The 96^th birthday¹ has come + gone. The old man got half a dozen wires + many letters + presents + some callers. I met Lizzie² + Nancy³ at 12.20 train. Poor Lizzie very thin + breathless.
⁴ A lovely morning at Prestwick⁵: calm sunny + mild. Had a stroll on the links after breakfast. Views of Arran lovely. Baptie⁶ arrived at 12 + I left at 1. Rennie was up + saw me off. We came from Mauchline to Muirkirk via Cumnock, a little longer but a better road⁷ + new to me, rather dreary the latter part. Called for Michael Glendinning⁸ who has had a shock. Exclusive of that we made a non-stop run of 95 miles in 3 min. under 5 hours. We met East wind + mist on the hills from Biggar + it was pretty cold. H⁹ + I went down to Elmpark¹⁰ with some cakes I got for Mrs Mack.

¹ It was the 96th birthday of the Reverend James Rennie (1826-1924), Church of Scotland minister and widower of Catherine Stewart Muir, thus Dr Muir’s brother in law; living at Prestwick, Ayrshire

² Elizabeth Orr ‘Lizzie’ Guthrie Smith née Rennie (1858-1926), daughter of the Reverend James Rennie (1826-1924), Church of Scotland minister and Catherine Stewart Rennie née Muir, thus Dr Muir’s niece

³ Nancy, if that is the correct reading, does not appear to one of Rennie’s children nor is she one of Lizzie Guthrie Smith’s children; the most likely explanation is that this is Agnes Amelia ‘Nancy’ Roberts née Muir (1878-1948), Dr Muir’s second daughter

⁴ It is not evident why the earlier section was deleted, it certainly appears to be the correct day and reads quite naturally into the later, not deleted, section

⁵ Ladyton Cottage, Ayr Road, Monkton (Prestwick), the home of the Reverend James Rennie

⁶ Thomas Baptie (1860-1929), driver and handyman for Dr Muir

⁷ Their route home has swung south through Cumnock thereby staying on the main road instead of taking the more direct minor road via Sorn; Dr Muir’s outward journey by contrast had gone way to the south through Patna

⁸ Michael Glendinning (about 1839-1922), retired farmer, tenant occupier, house and garden at Peelburnfoot, Caddonfoot parish [1919 and 1920 Valuation Rolls] and formerly the tenant at Williamhope [1905 Valuation Roll]

⁹ Helen Frances ‘Mousey’ Muir (1880-1963), Dr Muir’s third daughter and sometime housekeeper

¹⁰ Elm Park, Selkirk, home of Agnes Mackintosh née Watson, formerly Harper (1859-1946); the cakes were the ones from Fleury Meng at Ayr, see his diary for 11 March 1922

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

It kept quite fair today but there was less sunshine than yesterday. Wind N.or N.W. I left at 11 + cycled via Ayr + Minnyshant to Kirkmichael¹. I had done this road before but the opposite way. Then I took a new road over the hill to Patna on the Doon² + home again by Ayr, almost 30 miles. After dinner I walked to Ayr + got some cakes for Mrs Mack³ + some sweets for Helen⁴ at Fleury Meng’s⁵ + a cod roe for Rennie⁶. We had a [great ?] evening of his personal reminiscences in which as usual the ‘ego’ largely predominates⁷. I met Tom Hardie⁸ in Ayr in the morning.

¹ Dr Muir’s precise route is not clear on his way to Kirkmichael, South Ayrshire, grid reference NGR NS342,087, but to have continued to Maybole would have taken him out of his way; the Editor suggests that his route took Dr Muir through Grimmet, NS324,105

² It looks likely that Dr Muir took one of two routes, the one on the minor road being the longer, and then went over or past Dalvennan Bridge on his way to Patna, a community in Straiton and Dalmellington parishes, East Ayrshire, grid reference NGR NS414,105 and on the River Doon; built 1802 by William Fullarton to provide housing for workers on the coalfields of his estate

³ Agnes Mackintosh née Watson, formerly Harper (1859-1946), of Elm Park, Selkirk

⁴ Helen Frances ‘Mousey’ Muir (1880-1963), Dr Muir’s third daughter and sometime housekeeper

