. She was very dull poor girl. Bought a beautiful fish of 7lb from Jas. Brownlee⁴.

¹ Assume George Reid, Managing Secretary of the Selkirk Co-operative Society and Tenant Occupier of a house at 20 West Port, Selkirk [1922 Valuation Roll, VR007900012-/241, Selkirk Burgh, page 241 of 644]

² Cutcarwood, just short of the Gordon Arms, at grid reference NGR NT323,254

³ Jane Henderson Logan ‘Jean’ Pike née Muir (1877-1941), Dr Muir’s eldest daughter, by this time widowed and running a tea shop in Newington, Edinburgh

⁴ James Brownlee is not identified though it may be possible to do so when the 1921 Census is published later this year

[Source: Scottish Borders Archives & Local History Service SBA/657/25, Dr J S Muir of Selkirk, medical practitioner, journal for 1922]

Dark morning: Greenhead mist cleared up after midday: fine afternoon and calm summer like evening. Yesterday seems to have been warm everywhere. I took the Viewfield¹ lease to Dundas² + the deed of Copartnery to Carnegie³ for completion. Dundas sent the form back all ready for signing. The Stamp is £1! Cycled to Curror Street, Hospital, Bridgelands (Jas. Hardie⁴), Fairnilee Lodge (where old Ad. Jackson⁵ had died an hour before⁶), + Forest Mill. Dug up dandelions on the tennis green. Dora came at 7.24 + Jean at 11.2⁷. Operation for appendicitis at Home at 9. = a Mrs Selcroft [?] from Carterhaugh⁸.

¹ Viewfield Nursing Home

² William Claxton Dundas (1887-1968), solicitor and County Clerk for Selkirkshire c.1920

³ David Carnegie Alexander (1856-1928), sometimes ‘Carnegie Alexander’ or ‘D.C.A.’, solicitor, son of David Carnegie Alexander (about 1820-1881), solicitor, and Margaret Scott Alexander née Anderson

⁴ Assume James Hardie (c.1841-1922), retired ploughman, husband of Margaret Nicholson, who was Inhabitant Occupier not rated at Bridgelands Lodge, Galashiels, 1920 Valuation Roll

⁵ John Jackson (about 1838-1922), it is not evident why he’d is referred to as “Ad”, retired shepherd and husband of Isabella Oliver, died 24 May at Fairnilee East Lodge, Caddonfoot, aged 84, of cardiac failure and arterio-sclerosis certified by D Charles [sic] Graham, M.B., Ch.B. of Mauldsheugh, Selkirk; he was the son of John Jackson, shepherd, and Janet Jackson née Muir [1922, 774/A 7, Caddonfoot]

⁶ The death of John Jackson appearing two days earlier than it is registered must be the clearest evidence yet that some at least of Dr Muir’s journal was written up in retrospect; one day’s difference might be dismissed as an inconsistency of timing but there is an entire 24 hours between the latest time Jackson could have died on 22 May and the time entered in the death registration for 24 May, though in practice the timings were not nearly as tight as this so the error is very clear

⁷ Andrina Dorothy ‘Dora’ Muir (1882-1978), Dr Muir’s youngest daughter and a nurse and Jane Henderson Logan ‘Jean’ Pike née Muir (1877-1941), Dr Muir’s eldest daughter, by this time widowed and running a tea shop in Newington, Edinburgh

⁸ Mrs Selcroft is unidentified though it may be possible to do so when the 1921 Census is published later this year

[Source: Scottish Borders Archives & Local History Service SBA/657/25, Dr J S Muir of Selkirk, medical practitioner, journal for 1922]

A really mild day at last but with pretty constant drizzling quiet rain + no sunshine. Motored to Upp Forest Road, Upper Faldonside (the cook Mrs Montgomery¹), Lower Faldonside (Maycock²), Cutcarwood + Kilncroft. Saw a few town cases after. Went to evening service + then saw old Mrs Tait³, Backrow (…)⁴. Helen ⁵ lunched at Elmpark. Sloe blossom everywhere profusely.

¹ Mrs Montgomery is unidentified though it may be possible to identify her when the 1921 Census is published later this year

² Dr Muir had previously attended, the last time on 27 March 1922, Catherine Maycock née Gow (1874-1959), wife of George James Maycock (1877-1957), butler, later poultry farmer; at this time they were living at Lower Faldonside, Galashiels – see diary entry for 14th October 1921 for more detail

³ Assume Mary Tait née Douglas (about 1847-1929), widow and Tenant Occupier at 19 Back Row, Selkirk [1922 Valuation Roll, VR007900012-/280, Selkirk Burgh, page 280 of 644]

⁴ This appears to be some sort of medical notation

⁵ Helen Frances ‘Mousey’ Muir (1880-1963), Dr Muir’s third daughter and sometime housekeeper

[Source: Scottish Borders Archives & Local History Service SBA/657/25, Dr J S Muir of Selkirk, medical practitioner, journal for 1922]

Magnificent cloudless morning but it soon clouded over + was dull all day with a heavy shower about midday. Cycled to Buccleuch Road, Cannon Street, Faldonside, Fairnilea Lodge (Ad. Jackson dying¹) + Hospital. Then I got messages to Cutcarwood + Bengerburnhope and motored there + Haining Henhouse. The Sloe² magnificent at Whitehope + the Whin³ also. Thick mist on the hill. Wrote Jean⁴ (who is coming out on Monday) about trains.

¹ John Jackson (it is not evident why he is referred to as “Ad”), retired shepherd and husband of Isabella Oliver, aged 84, lived at Fairnilee East Lodge, Caddonfoot, the son of John Jackson, shepherd, and Janet Jackson née Muir, he died 24 May, of cardiac failure and arterio-sclerosis certified by D Charles [sic] Graham, M.B., Ch.B. of Mauldsheugh, Selkirk [1922, 774/A 7, Caddonfoot]

² Prunus spinosa, the blackthorn or sloe, is a species of flowering plant in the rose family Rosaceae

³ The Gorse Ulex europaeus is known as Whin in Scotland

⁴ Jane Henderson Logan ‘Jean’ Pike née Muir (1877-1941), Dr Muir’s eldest daughter, living in Edinburgh

[Source: Scottish Borders Archives & Local History Service SBA/657/25, Dr J S Muir of Selkirk, medical practitioner, journal for 1922]