The Osceola times., 1883-09-29
ARTISTIC TATT0OING.
A professional Tattooer Gives an Account
OF His Work and Its Utility.
Chicago Herald.

OF His Work and Its Utility.
Chicago Herald.
Among the various professional shin
giles swung to the breeze at crowded
portion of Kinsie street is that of Profes-
sor Edwin Thomas, the artistic Tat
tooer" With the view of cleaning
something of interest in decorative art,
reporter interviewed this Raphael of
India ink proclivities. He is modest
gentleman of the New England persua-
sion, and talked readily. "There are
but three professional tattoocrs in the
United States" he remarked, "and they
are Marti n Hildebrand and Stephen Lee
of New Yor rk, and myself. Hildebrand
and | establish ed ourselves in business
in New York, as partners, thirty-fve
years ago. | have recently arrived in
Chicago. After halting here awhile /
shall locate in San Francisco. am do
ing well here. My patronage does not
come from sailors entirely, as you may
suppose. | tattoo more citizens than
seafaring men. am now making about
$40 day. Here is my book of designs"
The professor exhibited volume of il
Illuminated figures and emblems, which
contained something adapted to any
fancy. There were patriotic, national,
religious and amorous designs, as well rs
A. rn l. IL. ..c
societies.
From time immemorial sailors have
tattooed," he continued. "The custom
probably originated in a desire to furn-
ish some means by which disiigureC
corpse could be identified. This is the
principal motive of most of my patrons.
great number of dead bodies have
been identified in New York by tattoo
marks. in cases where men have perish
ed by sunstroke'or by railroad accidents.
l can cite you an instance near home.
About three weeks after the large
schooner, Wells Burt, was lost near
Evanston, with all on board. three bod
les were washed ashore. They were so
disfrured that identification would have
been impossible had it not been for the
tattoo marks on the arms of each These
marks were were more distinct than
when the persons were living. A travel
ing salesman, soldier, or a sailor are
equally interested in having some dis
tinctive mark on the person. During
the war | did large business among
soldiers of the Army of the Potomac.
Often regiment would owe me hun
dI eds of dollars on pay day. 1t is no
egoiism for me to say that | rank as the
tirs. tattoo artist of America. ] learned
the art-that is, | took my first lessons
at it-in the United States navy, while
serving on board a man.of-war. | was
on the first American war vessel that
visited Japan, and the Japs took kindly
to personal decoration. | understand
that tattooing has grown much in favor
there. While among South Sea island
ers / studied their methods, which /
found to be very crude. They have no
eye to the beautiful. They are not as-
thctic by any means. They disfigure in
stead of beautiiying. have been all
over the world, and whenever | could
perfect my skill / have sought TO do
So"
How many colors do you use, profess
sor?"
Two; India blue and Chinese ver-
million. The first is so harmless that
you might chew a cake of the ink with
out danger OF being poisoned. The ver-
million is not SO harmless. ! can tattoo
any design in my book in an hour. The
operation is painless. | prick the ink
into the flesh with these half dozen cur
ious looking needles. For day or two
the skin simply feels as though it had
been sunburnt, and smarts little. The
vermillion sometimes makes it feel lit
tie sore for day or two. My greatest
business is in society emblems. The
members of the Ancient Order of Hiber-
mans, Grand Army Of the Republic, the
Odd Fellows and the Masons patronize
me largely. The practice of tattooing is
growing steadily. Educated people tat
too only after a little reflection. They
perceive the advisability of it,"