The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-08-15
II no 20.
HIRSOHIMA, THE TATTooER.
MADE A SENSATION BY DECORATING
SONS OF THE PRINCE.


London Has Gone Tattoo Mad - His
Sweetest American Victim Is Henry
EnVemeyer, Who IL PrOfuseIy Dec
Ornted-Wiu Probably Reach Here
In september.
New York, Aug. 14,-Not only sweldom
but all those who arc interested in curious
fads are looking forward to the coming
of Hiroshima. the famous Japanese tat
tooer, who has set London crazy the last
few months with the skill and beauty OF
his tattoo work
Hiroshima is a man OF middle age, we'll
formed and delicately featured with hands
as tiny as woman's He keeps them ex-
quisitely and grows the long, oval nails
until they form arches beyound his fingers.
He polshes them a deep pink until they
contrast wonderfully with the browns
and plnks of his fingers and palms. Yes.
Hiroshima is all the rage He is the CHIEF
topic of conversation among the gilded
youth of London.
This form OF personal decoration, once
confined to Maoris. sailors and Japanese
rikshaw men, has become a fad in the
worlds metropolis, and until he has been
decorated with grinnlng dragon on his
chest and a pair Of serpents on his arms
no young clubman considers his get-up
complete.
Hrsohima's presence in London Is the
result OF a law recently passed in Japan
forbidding the practice of tattooing. He
is greatly respected in his own country
and 1t was at drst thought that on ac-
count Of the marvellous and beautiful work
he produces the injunction would not apply
to him. But his friends were sadly mis-
taken. The poor fellow was arrested and
imprisoned on his release he did aboue
the only thing possible. and decided to
leave his ungrateful fatherland and try
his luck in Europe and America.
1t did not take long for the Londoners
to find out the quality OF the old tat
tooer's work, and soon after his arrival
in the British metropolis Hiroshima had
received enough commissions to last him
for months. When, some years ago. the
two sons Of the Prince of Wales visited
Japan Hiroshima tattooed designs on
their wrists, and this circumstances serv-
ed as an excellent Introduction TO the
English aristocracy. At the time there
was a great ado made about it, but this
soon passed away and Hiroshima was
praised for the beauty Of his work. II Is
now the thing" with the gilded youth
Of the West End to be decorated by the
old japanese, and OF course those MEM
bers OF the -Four Hundred Of New York
who visit London hear of the new fash-
ion and follow the example of the Brit
ishers.
Hiroshima is probably the only living
representative Of the old ard famous
school OF tattooers of Japan. Years ago
their tattooing was considered high art
and was as expensive to obtain as a
painting or a fresco. But In time tat
tooing fell into dsfayor. Immense sums
we're spent upon Il and the japanese
society women publicly cast the robes
Off their bosoms TO display the wonder
full shadings OF the tattooer's pigments.
Hiroshima does not do plain marks.
meaningless daubs of color. He works
upon design until he perfects 1t. He then
ma tches his colorlng substances 10 1t and
pricks them into his victims skin.
II Is said one of the first Americans he
tattooed was Henry Havemeyer son of
II. o. HavemeyeT, the sugar king.
MIR. Havemeyer Is now an enthusiast on
tattoong. and, as he was heard to de-
clare that there Is plenty of room for more
on his epdermis, his decorations may soon
be even more elaborate than those he now
has. He already has a dragon on his left
leg. from the ankle TO above the knee.
He says that the operation IL not painful,
the only IN effect being temporary sore
ness and swelling He adds that Il does
not impede Precipitation In the slightest.
Women rush to Hiroshima to be tat
tooed. He does harmless little birds and
images upon their arms and wrists. As
a rule, Hiroshima does not encourage So
cety women TO come to him. 1T Is not
yet your custom" he declares.
Hiroshima will probably visit New York
before the year is out and II Is likely the
young clubmen Of this city will be as
enthusiastic patrons OF his art as those
OF London. Grant Eldredge.