Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1857-06-18
THE JERKS.

1 S@tstNS |
In 1904, l first witnessedAthat
I strange exercise the jerks-ql.
though had heard much abdutSt
before. 1t took subjects from all de,
nominations and all classes of socety,E
even the wicked / will give somsin-
, stances: 4
a Mr.. Doak, Presbyterian csr
gymaD of high standing, havSg
charge of congregation in JonestN
ro, Tennessee, was the first man
prominence in this region that cana
under it's influence. Often it wouldI
seize him in the pulpit with so much
severity, that a spectator might fear
it would dislocate his neck and joints.
He would laugh, stamp, and hollow at
the top of his voice, finally leap from
the pulpit, and run to the woods,
screaming like madman When the
exercise was over, he would return to
the church calm and rational as ever.
Sometimes at hotels this affection
would visit persons, causing them for
example, in the very act of raising the
glass to their lips, to jerk and throw
the liquor to the ceiling, much to the
merriment of some, and the alarm Of
others / have often seen ladies fake
it at the breakfast table: as they we're
pouring out tea or coffee. they would
throw the contents towards the ceiling
and sometimes break the cup and sau-
Ger. Then Fastening from the table,
their long suits of braided hair hang
ing down their backs, would crack like
a whip. For time the jerks Was the
topic of consersation-public and pri-
vate--both in the church and out of
lit. Various opiniona we're expressed
concerning it, some ascribiDg it to the
devil, Others to an opposite source;
some striving against it, others court
ing it as the power Of salvation. In
many cases its consequences were dis
astrous, in some fatal.
A preacher, who, in early life, was
a dancing master, Joined the confer.
ence, and when the jerks were at their
height, was stationed on this circuit.
He declared it was of the devil, and
that be would preach it out of the
Methodist Church. He commenced
| the work with great zeal and high ex-
pectations; but before be bad got once
round, he took the jerks himself, or,
rather, they took him. Whent the fit be-
gan he would say, "Ah, yes 0, no.!
AT every jerk he used his hands and
arms, as if he Was playing the violin.
One morning, being seized as he was
going to his appointment, be let 60
the bride and the horse ran off till
he was stopped by gate. The rider
having dismounted in order TO steady
himself, laid hold of The paIlings of the
fence, which unfortunately, gave way;
the lady of the house coming to the
door to see what was the matter, ,heigh-
tened bis modification Attempting
to hide himself by running into the
orchard, his strange movements, as
be ran fiddlng along, and the tail of
his long gown flying in the wind, at
tracted the attention of the hounds,
the whole pack of ~aich pursued him
with hideous yells Belas afraid of
dogs, he turned and went into the
house by the back doe, and ranning
up stairs, jumped INTO bed, where
proud heart wdld not submit, and
the disease, as he termed it grow
ino wors/and worse. be gave up the
c;rcp:,5and withdrew into retirement,
-.,rfere his sun went down under a
cloud. Poor man, ] loved him.
Useally the subjects of this strange
affection were happy when they had
| it, and happy when it passed off, and
lit did them no harm. The wise oues
of the day, such as Wilrs.m MeKep- \
dree and Thomas Wiherson. said
little abeut it, but preach,d, exhor-
ted, and prayed as if it was not in
the country. TOang' Auto6i0graphy.
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