Lyon County times. [volume] (Silver City, Nev.) 1874-1907, 1879-09-13
TATTOOING.

tVm Al mo Gact CM0RCAy AAmUc
Disflgured by Crosses, Mono
grams, Etc.
Many readers of the TIMES will
remember how proud they were, dur
ing their schooldays, OF the devices
or letters tattooed in India ink on
their hands and arms; Tut they will
doubtless be surprised to learn that
the practice has been continued by
many grown persons, and that among
certain classes in the United States
and in Europe it is looked upon as
being, in fact, quite "the thing A
Philadelphia reporter has been inyes-
tigating the subject, with the follow
ing experience:
In order to learn whether the tat
tooing was carried on to any extent
in this city. an Item reporter made u
tour of discovery, in which he was
very successful. Among the first
visited was young physician, who
said the "leg mark" referred to in
reference to the the clipping young
damsel would be a poor means of
identity in this country, for know
of young ladies in this city who
have their limbs decorated in SINH
lar manner. During my brief time
Of practice can say that l have met
with very many cases. Two young
wives whom I attended recently had
crosses tattOoed on their limbs, and
one young lady of whom know had
the initials of her favorite sutton
pierced in the skin just above the
ankle. A young practitioner said he
had met with numerous cases lately.
Among the most favorite devices are
serpents with their tails in their
mouths, forming a ring, which are
tattooed just above the knee.
Among the demi-monde he had
seen numbers of cases." He stated
that most of the female tattooing was
performed at the house of the patron,
by q woman whose name be did not
know. He was of the opinion that
tattooing would spread like wildfire
since that paragraph about the young
Englishwoman had appeared.
Being anxious to gain all the in
formation possible relative to this
barbaric custom, an Item reporter
started out in search of the woman
referred to, who was finally found in
an unpretentious but neat house in
the vicinity of Sixth and Callowhill
streets. A ring at the bell brought
colored servant to the door, and the
scribe was invited to seat in the
parlor, while his card was sent up
stairs.
Five minutes afterward, pleasant
faced lady attired in black, unrelieved
by adornments of any kind, entered
the parlor and smilingly extended
her hand, the fingers of which were
black with India ink. After stating
his business, the lady, after some
hesitation, consented to talk on the
subject, providing her name and resi-
dence were not published. 81 have
to maintain much seclesy," said the
lady, "for many of my patrons be-
long to the best families" In an
swer to the query whether the
practice was increasing, the lady
said: "a year or SO ago business was
dull, but now I have more than can
attend TO-"
~ do not know how I shall de-
scribe the operation" said the lady,
"for l am not very apt at such
things. But, if l could so arrange
it that you could see the modus
operandi yourself, will you pledge
me secresy in case you know or
recognize the patient 7"
The scribe willingly gave his word
to be mum, and he was taken into a
room up stairs, which adjoined the
operating room, and where he could
observe without being seen. The
operating room bore the appearance
of a dentists office. A large COM
Portable chair in which an aspirant
for tattooing honors was seated,
stood by the only window in the
apartment. The patients leg was
bare, and exposed nearly to the knee,
and from its appearance it was evil
dent that the operation had been sus-
pended when the lady came down to
welcome the reporter. Work upon
it was resumed without delay, and
every time the needle pierced the
skin the young woman WINGED per-
ceptibly, and It was evident that the
operation was painful one. Several
times the leg was jerked back con-
vulsively, which drew out an angry
demand to keep quiet" At last the
work upon the cross was completed,
and the young woman departed.
The next patient was well-known
leader of the demi-monde of this
city, who had come to have the fin
ishing touches placed on an elaborate
design. She laughed and chatted
through the operation, and before she
left concluded to have her other limb
decorated at an early day.
As soon as she had left, the India