The south Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1879-1883, 1879-09-09
A NEW FEMININE CRAZE.
Shapely Limbs Disfgured by
Tattooing
The Extent Of the Questionable
Practice in the East.

The item which was published III
the London Times, and which was
ycuerally copied in this country, rel
a,iye 10 the elopemcnt Of the daugh-
ter Of Il noblemali, in which occurred
the sentence, "Sle can be fully iden-
titled by n cross tat,0ued Oh the right
leg Just below the knee" has served TO
call out In this country, from the
press, u general condemnation OF the
practice, which was known to be
largely indulged in by English and
French women.
In order to learn whether the tat
tooins was carried OIL TO any extent III
this city, un Item reporter last week
made u tour of discovery, in which
lie was very successful. Among The
first visited was Young physician
who said the leg mark" referred to,
in reference to the cloping young
dansel, would be poor means OF
identity in this country, ior Know
of young ladies in this city who have
their limbs decorated In q similar
manner. During my brief time OF
practice, | call say that | have met
with vcry many cases. Two young
wives whom attended recently had
crosscs nttoocd on their limbs, aud
one young lady OF whom | know Had
the initials of her favorite suitor
pierced in the skin just above me
ankle. A younger practitioner said
lbo had met with numerous cases late
Inv. Among the most favoriie devices
are scrpents with their tails IN their
mouths, forming q ring, which are
tattooed in. just above the Knee. i,
Anon. the demi-mondo he had
seen "auy number OF cases" lie stated
that most oil the female tattoolhg was
performed at the house OF the patron,
by a woman, whose name he did not
know. lie was of the opinion that
taltooing would spread like wihhre
since that paragraph about the young
| English woman had appeared.
Being anxious TO gain all the iniof-
nation possible, relative TO this par.
baric custom, all Item rep. started ou'
in search of the woman referred TO-
who was found in M unprelentious,
but neat house, in the vicinity ol
Sixth and Callowhill streets. A ring
At the bell brought cOlored servant
10 the door, and tho scribe was ihvi'
ted to a seal in the parlor, while his
card was sent up stairs.
Five minutes aiterward, pleasant,
faced lady atlired in black, unrelioved
by adorninen,s of any kind, entered
tho parlor aud smilingly extended
her hand, the fingers OF which were
l,black with India ink. After stating
his business, the lady, after some
hesitation, consented TO talk on tht
subject, providing her name and resi-
dence were not published, III have
TO maintain much secrcsy," said the
| lady, "for many OF my patrons belong
Ito lie best families" In answer tt
the query whether tho practice wa'
increasing, the Indy said: "a veal
or so ago business was dull, but now
| | have more than ] can attend to-"
~ do not know how shall do
scribe the operation" said the lady
"for | am not very apt at such things
| But, If | could so arrange 1t that yol
could see the moda operandi your
self, will you pic ga inc secresy II
case YOU know o. @ecognize the pa
ticnt?"
The scribe willingly gave his wore
to be mum, and he was taken INTO
room up stairs, which adjoined tn
operating room, and where he coul'
observe without being seen. The op
Grating room bore the appearance o
q dentists office. A large comforta
bio chair, in which an asplrant 70
+, tattooiny honors was seated. stood b.
! the only window in tho apartment
|, 1'he patients leg was bare. and OK
, posed nearly to the knee. and fror
its appearance 1t was evident that tn
operation had been suspended whe
the lady came down TO welcome tn
reporter. Work uponit was resume
without delay, and every timo til
needle pierced the skin the youn
woman WINGED pcrceptibly, and
4, was evident that the operation was
!. painful one. Several times the le
!. was ierked back convulsivelv, whic
: drew out an angry demand to "kee
ouiet.' AT last the work upon III
: cross was completed, and the youn
| woman departed.
The next patient was a well-know
leader of the demi-mondo of this cit
who had come to have the finishil
touches placed on on elaborate d
sign. She laughed aud chatte
through the operation, and before 81
left, concluded to have her other lin
decorated at an early dav. ~
AS soon as she left, tho India-ii
artist joined the reporter, sayin
It "Well, | am now ready to continl
. our interview"
I Rcp-From what have seen, a
led to believe the operation o paint