Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1883-10-17
TATTOOING IN NEW YORK.
What May b Seen I'm a Dime Museum

New York Correspondents
To get money without work may not be a
peculiarly American ambition. but certainly IL
Is very strong on our sofl. Nothing else would
brace up girl to bear the pain and shame Of
being tattooed In public A signboard on a
| second Bowery dime museum said that such an
operation was going on within. expected to
find fraud, for did not believe that person
could be obtained from that sex to submit her
self to designation. My supposition was that
| the tattoo would be found to consist of mere
coloring on the surfaceo the skin. The show
was miserable affair, aside from her. the
management evidently relying upon her as a
sole attraction. She had a platform for her
sell and the man who was marking her for life
score OF visitors were crOwding up to her
she was good-looking and asliable creature.
PROBABLY IL. with hands too stained BY toll to
indicate an altogether vicious career. Her
barred arms were closely and intricately covered
with great variety of figures. Serpents fish,
birds and inanmate objects were Joined and
blended with an eye to artistic effect. The
discoloratiOns. blue and red, stopped at her
wrists, so that in long-sleeved dress they
would be hidden. and her face and neck were
left with their natural blonde complexion OF
unusual delicacv. "But 1 had these put on, 81
she said, as she drew down the top Of her
corsage.
Three doves of half life size were shown
pricked into the upper part of her breast.
"She selectedth the pictures for those" said the
artist. ''and is rather proud Of her TASTE"
Eyes. she assented. II am fond of pigeons.
and thought I'd have them, so long as twas
something I'd never get rid Of"
There was no doubt of the genuineness of
the tattoo work that the man was doing. He
was engaged on her right leg, the left having
been completed The member was bare Tor
=. nth Init n mt hoo
/ three-quarters Of it's surface was In effect
clothed as with colored hose by the indelible
marks. The man used a small steel instrument
that had point like needle. With this he
pricked rapidly into the skin. extending line
about half an inch and then rubbing In the
coloring matter with the end of his foreHnger
doesn't it hurt?" asked.
"a little" she answered, with brave smile,
''but not more than the prick of pin"
"a hundred pins, you mean." suggested.
I've stood four hours of 1t every day for a
| month, and guess I'm getting used to it."
''She's got heap of fortitude." said the tor
turer. "The work I'm doing on her is full as
elaborate as that on Capt Constantenus, the
Greek, who tells it that they had to tie him
exaggerates it, but there's mighty few men
that would undergo it voluntarily. sailor
thinks he has borne good deal when he's had
his breast covered by shield or something.
Look at what there is on this leg"
An elephant was occupying the flank, a
spaniel lay on the thigh, flowers and foliage
were scattered over the calf and shin, and just
above the heel behind was a curled snake.
81 WANTED that nasty thing out Of my sight as
much as possible" the girl remarked, as to the
serpent.
"And what shall we put in here?" the man
asked, indicating two-nch space just above
the knee in front
~ think will have rose there" she re-
piled.
But we're getting too many flowers, arn't
we?"
Never you mind. I'm the onethat's to wear
this suit, and you must let me select the pat
terms"