⁵ Fleury Meng’s pastry and confectionery premises in Newmarket Street, Ayr (Nos. 44, 46 & 48) and there were other branches at 22 Fawcett Street, Sunderland and 3 St Ann’s Passage, Manchester; Florian ‘Fleury’ Meng (about 1858-1915), baker, confectioner and pastry cook was resident at Newmarket street, Ayr, 1891 Census, aged 33, with Lucius or Lucian Meng, brother and Ursula and Agatha Meng, sisters, they were the children of Christian Meng, farmer, and Barbara Meng née Gadient and born in the Canton of Graubünden (Grisons), Switzerland

⁶ The Reverend James Rennie (1826-1924), Dr Muir’s brother-in-law, widower of his late sister Catherine

⁷ There have been many comments from Dr Muir over the years about both Rennie’s verbosity and his ego

⁸ Thomas Hardie may conceivably be Thomas Anderson Alexander Hardie (1881-), skinner, living at Mill Street, Ayr in 1925 (the 1921 Census should be helpful here); born at Pinegrove, Selkirk he may have been one of the 3366 babies Dr Muir helped bring into the world [sources: 1881 Hardie, Thomas Anderson, Statutory registers Births 778/ 89, page 30 of 83 and 1925 Valuation Roll VR000700059-/64, Ayr Burgh, page 64 of 265]

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

The nicest day since I came here. Bright sunshine, clear + moderate .E. wind. Left at 10.30 + cycled to Ayr intending to do Greenan Castle¹ but found the track unrideable so turned off the Dunure Road to Alloway + then to Maybole². Saw Goat Fell³ on the north + Cairntable⁴ on the E. with snow on them. Came back from Maybole via Minnishant [sic]⁵. Lovely roads tarmac’d all the way. Got back to dinner at 2 having done 23.35. After dinner wrote Fanny⁶ + a P.C. [post card] to Mousey⁷. Went along to post, bought a Scotsman + sat for a little at the old church + then back by Esplanade. Was shocked to see the death of Mr Cornwall⁸ who was staying with Dav. lately + called on me⁹. Gave Margaret¹⁰ a bottle of Effervescing Citrate of Lithia¹¹.

¹ Greenan Castle, Maybole, south of Ayr, grid reference NGR NS311,193

² Dr Muir has taken a trip into South Ayrshire visiting Dunure, grid reference NGR NS254,158, Alloway, NS334,185 and Maybole, NS302,098 very likely a circular trip

³ Goat Fell, Arran

⁴ Cairn Table, 593m, SSE of Muirkirk, grid reference NS714,262

⁵ Minishant, NNE of Maybole, grid reference NS328,142

⁶ Assume Frances Gordon ‘Fanny’ Ord MacKenzie née Rennie (1864-1948) sometime of Headley Mount, Hampshire; daughter of the Reverend James Rennie and Catherine Stewart Rennie née Muir and thus Dr Muir’s niece, she had married, 1889, Montagu Allan Ord Mackenzie (1854-1923), East India merchant and banker, son of William Ord Mackenzie of Culbo, M.D., Deputy-Inspector-General of Army Hospitals

⁷ Helen Frances ‘Mousey’ Muir (1880-1963), Dr Muir’s third daughter and sometime housekeeper

⁸ James Cornwall (about 1850-1922), Indian Civil Service, retired, died 5 March 1922 at 24 Drumsheugh Gardens, Edinburgh, aged 72

⁹ Part of the shock expressed will be because James Cornwall had visited Selkirk only the month before, staying with Dr David Charteris Graham (whose connection with Cornwall may be through India) and visiting Dr Muir, see his diary entry for 25 February 1922

¹⁰ Margaret is unidentified

¹¹ Wyeth of Philadelphia produced at Effervescing Lithium Citrate claiming that it was “A most convenient and pleasant form of administering the usually nauseating Lithium Salts”, lithium being now a mood stabiliser but at this time used as a treatment for gout, epilepsy and cancer [sources: Sneader, Walter (2005), ‘Drug discovery : a history’, Chichester: Wiley. p. 63. and Duke University, History of Medicine Artifacts, ‘Wyeth’s Granular Effervescing Lithium Citrate patent medicine bottle, undated’ https://repository.duke.edu/dc/homartifacts/homst04005 accessed 2022.03.09]

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

Wind round to East by South after a night of rain but it kept fair + dry all day though latterly cold. Wrote letters to Mary¹ + Dora² + went for a run to Monkton meaning to take the Kilmarnock Road but took the Troon Irvine way through Fullarton³, turning left a mile further on + landing in a private road so had to return + take a road further on past an old house like Old Fairnilea called Auchens⁴ where I had to stop + warm my benumbed hands. Then to Dundonald + Symington where I took a wrong road + met some … + got a … + landed back on the Irvine road again. Had a grand spin home with the wind reaching Ladyton⁵ about 5.20. Had an incessant palaver till 10.15⁶. B.S.A. 20.6⁷.

