Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1891-12-10
TATTOOER AT WORK.

the first device with which he orders
his back to be ornamented being usual
Iy a spread eagle. The bird Of free
dom, it is true, does not always inspire
it's beholder with awe, as it frequently
resembles an angry barnyard fowl or
turkey buzzard, but it would be hazard
Gus to say so in plain words to the owner
of the chrome, who would resent the
criticism by knocking the art student
down. Columbus discovering America
is another favorite design for back or
bosom ornamentation, and SO is an
American clipper ship under full sail.
A Chicago sweet water tar carries on
his back representation of schooner
entering Chicago river and showing old
Fort Dearborn. He is frequently ar
rested for carrying too much rum on
board, but whenever the judge shows
an inclination to treat him harshly he
pulls off coat and shirt and displays the
patriotic emblem. No Chicago police
magistrate can Withstand so eloquent
an appeal. and Jack is invariably dis
charged.
The stars and stripes float over many
a noble chest, the red, white and blue
lending the design uncommon attrac-
CIOh AC hdS "osOo plOuOl
and the man who would attempt to haul
it down would literally have to walk
over the body of it's bearer. The pro-
verbal anchor is to be found all over the
bodies Of seafaring men; in fact yvher
everthere is not room for a more elab-
crate design.
But it is not of sailors that desire to
write, but rather about the not insignif-
cant number of young men and women
who patronize the professors of the art
of tattooing. Several years ago every
person of the irresponsible age consid-
cred it absolutely necessary to bear at
least one indelible picture on his skin.
The craze gradually died out, but if my
informant tells the truth scores of love-
sick boys and girls still contribute reg
ularly to his income.
If John falls in love with Mary the
first thing he will do is to hunt up some
tattooer who will decorate" his arm
| with a wreath and a heart surrounded
by the words: Darling Mary" or, per-
chance, he will order an anchor resting
! on a rock labeled MARY" or he will
| be satisfied with fat heart bearing his
| sweetheart's name. Mary, too. will
show her affection, provided she is in
nocent and sweet sixteen. She will
! duplicate her lovers heart and cause
| the tattooer TO prick her tender skin SO
| that she may carry Johns name with
her ''until death shall them part" II
Johns Mary is a young woman, how
ever, who knows something about the
| fickleness of mankind. she will be salts
fed to treasure her lovers name in her
own heart, and there only; for it would
1 = x1rr1ooSonf Sh01,16 Hanru
or William, or George, or the vari-
Gus other successors OF John
ever see the euphonious 0ame in
delibly inscribed on an arm which they,
poor, misguided fellows, supposed had
never encircled any manly form save
their own John, too. usually regrets
the haste with which he had himself
marked for life, but in his case it does
not make so much difference. for he car
persuade his second love that once upon
| q time he had run away from home, and
IN the course of his ramblings. being
reduced to abject poverty. had enlisted
ON board the good ship Flyaway. While
taking a cruise around the globe an
other sailor, whose sweetheart's name
was Mary, persuaded him to subject
himself to tattooing operation. In
stead of inscribing the wound with
Johns own name, the crazy fellow, who
was eternally thinking Of his girl. made
it Mary, and as the mistake was mol
discovered until late in the day. it could
Of course, not be rectified The expla
nation sounds plausible and usually i
accepted in good faith
Society buds, as every body knows. are
always doing things which have the