Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1885-11-01
TATTO0INa.
Persons Who..Liks Figures In India
Ink.
Women Who are Tattooed .Artisticaily or
Otherwise, and Seem to Like it,
A Mania Among People to be
lndeIibly Marked in Some
Manner.
Ne.s YORK Mil and Express.

- 1A@SA SSHANeS - sAS @SW~A 49, - ~~-~-
street. At almost any time Of the day {
crowd of dozen to twenty men is found
here, standing about in an aimless manner
or seated on the steps of . narrow stair
way telling yarns. To scarcely sailor o.
the city is the spot unknown, and the rea
son for this was yesterday ascertaiued BY 9
reporter to be the fact that the building
contains the rooms OF Professor" Thomas
who for many years has been the favoritt
''tattooing man" OF New York sailors. The
professor" middle-sged man, was found
in scantily furnished room on the third
floor. On q chair, without back at bis
side were several well handled books, con-
tanning highly colored pictures of goddesses
Of liberty, anchors, ETC.. two small chins
cups, one full of red paint and the other
with liquid India ink, and q small, single
bladed knife.
do many women have these marks and
designs put upon themselves asked the
reporter.
more than you would suppose" was the
reply. II have marked over 1000 women
in this way since have been in the bust
ness, and there are hundreds Of women in
this city who, if they had the money, would
come here and give me ell the work
could do. The work is by no means con
fined to sailors, as most people suppose
In fact, ! have more lsndsmen than sail
crs among my customers nowadays; il
seems to be mania of the human race Il
be marked in this way"
ARE THERE MANY TATTooED woNEY
in the countryT
Il know Of only six, two Of whom
marked. They are Nora Hildebrand, age
%; Ida Woodruff, age %; Annie Grace
sge %; Ida May, 81; Mary Baum, age "a
and q California woman. The homes o.
Hildebraud, Woodruff and Baum are in
this city; Annie Grace belongs in Phila
delphis, and Ida May in st. Louis. The
cost to be marked as they are is $500 But
they can always command $25 and more Q
week at q show. You will be surprised
when l tell you that Annie Grace, whom
tsttood, has over 200 different figures
worked in colors on her body. Igot them
from q regular book Of designs and sht
took every design in the book. 1t took mi
six weeks to complete the work. She wal
preparing for Jack Robinson's circus ant
was to get $45 week. She stood it well
allowing me to mark her for as long al
seven hours day often, and we did no
stop for Sundays either. They do not fee
it much, for the top skin is only touched
1t never gets sore if the work is properly
done, We have now got up an acid which
takes all the feeling out. Ida May, whom
/ also tattooed, has an equally large mum
Der of designs on her body. Among then
are crucifx, beehive, American coat o
arms, young America on q shield with
flag. On her back sbe has a picture called
the Sailors Return" 1t represents be
sides the more prominent figures Of tn,
picture large feet of ships and an island
Another picture that sbe has is Of Hope
representing q woman, an anchor, ar
American flag and ship. She has also
number of Masonic and other secret 80
ciety em5blems. All want the cruci6x
This represents Christ on the cross, will
The Virgin Mary kneeling at the foot, tn
city of Jerusalem in the distance, With tw'
angels lowering over the scene. II form
a design about eight inches long by fou
wide, and
USUALLY PUT IT on TIE ARM,
from the elbow to the shoulder, on q WON
an, and on the chest or back for man.
What design did you put on Ami
Graces bsckY
"Only one picture, bat that covered he
entire back. II was sort of American
national design, representing large eagl
clutching the American flag. Under on
wing of the eagle were the words Faith
Hope and Charity and under the oihe
Friendship In the centre were tw'
cIasped hands. On her shoulders marked
epaulets. On Nora Hildebrands neck {
necklace is marked, representing cluster
of flowers and stars, with large star OIL
each shoulder. But they all keep thei
neck and hands perfectly free, 80 that 4
see them on the street they do not look an,
different from other women"
do you put many religious designs oil
pecpleT"
Yes q great many, on both men ant
womer.y ma in here from Newburg the
other day had four religious pieces put OIL
him. he was q very religious man. Man.
If the women whom / mark FIRST send mi
postal card, and l go to their homes ant
mark them. But have frequently ha'
fine ladies in front Of my place here il
their coaches to have private marks, in
i,ials or names, put on their arms or neck
While in Chicago recently tattooing q per
son. the girls there got an idea in thei
heads that little India ink spot on tn
side of the chin was the fashion, and | be
gan to think it was going to be 9 manii
with them. Why, I marked over fifty girl
in this way while was there.
THEY CALLED IT A BEAUTY sPoT.
ut was dot of blue, in the centre 0
which was the least speck Of red. Onl