¹ Mary cannot be identified with confidence

² Andrina Dorothy ‘Dora’ Muir (1882-1978), nurse and Dr Muir’s youngest daughter

³ Fullarton is at approximate grid reference NGR NS345,305 so Dr Muir has got himself lost somewhere east of Troon and has ended up approaching Dundonald from the west

⁴ Assume Auchans House, also known as Auchans Castle, Dundonald, Kyle and Carrick, South Ayrshire, grid reference NGR NS35480,34599 and Canmore ID 41959

⁵ Ladyton, Ayr Road, Prestwick [Monkton], Ayrshire, home of The Reverend James Rennie (1826-1924), Church of Scotland minister and widower of Catherine Stewart Muir, thus Dr Muir’s brother in law

⁶ Rennie was a tremendous talker which Dr Muir has referred to previously including when Rennie and John Dun Boylan (called a windbag by Dr Muir on one occasion) met in June 1916 and provoked him to describe them as “a pair of prize egotists” [diary, 17 June 1916, Scottish Borders Archives SBA/657/19/35]

⁷ The Editor has no idea what this piece of text means though letters and numbers of this sort appear at the end of Dr Muir’s diary entry for four successive days while he is at Monkton – suggestions welcome

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

Wind round from S.W. to N.W. + then N. a little rain early but afterwards clear + sunny, sharp + drying. Wrote a long letter to Patrick¹ + a P.C. [post card] to David². Walked to the P.O. [post office] + then along the esplanade + St Nicholas Golf Course. Dr. + Mrs Jones called³. After dinner I cycled to Ayr + on to Dunure going round by the village + joining the high road again⁴. The roads were splendid + I got fine views of Arran, Bute, Ailsa Craig + dimly the Mull of Kintyre. Had the usual remininiscences (+ renewals [?]) from the nonagenarian⁵ in the evening. B.S.A. 20.2⁶

¹ Patrick Rodger Stewart ‘Pat’ Muir (1879-1961), Dr Muir’s only son, living in New Zealand since 1902

² David Charteris ‘Dav.’ Graham (1889-1963), M.B., medical practitioner and Dr Muir’s business partner

³ Dr and Mrs Jones are unidentified

⁴ Dunure, Maybole, is on a road loop between Dunure Station and Dunure Mains which crosses the G&SWR Maidens and Dunure Light Railway to hug the coast

⁵ The Reverend James Rennie (1826-1924), Church of Scotland minister and widower of Catherine Stewart Muir, thus Dr Muir’s brother in law; living at Prestwick, Ayrshire

⁶ The Editor has no idea what this piece of text means though letters and numbers of this sort appear at the end of Dr Muir’s diary entry for four successive days while he is at Monkton – suggestions welcome

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

Brilliant morning but gradually getting overcast. I gave Rennie¹ my presents of a Selkirk Bannock: a box of cigars: bottle of port + one of Massala + 3 of Laing Waugh’s books². He got … other presents. I cycled out the same road as yesterday³ + got a bit further but had to turn again as the rain clouds were coming up from the West. It began to rain just as I got to the station to meet Lizzie⁴ + Nancy⁵ + it was very wet as we walked to Ladyton⁶. We dined at 2 + drank the old man’s health on his 96^th birthday. Lizzie + Jean⁷ left at 5 + I took a walk on the esplanade. In the evening after tea (when Margaret⁸ joined us) Rennie got into the full flow of reminiscences started by my mentioning that new M.O. was a grandson of Kennedy⁹. B.S.A. 8.9¹⁰.

¹ The Reverend James Rennie (1826-1924), Church of Scotland minister and widower of Catherine Stewart Muir, thus Dr Muir’s brother in law; living at Prestwick, Ayrshire

² Joseph Laing Waugh (1868–1928), Scottish businessman and author, born Thornhill, Dumfries and Galloway, he moved to Edinburgh and ran a wallpaper business and wrote ‘And A Little Child Shall Lead Them, A Dumfriesshire story’, 1896, ‘Thornhill and Its Worthies’, 1905, ‘Robbie Doo’, 1912, ‘Robert Burns: A Poem’, 1912, ‘Cracks Wi’ Robbie Doo’, 1914, ‘Betty Grier’, 1915, ‘Cute McCheyne and Other Stories’, 1917, and ‘Heroes in Homespun’, 1921

