The sun. [volume] (Morris, Stevens County, Minn.) 1882-1895, 1886-02-18
A TATTOOER'S TALE.
He Describes the Queer Experience Fa-
miliar to his Craft.

A TATTOOER'S TALE.
He Describes the Queer Experience Fa-
miliar to his Craft.
A New York Sun reporter recently
interviewed a tattooer in Boston, who,
when asked whether the demand for
his labor is large, said: "You would
be surprised to know how many diff
ierent classes OF people call upon me
to have tattooing done. l have a
great many sailors and boys, ofcourse,
but cannot say that they are my
chief customers. l tattoo a great
many commercial travellers, who wish
a small mark upon their bodies as a
means of identification in case of acct
dent. Then ladies and children form
a large proportion OF my customers.
A great many parents bring their chill
dren to be marked for identification
in case of loss or kidnapping. Chill
dren l almost invariably mark on the
left leg just above the ankle. usual
ly put on some small distinguishing
mark as a star, an anchor, a straw
berry, or often simple dot.
The process is not painful. The
design is first drawn on the
skin IN India ink OF vermilion; then
it is little pricked in with needles.
The other day a gentleman came in
bringing two little twin boys, about a
year and a half old. They were dress
ed just alike, and they were as similar
in every respect as two white beans.
The father wanted one of them mark
ed, so as to be able to tell them apart
without trouble. So l took one of the
little chaps on my knee, and pricked
a little dot on his left hand, on the
space between the thumb and first
finger. The boy looked On with great
| wopderment, but didn't utter cry,
and went off with his father looking
at his hand. have many lady Gus
toners. frequently have calls from
ladies who wish some small mark for
the purpose of identification in case
of accident. Often they dislike to
have q mark put upon the arm, es-
pecially society ladies. In such cases
l frequently mark the shoulder, where
the mark will be concealed even when
in full dress. But l have very fire.
quently put the initials, and some
times the full name, upon the fleshy
part OF the upper arm. l had a
curious experience once. l was en-
gagged in tattooing Fred Padley from
head to foot at the Dime Museum.
One day lady came in, and, after
watching the work for time, slipped
a paper into my hand and asked me, in
low tone, to come to that address
when had finished my work at night.
I told her that it would no doubt be
after midnight before l could call, but
she said, very quietly, The hour makes
no difference. Come when you are
done here Then she quietly disap-
peared. She was a woman ofremark-
able appearance, tall, with complex
ion OF peculiar, dazzling, waxen
whiteness. Her eyes were large and
black, and looked the more lustrous in
contrast with her wonderful complex
ion. Well, finished work at the mu-
scum about midnight, and then went
at once to the address given on the
paper. It was in a well-known part OF
the city, and the house was a fine
brick structure. The lady was EVIL
IDENTIFY watching for me at one of the
front window, for, before l could ring
the bell, the door opened softly, and
she quietly beckoned me to enter. The
hall was dimly lighted. The lady was
attired in a loosely fitting white wrap
per, with arms bare, and in the dim
light, with her marble-like complexion,
her white robe, and terrible black eyes,
she looked like q very ghost. Beckon-
ing ME to follow, she glided up the
stairs and entered large front
chamber, lighted by a lamp covered
with shade, which cast rosy hue
about the room. Seating herself,
she waved me into another chair,
and then spoke. Il have asked you
to come she said, TO have my name
| placed upon my arm. l wish it plac-
ed across the shoulder, where it will
not show much, and it must be in
small but distinct letters. But-will
it hurt much?' she asked, with little
shrinking back and slight start. ]
assured her that the operation would
| not be painful, but she sat a moment
in thought, and then arose and went
to her dressing-case. Il must make a
confession,' she said, suddenly turning
and displaying in her hand small
bottle, which she had taken from a
drawer; Il must tell you that am a
confirmed opium-eater; acquired the
habit some years ago, when i'll and
! taking morphine as a medicine, and
have never been able to break it off
1 feel the need of the drug at this mo
ment, and l fear the pain OF the opera
ton of tattooing. But shall soon be
beyond the reach ofpain.' So saying,
she filled the hollow of her palm with
morphine from the bottle and swal-
lowed the huge dose at once, with the
aid of little water aiken from a glass
4 wish you to stay she resumed, 'un.
til am fully under the influence of the
drug, and then proceed with your work
precisely as have directed. 1t will
be an hour or more before the drug
takes full effect Then she threw her.
self upon the bed, and watched
her silently from my chair. She
lay quietly for a long time with
her eyes fixed on the ceiling, but by
and by the lids dropped over the great
black eyes, and the long lashes lay on
the marble cheeks, and she slept; but
it was not a healthy sleep. She scarce
ly seemed to breathe, and Icould per
ceive only the faintest movement o.
the white robe across her breast as ii
slightly rose and fell. It seemed like
the sleep of death. At length l arose
and arranging my tools and colors
went carefully at work. It was fully
an hour and perhaps two, before my
task was done, for took the utmost
pains. But through it all she made
not the smallest movement, nor ut.
tered the slightest sound. At last the
work was done, and I arose and look
ed around me. The lamp still burned
brightly, and the little clock on the
mantel licked briskly. just as my eye
fell upon it 1t struck three with a pc
culiar, soft, far-off sound, like a dis
tant cathedral chime. / can not tel
why, but kind OF terror seized me
| / stared about me- and listened. but