The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1901-08-04
DUTIES ON TATTooED MAN.
He Is Under Bonds Not to Exhibit
His Works Of Art.

The question was. why does Jones never
take of his glovesE'
That's easy said the Accomplished
Liar. He's tattooed. that's why"
What cid the darn fool get tattooed for.
II b didn't want 1t to show?" interrupted
another member.
He does want to show II. but he can't.
He's proud Of II; had II done to order. in
fact. The truth OF the matter IL that he
Is under bonds to the Government not to
let any one see IL. How did that happen?
oh. some rumpus with the ustom-house.
You see, Jones went over to Japan two
years ago. and like the idiot he In, hunted
up ono of those Jap artists and got him
self tattooed. Well. q little while after that
he struck a streak of hard luck and had to
work his passage back to this country. He
came down the gangplank with nothing ex-
cept the clothes on his back and his prec-
ious tattooing pretty much all over him.
For some reason the custom-house people
were on the lookout for him When he
said that he didn't have anything to de-
clare. they searched his clothing. and at
the end Of the Investigation arrested him
for attempted smuggling. Jones was struck
dumb. When he got back his utterance. he
asked what he had to smugsle.
Work of art replied the inspector.
"Jopes thought q minute. Do you mean
my tattootng!' he asked
Exactly replied the oficsr. b made
Jones redhot wherever he was tattooed.
do you mean that I've got to pay duty
plcture?'
Yes. str. You come under Classification
Y. Section IS. II duty on you will be 50
per cent. ad valorem- In your case II will
smout to 1885,
do you mean to say that I am worth
only $s.S5 az an object Of art?' asked Jones.
I'm worth more than that a. live stock
I'VE took a little on the value because
the tattooing Is somewhat worm II you are
worth more we'll raise 1t TO any figure you
declare responded the customs clerk.
Don't get sarcastic retorted Jones.
getting madden. This 10 an outrage. i shall
not pay one cent of duty on myself. either
as a painting. a statue. a piece Of bric-a-
brac. or any other old art object. What
are you going to do about itT'
Two shall be obliged to seize you and
put you In the appraisers stores
by this time Jones saw that the situation
WAS getting serious. He Quoted down and
behalf.
Its a family heirloom. and is exempt
from duty
Mother. or fathers slider asked the Of
ncer. pityingly.
Its a keepsake-personai property-has
never left my possession-don't intend to
THAT won't 20 with us answered the
Government. We let a man through last
year on that plea. and the first thing We
knew he was selling his tattooing in a mu-
scum Then We got strict orders not to let
any more OF you fellows through
do I look like a freak Jones yelled.
and his profanity was something superla-
tive.
There's q strong family resemblance
that way was all Jones got for his trouble.
At last Jones asked II he could nave a
and. OF course, sent for me. He was
almost in a state of collapse. and was sob
like a child. When he told me what
the trouble was. I started out to have him
released. After some discussion. the Gus
officials said they would let him out
under bond not to sell or exhibit, Jones
work Of Gamo. artist The only
trouble was that ! did not make the bond
read exhibit for money and a. . result
Jones has to wear gloves to keep from
the works OF art on the back of |
his hands. He's getting used to II. however.
and doesn't suffer much. though IL Grieves
him to think that he's got to wear gloves |
the rest OF his life. But. say! You ought to |
see him try to play poker."-New York |
|