The Sedalia weekly bazoo. [volume] (Sedalia, Mo.) 187?-1904, 1881-12-20
TATTOOING AS A TRADE.
The Mem That Like to Soc Figures
on Their Skin Designs
Most Popular.
Nsa York Tribune.

Alongside the door of a house on
Oak street is framed sign bearing an
deliberately executed and wildly
colored goddess of liberty. with the
equally glaringly tinted words under
meath: 'Tattooing Done Here, by
Martin Hildebrandt.
Ascending a narrow stairway, and
turning to the right, the reporter
found himself i'm small room. In
curing for the owner of the sign. the
reporter was told that he was at pres
emf tattooing a man but would be
done directly. Under the impression
Iha: the reporter Was customer, the
woman who had given him the
information handed him book which
she said contained the designs her
husband was capable OF executing on
the human epidermis.
ne book was a curiosity In itself
1t contained about fifty crudely ex-
ecuted and highly colored drawings
and designs. There were goddesses
of liberty in profusion, of all sizes and
sty;es, the coats of arms of the
United States. England, France,
Germany, Spain, Italy, Sweden,
Denmark and Russia; anchors and
chains; full rugged man of war
firing Offa cannon; ships Of all kinds;
the fiags Of different nationalities: a
ballet girl with very Snort skirts and
-erv muscular limbs; Venus; a
will low surrounded tomb with the
words "My Mother: on its face:
but cheers knife and cleaver crossed;
blacksmiths hammer and tongs: mer-
maids sitting on rock PLAYING the
lvre; masonic emblems; burning hearts
eagles. lions, etc. Underneath each
design was the cost of having it ex-
eeuted the prices ranging from .
cents to S.. 1t was evident that the
customers of the shop preferred real
istic pictures to categorical hints, as
heart pierced by an arrow cost %
cents, while the design ola iauntily
clad sailor embracing short skirted
female cost 81.
While the reporter vas still admir-
ing these works OF art, the artist
himself entered. He is short,
thick set man, some 30 years Of age.
He was very willing to give inforiaa-
ii on concerning his peculiar trade.
Seeing his book of designs in the re-
poTter's hands he fastened 10
assure him that "thems not all the
designs | kin make bv good deal:
kin tattoo anything customer calls
:or.'
II suppose sailors are your chief
Customers"
"Oh no. Mechanics. tradesmen
And longshoremen are the class Of
men do most of my tatteoing on. /.
] Fave customers from all over the
United States, ali kinds of people. |
and have even had gentlemen come to !
my door in their private carriages
] I'm the only man in the city who
has permanent place of bushes.
There's an old fellow who goes round
among the sailors On the docks, but
ne trade isn't big.
What designs are the most popu-
lar"
well that's according to the taste,
or hobby. American sailors like god
oesses of liberty, sailors of other ma
items the coat of arms oftheir country.
An Indian waving tomahawk is a
great favorite with some tars. Then
I've put MANY knives and cleavers or
butchers arms, hammers and tongs on
blacksmiths'. Masonic embiems are
always in demand. Sometimes there
are sailors who want the initials of
their sweethearts names put on their
arms. Sometimes men who have
been Tilted by their girls afterward
nave their names or initials covered .
with other pictures Some of tn (
fellows who used to run wild der ms I
chine in old volunteer days, have had .
NE put pictures of q fireman with L
Speaking trumpet at the mouth on
their hands or forearm. Young men /.
have the coat of arms of their country !
or state put on. A design of q viii
low surrounded tomb, with the
words, "To the memory of my
mother, is great favorite with old
ren."
Have you executed a number of
designs on any one person."
"fes I've tsttooed one man from
mead to foot. He has large design
OF Washington's tomb on his breast
AID smaller figures of flowers, leaves.
etc. on tho rest Of his person. He |!
exhibited At Consy Island last year,
end got $40 week. Another man
J almost covered with pictures was
spaniard about so years Of age. He