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Francis ‘Jerry’ Hart as Cerviculus– a pain in the neck

Francis ‘Jerry’ Hart was an antagonistic newspaper commentator in Western Australia between 1882 and 1895. Hart drifted into journalism with the Fremantle Herald in his early twenties, thereafter becoming a highly opinionated and often merciless observer and critic. Nicknamed ‘Cocky’ for his garrulous commentary and strident attitude, he was once tagged “for the time, the best-hated man in the community”. Hart was a journalist and editor who produced an extraordinary volume and quality of words, using an acerbic nib, often making his public clashes very personal. 1

As partner and editor of the mid-West newspaper the Victoria Express from 1884 Hart grew a provocative reputation. Contemporary journalist J. M. Drew, in a brief history of the successive newspaper, the ‘Geraldton Express’, wrote of Hart:

Often, with scant reason, he came into violent collision with all and sundry, high and low, rich and poor, in article and par; and what was considered too acetic for leader or "News and Notes" found a congenial habitat under the heading of "Oil and Vinegar (by "Cerviculus"). It may be here remarked that the headline scarcely reflected the bodily content, for the most careful analysis of the effusions would fail to detect even the trace of an emolient. 2

Hart’s alter ego, the columnist Cerviculus, gave him an undisguised banner for his caustic opinions. The Latin language inspired cerviculus - from the word cervix, meaning the neck - may be regarded as the columnist’s assertive intent to being a pain-in-the-neck. For Latin purists, there is no word cerviculus*. Given Hart’s educated grasp of Latin, the tag was likely invented with intent, providing a unique identifier for his criticism. 'Cerviculus' appears as early as 1881, in correspondence to Perth newspapers. However it wasn’t until Hart joined the Victoria Express that he began using the nom-de-plume in his stinging observations of social, commercial and political life in the Swan River Colony. 3

cervīcula cervīculae f (diminutive of cervix) the neck.

Hart’s column ‘Oil and Vinegar’ unleashed a predictable reaction from the establishment. In 1884 the West Australian newspaper took direct editorial aim at Jerry Hart, after Cerviculus had attacked Perth politician, the dignified James George Lee Steere. The paper described Jerry Hart as someone “who has made himself somewhat undesirably notorious for the bitter spitefulness of his personal attacks”. In its defence of Steere, and disapproval of Hart, the editor observed:

Mr. Steere has maintained so honorable and prominent a political position for many years is due to other qualities, which "Cerviculus" probably could neither understand nor appreciate to a manly bearing, to thorough honesty, to fearless independence, to an absence of vanity, to a great capacity for patient work, and to sound common sense. These are qualities, we repeat, which "Cerviculus" could neither understand nor appreciate. But they are qualities, we may inform him, which gain for their possessor a large amount of personal respect. 4

Without naming Hart directly, the City-based denunciation described him disparagingly as a ‘’provincial contemporary” who had “chosen to vent his spleen upon a gentleman”. The readers were not left guessing about the perceived indiscreet utterances of Cerviculus. Jerry Hart had found his mark.

In 1887, Editor Hart demonstrated his acid demeanour when the Victoria Express commented on the dramatic dispute between Governor Sir Frederick Broome and Chief Justice Alexander Onslow. The dispute, which involved matters of bureaucratic administration, confidential paperwork and leaking to the press electrified the Colony. Hart weighed in, editorialising after the Governor had controversially suspended the Chief Justice:

We can well understand the indignation expressed in Perth at this high-handed proceeding on the part of a man so publicly and privately detested as is Sir Frederick Broome. The one good thing which we may hope will result from the Governor's action is his speedy removal from the colony, and the consequent revival of peace and prosperity. 5

As Cerviculus, Jerry Hart then followed with an 88-line poem in rhyming couplets, adding sting to his indignant proselytising about Governor Broome. In one section, hints of back scratching, toadyism and privileged circumstances were aimed at Broome:

The proverb says “new brooms sweep clean”

No cleaner sweep was ever seen,
Than F. N. B. when first he came
To this fair land to seek for fame.
He scratched each itching back and palm;
His touch was like a healing balm
He scratched away with might and main,
And toadies scratched him back again.
They gave him first a thousand pounds,
To spend upon his house and grounds;
And scarce twelve months had he been here,
When, by five hundred pounds a year,
The grateful members raised his screw
For what the people scarcely knew. 6

Jerry Hart’s long and acrimonious criticism of Frederick Broome characterised the power of his journalism. Hart’s character as a journalist emerged as an attacker of those in the establishment he did not like. Equally, he called out anyone he considered to be charlatans, fakes and pretenders. Given his own record of dishonesty, and his upstart attitude, people’s attention was drawn to judge Jerry ‘Cocky’ Hart. His acting skills, glib tongue and sharp intellect were weapons.