³ Dr Muir had aborted a trip via Tarbolton the day before because of rain

⁴ Elizabeth Orr ‘Lizzie’ Guthrie Smith née Rennie (1858-1926), daughter of the Reverend James Rennie (1826-1924), Church of Scotland minister and Catherine Stewart Rennie née Muir, thus Dr Muir’s niece

⁵ Agnes Amelia ‘Nancy’ Roberts née Muir (1878-1948), Dr Muir’s second daughter

⁶ Ladyton Cottage, Ayr Road, Prestwick [Monkton], described as South Ladyton in the 1901 Census, was James Rennie’s home

⁷ Assume Jane Henderson Logan ‘Jean’ Pike née Muir (1877-1941), Dr Muir’s eldest daughter but one cannot rule out Jean Frances Guthrie Smith (1895-), James Rennie’s granddaughter

⁸ Margaret is not identified but is conceivably a grandchild of James Rennie or perhaps Margaret Hannay Kidston née McClure (1863-1951) whose mother was Marion Stewart Logan

⁹ William Nicol Watson Kennedy (1888-1961) the new Medical Officer of Health for Selkirkshire was the son of Charles Kennedy, medical practitioner, and the grandson of David Kennedy (1825–1886), Scottish tenor vocalist and concert giver, see David Baptie, Ed. (1894) ‘Musical Scotland Past and Present’, Paisley, J & R Parlane; William was thus a nephew of Marjory Kennedy Fraser (1857-1930), Scottish singer, composer, music teacher and Gaelic folk song collector

¹⁰ The Editor has no idea what this piece of text means though letters and numbers of this sort appear at the end of Dr Muir’s diary entry for four successive days while he is at Monkton – suggestions welcome

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

To my great joy I found on opening my bicycle bag my pocket case of instruments which I had given up for lost¹.

Fine morning with S.W. wind: after breakfast at 9 read Herald: cleaned my bicycle: walked to Ayr + called for Thos. Hardie² + took him a Selkirk Bannock: walked round by the station: got 3 of Laing Waugh’s books³ for Rennie⁴ + walked home to dinner at 2.15. Started for a cycle run but only got 4 miles on the way to Tarbolton⁵ when rain came on + I turned, putting on my cape. Had a hot bath. Wrote a card to Helen⁶ + posted some medicine [?] cards to Hawick and Gala. Went to bed early. It was raining heavily B.S.A. 7.4.⁷

¹ Dr Muir had previously mentioned searching for his pocket set of instruments

² Thomas Hardie may conceivably be Thomas Anderson Alexander Hardie (1881-), skinner, living at Mill Street, Ayr in 1925 (the 1921 Census should be helpful here); born at Pinegrove, Selkirk he may have been one of the 3366 babies Dr Muir helped bring into the world [sources: 1881 Hardie, Thomas Anderson, Statutory registers Births 778/ 89, page 30 of 83 and 1925 Valuation Roll VR000700059-/64, Ayr Burgh, page 64 of 265]

³ Joseph Laing Waugh (1868–1928), Scottish businessman and author, born Thornhill, Dumfries and Galloway, he moved to Edinburgh and ran a wallpaper business and wrote ‘And A Little Child Shall Lead Them, A Dumfriesshire story’, 1896, ‘Thornhill and Its Worthies’, 1905, ‘Robbie Doo’, 1912, ‘Robert Burns: A Poem’, 1912, ‘Cracks Wi’ Robbie Doo’, 1914, ‘Betty Grier’, 1915, ‘Cute McCheyne and Other Stories’, 1917, and ‘Heroes in Homespun’, 1921

⁴ The Reverend James Rennie (1826-1924), Church of Scotland minister and widower of Catherine Stewart Muir, thus Dr Muir’s brother-in-law; living at Prestwick, Ayrshire

⁵ Tarbolton, South Ayrshire, east of Prestwick, grid reference NGR NS429,270 and on a road just north of the Mauchline route that Dr Muir probably took on his way over from Selkirk

⁶ Helen Frances ‘Mousey’ Muir (1880-1963), Dr Muir’s third daughter and sometime housekeeper

⁷ It is not immediately clear what B.S.A. stands for (it is clearer in Dr Muir’s diary entry for 7 March 2022)

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

Rose 5.30: breakfasted + left at 8.15 with Baptie¹ in the car for Prestwick². It was raining heavily + never faired till we got to Mauchline³. The bicycle was fixed up behind + my larger Gladstone bag was on the step+ though covered, got pretty wet. We reached Peebles in at 9.25 + Biggar at 10.25 + Hyndford by 10.52. Prestwick 1.35 = 5 h 20 m for 91 miles. The old Swift⁴ went without a hitch. Found Rennie⁵ very well. Baptie got some dinner + then went home. From dinner at 2.30 till teatime, except when he took a short nap, Rennie never ceased talking⁶.

