Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1886-05-09
TATTOOED MEN FOR SPAIN.
How Two Works of Art" Expect "a
Make Fortune.
New York Tribune.

A Tribune reporter dropped into the
studio of Professor" Thomas. at
South street and Old slip, recently. In
order to drop into " Professor I"
Thomas's studio it is necessary first to
drop up three flights Of stairs, but once
there, the visitor is in large and we'll
lighted apartment, where he is sure
to find some of the Professors :"
latest works. The " Professor isama-
rine artist. Not a marine of tho kind
that paint impossible ships on improba-
bic oceans, but a real marine artist who
began his career by tattoolng his ship
mates when be was a man-of-war's.
man years ago out in the China seas.
lie developed such talent that eventually
be left the sea and established studio
in South street. Now to him come the
sailors Of every race and cline to be
decorated, and his fame is spread
abroad wherever the wind blows and
a ship sails.
When the reporter visited " Profess
sor" Thomas IS studio the " Professor >"
was at work on one Of couple of chef
d'OurreS which he had in hand. The
victim, naked to the waist, was stretch
ed out on a cushioned board, and the
Professor" was jabbing away at him
with a couple Of needles bound firmly
together, dipping them every now and
then into the little dishes Of lndia-ink
or vermillon which stood handy-a
gayly-coloIed picture Of ayoung woman
reclining in hammock surrounded by
Towering shrubs of an unknown and alb
pormally-brilliant species. Click, click,
went the needles, the Professors "
eyes moving rapidly from the copy to
the human canvas, and in remarkably
short time the young woman, the ham,
mock, and the roses made their appear
ance on the mans breast. The finish
ing touches of the design were reserved
for another day, as it makes the
skin sore if too much is pricked
in at one time. The mans back,
legs, and arms were already COW
cred with specimens of Professor"
Th0mas's handiwoIk. Cannon, flags,
ballet.girls, ships, crosses, mortuary
tablets, and a hundred other things
made the man a walkinf picture-book.
Between the designs wou nd vines, rose
bushes, waves, and numerous other
odds-and- ends which had suggested
themselves to Professor Thomas as
proper things to FIJI in with.
"Does it hurt? 2" asked the reporter
Of the man who was being tattooed.
"0h, no." replied the work Of art;
" the skin is a little sore sometimes
after design has been pricked in,
that's all"
1.-The other man," said 4" Professor"
Thomas, has got all religious pieces
on him. He's got saints and angels all
over him. There's about seventeen
angels on his back and shoulder blades
alone"
These two men are going to Spain
when they are completely decorated,
and will 60 into the show business.
TattoOed men are not so common in the
land Of the Hidalgos as they are here,
and Professor Thomas's two works
of art expect to gather in many dollars
and completely to eclipse the bull-fghts
as a means of popular amusement.
The Spanards will be allowed to gaze
on them for a reasonable admission fee,
and will learn how they were cast away
ON a South. Pacific isle, where the
cannibals proposed to serve them up in
ragouts. While they were being fat
tened for the kings table they beguiled
the time by tattooing each other. The
cannibal king, being bitten by the de.
corative craze, was delighted, and con-
sidered his captives as valuable as a
peachblOw vase. So they were allowed
to live as ornaments to his majesty's
household until passing vessel res
cued them. AS one Of the men speaks
Spanish, the story will be told in pure
Castilian.