Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-04-30
TATTOOING REVIVED
War in the Far East Has
Started the Fad.
DESIGNS IN FAVOR
SAID THAT ROYALTY HAS SET
THE FASHION.
Japanese Pictures Liked Best, but
Originality Makes q
Showing.
DESIGNS IN FAVOR
Written for The Evening Star.

Written for The Evening Star.
The tattooing craze has broken out afresh
among society people all over Europe and
this country as result of war in far east
and the curious fashion is spreading rapid
ly, representatives of European royalty and
the leaders In American social circles being
among the first to give impetus to the fad
in being punctured for pictures by the
knights of the needle and ink, who now
have their hands full working out japanese
designs, which appear to find special favor
among the devotees Of the TART"
A fashionable Japanese tattooist in the
west end of London has his hands quite full
at present, and charges fancy prices for
his works OF art. The skin artists how
ever. as rule, charge about dollar for a
small butterfly or flower of very simple de-
sign. but as much as $50 to $50 for anything
in the way of a really elaborate snake Or
dragon.
very favorite subject with men is a
pretty little Japanese girl figure. The fash
ipnable artist naturally does not use the
old style needle. which did good work for
sailors and navvies. The new apparatus is
nearly always electric. and the colors are
varied and in no way injurious. The latest
form of beauty doctoring' is that of ta5-
tooing a pretty fresh complexion on to
w.thered and yellow skin. and the healthy
look impaired by the needle is absolutely
natural.
The craze is rapidly spreading, and no
one Is anybody nowadays who cannot show
some example Of needle and ink work.
The Prince Of Wales has a most extra
ordinary design tattooed on his arm Ii
takes the form of a fearful looking dragon.
with open jaws bristling with rows of
gigantic teeth. and a row of spiked horns
down the middle of it's back. The dragon is
represented as having four legs on the eEd
~ ~I ,f i,l~
also provided with feelers after the style OF
an octopus, and altogether is a terrible look
ing, monster.
A Flying Dragon.
Prince George of Greece has displayed a
somewhat similar taste to the English heir
apparent by also having the picture OF a
dragon. tattooed on his arm. 1t differs,
however, from the Prince Of Wales design.
inasmuch as it represents a flying dragon
with outspread wings and but two legs.
The head OF the reptile Is particularly fierce
looking, Its Jaws being wide open and
showing set OF formidable teeth.
Very peculiar is the design tattooed on
the forearm of Prince Francis of Teck It
consists Of an ugly-looking toad, near the
mouth of which is small beetle, appar-
entity within an ace Of being swallowed by
the toad.
The Grand Duke Alexis of Russia is most
deliberately tattooed on different parts of
his body. likewise the Grand Duke Con-
stantine, King Oscar of Sweden, Prince and
Princess Waldemar of Denmark, and Queen
Olga of Greece have also been adorned with
flesh pictures. Among other personages
might be mentioned Lady Randolph
Churchill, the Duke of Newcastle, and Sir
Edmund LechEnere. all of whom have SUBJ
mitted to the tattfoer's needle.
The designs favored by lords and ladies
of England are very numerous and varied.
Birds. butterflies and portraits are popular
among society ladies, probably on account
of the fact that SO many beautiful colors
can be introduced into them. Sporting de-
signs predominant with gentlemen, who Of
ten have the portrait of their favorite horse
badges and royal arms, too, are very prev
alent, while not a few are partial to SER
penis and dragons.
Peculiar Tastes.
Alfred South of Cockspur street. London,
who may be described the pioneer of
the tattooing art in England has during
his career operated on upward of 1900
persons. including about 900 English wo-
men, the designs in a great number of
cases being of a most peculiar description.
Perhaps the most striking of all are rep
reservations of two celebrated paintings,
1.-THE Crucifxion' and "Ecce Homo" One
woman has depicted on her skin a picture
representing a fight of birds. Portraits
of husbands and lovers are popular with
which women have been tattooed with
their husbands regimental crest. Mono
grams, initials and family quarterings
abound
There are some instances where women
have had the Inscriptions on their we'd
ding rings tattooed their fingers be-
meath the ring. Etchlngs Of bracelets in
yellow encircle the arms of many.
Languages, too, have their due share of
attention. Many women have written on
their arms words belonging to various
tongues-Assyrian, Chinese. Arabic. Re-
Iigious subjects are very popular, especially
with Roman Catholics.
The women of the smart set who like to
keep pace with the times may now be
adorned with Illustrations of motor cars.
Another device which finds favor at pres
ent is that of figure of Cupid disap-
pearing into the recesses of a pewter pot,
having cast aside his bow and culver. This
picture. which has been tattooed on the
skin of many women, is entitled Love
Gone to Pot
The Domestic Craze.
1t Is surprising the number of young
people of the fashionable set of New York.
Chicago, Philadelphia and other large
American cities who have been tattooed.
Some of them are as variously decorated
as the saltieSt old seaman, and those who
have escaped the needle thus far are en-
viously awaiting an opportunity to join the
ranks of the skin pictures" the tat
tooed fashionable are called. The designs
are not unlike those found on the arms of
society DANES, such as butterflies, eagles,
stars, hearts entwined and bleeding hearts.
Contrary to the general impression, there
is no cruelty connected with the art of tat
tooing by the electric process; in fact, 1t
feels just like scratching your hand, and
does not even draw blood. 1t is contended
by professors of the art that IL the tattoo
ing is done in artistic manner, 1t Is a
positive decoration. Some men in New
b-,xya
to strut about proud a turkey with two
tails, even in the winter season, just to ex-
hibit the work done by the tattooing artist.
Ancient and Esteemed.
Tattooing Is an ancient and honorable
practice. 1t goes back to the wooden age
before the folks that lived then knew what
metal They went to war with axes
made from wood. In order to harden the
wood they charred 1t slightly with fire.
They whacked each other with good deal
of skill and some of the charcoal came Off
in the wound. When it healed blue streak
was left, Warriors were known from the
number of such streaks that their faces
showed. Presently they found out how to
make streaks in times of peace. From that
1T was but step to crude designs, and in
the centuries that followed tattooing has
developed.
The Japanese are particularly dent n,