¹ Thomas Baptie (1860-1929), driver and handyman for Dr Muir

² Prestwick, Ayrshire, where Dr Muir’s brother-in-law stayed

³ Dr Muir is sometimes more specific as to his route but evidently they have travelled from Biggar, skirting Lanark to its south at Hyndford, before presumably travelling via Muirkirk to reach Mauchline, from which their journey is more or less due east to Prestwick

⁴ The Swift Motor Company made Swift Cars in Coventry; it is not clear which model Dr Muir owned of this small motor manufacturer’s many products but it had been the ‘workhorse’ car for the practice since Dr Muir had acquired it some time before August 1914

⁵ The Reverend James Rennie (1826-1924), Church of Scotland minister and widower of Catherine Stewart Muir, thus Dr Muir’s brother-in-law; living at Prestwick, Ayrshire

⁶ Rennie was a tremendous talker which Dr Muir has referred to previously including when Rennie and John Dun Boylan (called a windbag by Dr Muir on one occasion) met in June 1916 and provoked him to describe them as “a pair of prize egotists” [diary, 17 June 1916, Scottish Borders Archives SBA/657/19/35]

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

Polished off all the cases I could in the town walking and to Briarbank + Buxton. Was busy making out a list of the cases David¹ will have to see in my absence + was late at my packing. Went down to Elmpark² at night + said goodbye to Erskine³ who returns to London on Monday.

¹ David Charteris ‘Dav.’ Graham (1889-1963), M.B., medical practitioner and Dr Muir’s business partner

² Elmpark was the home of Agnes Mackintosh née Watson, formerly Harper (1859-1946)

³ James ‘Erskine’ Harper (1887-1953), barrister, son of Ebenezer Erskine Harper, sheriff substitute, and Agnes Harper née Watson and brother of Agnes Durnford née Harper

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

Dark misty morning: + all day though the thick mist dispersed, the sun never came out. It was mild + fair. There had been some rain, however, early. Walked to Clifton Road, Hospital +c. + gave Bella Currie¹, Tait’s Hill, chlor[oform] for curetting.

Programme Whist Party at the Firs². Drove there + back with Mrs Mackintosh³. Charlie Roberts⁴ + I were a dead heat for the booby prize.

¹ Bella Currie is not yet identified with confidence but Isabella Cunningham Currie (1885-), daughter of Archibald Currie, hosiery manufacturer, and Agnes Currie née Cunningham, lived with her family at Hillside Terrace, Selkirk (just around the corner from Tait’s Hill), in the 1911 Census; it may be possible to confirm this identification when the 1921 Census is published later this year

² The Firs, Selkirk was home to the Smith family: Patrick Smith (1858-1930), advocate and sheriff-substitute, Alice Smith née Paterson (1863-1943), Ralph Colley Smith (1891-1957), Alice Barbara Stewart Smith (1892-1970), Edith Margaret Smith, later Wilson (1896-1976), Herbert Shaw Smith (1897-1917) and Constance Harper Smith (1900-1977)

³ Agnes Mackintosh née Watson, formerly Harper (1859-1946), of Elm Park, Selkirk

⁴ Assume Charles Henry ‘Charlie’ Roberts (1877-1954), born New Zealand, tweed manufacturer, at Mauldsheugh, Selkirk, 1911 Census, ‘manufacturer’, at Thornfield, 25 Scott’s Place, Selkirk, 1919 and 1922 Valuation Rolls [1922 Valuation Roll, VR007900012-/260, Selkirk Burgh, page 260 of 644]Married, 1903, Wilton, Roxburghshire, Euphemia Cranston Greenwood [1903, 789/2 42, Wilton; according to Charlie’s nephew, Stewart Muir Roberts, “… as chance would have it my, my Uncle Charlie, who was my father’s brother, took ill in 1935 and had to retire and my father asked me to stay on at Forest Mill to look after the spinning and wool buying interests of the company at the time and to take part in the directorship of the, the directors of the … of the mill.” [Scottish Borders Archives SBA/158/37]”

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