The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1890-11-15
TATTooED BROOKLYN BOYS.
A Harmful Practice That Is Very Preva-
lent Near the Navy Yard.

lent Near the Navy Yard.
The Fifth ward of Brooklyn is tattooed
with India ink. Nearly every lad who
lives anywhere in the vicinity of the un-
rightly yellow walls of the navy yard can
pull up his sleeve and show something done
in color on his forearm. Probably thou
sand boys are carrying American flags in
their cuticles. Goddes as of liberty dressed
in blue and red are the steady company of
many Of the youths. Sly little cupids are
winging green arrows and drawing red
blood from lue hearts on many of the
more sentimental young men.
On Little street-a quaint old thorough
fare, two blocks long, which pitches down
to the East river under the shadow of the
sickly yellow wasl-a boy well started in
his teens was busy marking one of his
companions for life. The chubby arm of
the little victim rested across the young
artists knees. The artists assistant was
mixing the inks in clam shells. He
had three kinds, red and blue and "a COM
bination Of the two. The design which
was about to be executed was taken from
a chrome of a tropical bird of brilliant
plumage.
"When 1 get Ter on, said the young ar
fist, as he spat On his fingers and rubbed
them over his subjects arm to insure per-
feet cleanliness of the part to be ornament
ed, when l get Ter on you'll be as fly az
emmy mug in the city"
This made all the other boys laugh. The
artist screwed up his face, winked one eye,
and proceeded to work. The first scratch
of the needle made the little boy vince.
couch, Jamesy," said lie sit hurts like
blazes."
Oats all right. You want the bird,
don't yer? Dye s'pose I'd hurt yer # l
didn't want yer to be one f u.s."
But the needle continued to prick, and
the bird didn't appear to assume any rec
ognizable shape.
Say, Jamesy," said the boy after he had
drawn his breath through his tightly closed
teeth, ''let de ostrix 90 n turn that ere
tail fodder an anchor. Jinks, Jamesy, but it
hurtsP'
"Nixy birdy"
''Nixy."
A negro man-of-war's man, with high
shoulders and long arms, came along at this
juncture, and at Jamesy's request took the
needle to finish the job
What you trying ter make"
BIRD" said Jamesy.
Cant yer make an anchor out of de tail
fodder? l amt stuck on birds"
The man-of-war's man took the needle
and examined the point.
What kinder anchor you want?'
"Any kind - iron anker, like de Bos-
toms"
Cant do much wild dis, but I'll try"
After a few 'oUch's" by the boy and
much pricking by the sailor the unfn-
ished plume was turned into an anchor
that looked as if it had been pitted by long
years of use and covered with barnacles.
Two inches of ink chain dangled from the
ring. All the boys admired it.
Bully" said the smallest.
"Blame sight better'n Jamesy could do"
said another.
"Ouchl but it hurts vet," said the sub
ject.
Some time, mebbe, you'll be out wild
two sheets in de wind, n me6be a stiff
nor'easter blow your way f you be N it
do let go dat anchor n you'll ride it out"
said the sailor, as he rubbed his hand on
the back of his head, tipped his round top
blue hat well down to his eyes and swung
down the street.
Capt. Eason, of the Fulton street sta
ton, has noted some interesting facts re-
garding the intimate relationship between
the Fifth ward and India ink. He says
there are more sore arms from tattooing
than from vaccination in the two schools
in the ward Over 100 Navy street boys
who were tattooed early in life have
shipped during the past nine years. A
dozen Fifth ward shops find ready sale
for India ink. When young man gives
his girl an engagement ring she expects
him to have her name tattooed on his arm.
New York Sun.