The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1890-10-17
TATrOOED BROOKLYN BOYS.
\ BAD Practice that is Very Prevalent
Near the Navy Yard.


The Fifth Ward Of Brooklyn is tatt0Oes
with India ink. says the New York sun.
Nearly every lad who lives anywhere in
the vicinity of the unsightly yellow walls
of the mayy-yard can puli up his sleeve and
| show something done in color on his fore
arm. Probably a thousand boys are carry
| ing American flags i'm their cuticles. God
desses of liberty dressed in blue and roG are
the steady company OF many o. the youths.
| Sly little cuplds are Wlnglng green arrows
| aud drawing red blood from blue hearts on
many Of the more sentimental young men.
| Tough-loOking barteudcrs with low. rakish
schooners pricked in their flesh serve mugs
of ale and pepper To noisy customers, with
storms at sea hidden under their waist
bands.
On Little stroet-a quaint old thorough
! fare two blocks long, which pitches down
TO the East river under the shadow Of the
sickly yellOw-a boy well started in his
teens was busy yesterday 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 i'm clam shells. He had
| three kinds, red and blue and c0mbina-
| ton Of the two. The designs which was
about 10 he executed was taken from a
chrome Of tropical bird Of brilliant plum
age.
when get Ter on" said the young ar
| fist, rs he spdt on his fingers and rubbed
them over his subjects arm 10 insure perfect
cleanliness OF the part 10 be Ornamented.
.'when get 'cr on sou will be as fly as emmy
mug in the city,
This made all the other boys laugh. The
artist screwed up his face. winkel his eye,
and then proceeded to work. The irst
scratch Of the needle made the little boy
vince.
"Ouch, Jamesy," he said, "it hurts like
DlaZes."
Oats all right. You want the bird, don't
yerl Dye 'splse I'd hurt yer'f didn't want
yer 10 be one + us!'
But the needle continued to prick, and
the bird didn't appear 10 assume any re-
cognlZable 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 tai
fodder an anchor. Jinks, Jamesy, but 1t
hurtsw
"Nixy blrdy"
negro man-of-war's man with high
shoulders and long arms came along al this
iuncture. and At Jamesy's request took the
needle to finish the job.
What you trying ter maker
bird" said Jamesy.
"tdn I yer make an dncnOf ont vi tie TAIL
fodder? amt stuck ON birds"
The man-of-war's man took the needle and
examined the point.
what kinder anchor YOU wantY'
"Anv knd-irOn anker, like de BOs-
TONS"
Cant do much wild dis, but I'll try"
After few "0uch's" by the boy and much
prIcking by the sailor the unfinished plume
was turned into an anchor that looked as If
il 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 il.
"Bnlly,r said the smallest.
"Blame sight better'n Jamesy could do"
said another.
"Ouch! but it hurts YETI said the sub
ject.
''SOme time. mebbe, you'll be out wild two
sheets i'm dc wind. n mebbe a stift nOreaster
blow your way. IF you be n il do let 90
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 20 his eyes, and swung down the
street.
Captain Eason, OF the Fulton-street
station, has noted some interesting facts
regarding the intimate relationship between
the Fifth Ward and India ink. lie says
there are more sore arms from tattOOing
than from vaccination in the two schools in
the ward. over one hundred Navy street
boys who were tattOOed early in life have
shipped during the past nine years. A
dozen Fifth Ward shops lind a 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.