Dynamically Populated Select Control Doesn't Behave Properly Initially

Dynamically Populated Select Control Doesn't Behave Properly Initially

In my very 1st jQM web site, I have two (2) select controls populated in bulk via ajax.responseText, using something like $( "#dir-select" ).html( ajax.responseText ). Works fine, except that the 1st item in the select box isn't displayed in the selection box at the top of the control and can't be chosen until something else has been explicitly chosen.

In an option list of foo, bar, and drek, foo is in the drop down list, but the selection box is empty.  Choosing foo is unresponsive, the drop-down retracts, and the selection box remains empty.  Choosing bar or drek behaves normally and the choice is displayed in the selection box.  Subsequently choosing foo will then behave normally, ie. can occupy the selection box.  Tried using $( "#dir-select" ).refresh immediately after loading it, but no joy.

Maybe there's another way to bulk load a select control under jQM ?  I originally posted this inquiry to the 'Getting Started' sub, then discovered this is probably a jQM-specific issue.  How ?  I commented out the jQM stylesheet and JS module and the desired initialization happened as expected (ie. the 1st item was displayed automatically in the selection box.)

Any suggestions ?  TIA.  Later....