Jerry Hart left Geraldton in 1888 and joined the Fremantle centred W.A. Bulletin, where Cerviculus was reincarnated, expressing views in the column ‘Chain Shot’. The well-educated Cerviculus laid down Latin language phrases as much as a pretence for his readers, as for a standard. For the better educated ladies and gentlemen of Perth, knowing Latin was a pale in the establishment of social boundaries. For those without a background in classical education, the challenge was to read the phrases in the newspaper columns with alacrity. Hart wrote his barbs for readers across the classes. The satirical textbook of 1840, The Comic Latin Grammar by Percival Leigh, set the scene for the subtle use of Latin to mock polite society. Hart knew this and as Cerviculus would use Latin phrases, equally as a take-down or affectation. In a poem called ‘Chance’, with a veiled reference to the shortcomings of conservatism, Hart championed people who made their fortune by chance:

For years, perchance, some patient, learned man,

Within his chamber close confined and misty,
Puzzles to perfect some inventive plan,
And cry at last "Rem acu tetigisti”.
Poor, luckless man, his labours come to naught,
Of those few words he ne'er will be the speaker
For one, who hardly gave the thing a thought,
Hits it by dunce, and loudly cries " Eureka!" 7

The words rem acu tetigisti (you hit the nail on the head) alludes to self-praise for traditional diligence, over luck or chance, to achieve an outcome. Hart knew the value of the fortuitous in his business dealings, a bit of luck in a fiddle went a long way. A little Latin contributed to creating the image he sought, an educated man, clever, with an eye to the deal. 8

In the big city, more prone to reproach, Hart did little to dampen his views, however he was always ready to defend himself. After having been asked to write a sporting report (which he botched), Cerviculus came in for well-deserved criticism. In defence the Bulletin (probably Hart) responded:

Our contributor "Cerviculus " writes: —"Oh that mine enemy had written a book," so ran the old vicious exclamation; here it runs—"Oh, that 'Cerviculus' had written a sporting report!"—And I did; and the whole tribe of sporting scribes have rushed at it, and worried it, and made as much disturbance over it as a lot of hungry mongrels over a bone. 8

Hart had a simple reaction to censure and that was to react back. A cocky little man with a defiant attitude and the intellect to intimidate, his self-confidence stood without bounds. Both his enemies and large circle of influential friends were wary of his targeted invective. Citizens of the Swan River Colony were mindful not to find themselves at the end of his know-it-all pen. Equally, criticism of the writer – Cerviculus or not – seemed to be shrugged off with casual superiority.

SOURCES

1. B. Kelly, ‘Francis Jerome Ernest Hart’, Early Days 102, Royal WA Historical Society, 2018.

2. Geraldton Express, (A WREATH OF REMEMBRANCE, J. M. Drew) Monday 31 December 1928 - Page 2 (retrieved 01/01/2024).

3. Cassell’s New Latin Dictionary, Third Edition, 1964.

4. The West Australian, Tuesday 23 September 1884 - Page 3 (retrieved 01/01/2024).

5. Victoria Express, Saturday 17 September 1887 - Page 4 ‘Current Topics’ (retrieved 01/01/2024).

6. Victoria Express, Saturday 24 September 1887 – Page 5 ‘Oil & Vinegar’ (retrieved 01/01/2024).

7. The W.A. Bulletin, Saturday 22 Feb 1890 Page 12 ‘CHANCE’

8. Latin is Simple https://www.latin-is-simple.com/en/vocabulary/phrase/765

9. W.A. Bulletin, Saturday 29 March 1890 - Page 8 'CERVICULUS AND HIS CRITICS’ (retrieved 01/01/2024).

Brendan Kelly, January 2023

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Francis ‘Jerry’ Hart as Cerviculus– a pain in the neck

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