The Waterbury Democrat., 1933-07-18
PIN HI l NEW | }
 l YORK
n.y. PAUL HARRIsON

New York-The tattooing buBi. ness, as you may imagine, isn't what it used to be. The Atlantic fleet hasn't been to New York In a long tfme,.. and mere merchant sailors have lost the urge for per- sonal decoration. Modern swains no longer seem anxious to be branded with sweethcarts' init ia1s. And bibulous fellows of today seldom have the inspiration to get themselves tattooed just for lark.
 So 1t is that Prof. Charles wag- ner, dean of America's needle artists, has come upon the twilight of his colorful career. Down at Chatham Square, where fmpassiye Chinatown blends into the squalid Bowery, the professor sits among his vivid pigments and his pat terms, and wonders If there'n ever be renaissance of the intimate art. Maybe it can be promoted to a fad, like riding bicycles. Per- haps women can be persuaded to let him tattoo color into their cheeks, or beauty marks on their shoulder blades. Maybe the re- peal of prohibition would help. A Royal Patron
 Wagner wishes professional ethics didn't forbid mention of the names of prominent. people who have been tattooed, for he says he knows the vain little se- crets of various society women, gay young blades, actresses and explorers. However, he doesn't mind mentioning foreign patrons | of the art: King GeorgeV of Eng l land had a dragon tattooed on his arm after Czar Nicholas II and Queen olga of Greece set the fash- ion.
 when Wagner 7 went into his | business A years ago, tattooing was a painful and iaborious proc- ess done by hand. In 1904 though. ! he and a co-worker, the late Prof. Samuel O'Reilly, invented the | electric needle. The craft was taken up by hundreds, with stand ! ardfzed designs and rival schools l of technique. Wagner had his whole body done in Biblical scenes as an advertising stunt, and Chat ham Square became international ly known as center about which
 a score of professors" had their
 studios.
 Today the number has dwind1ed to three, but Wagner still main- tains his little booth in one corner of the Chatham Barber Shop, itself a famous institution of an older. day. Its window still bears sign:
 "Black Eyes Made Natural"
 His Magnus Opus | .f. when Wagner had to hire sev-
 eral assistants to implant patriotic symbolism in the hides of dough-
 boys and sailors-the tattoo trade has been falling off. So 1t was with the utmost satisfaction that he re- gently turned out the crowning
 achievement of his career.
 His aesthetic enthusiasms seem
 to run mainly to area. Huge Ispread-eagles on manly chests al-
 ways made him glow with pride.
 So did the reproduction of Rosa Bonheur's famous three horses
 that he tattooed on d square foot
 of American sailor. But he still wasn't satisfied - even when he
 was commissioned to etch the por-
 traits of nine U. s. presidents on Ia considerable portion of circus freak called Lady Viola.
 Last spring, though, in walked q
 1ongshoreman named Thomas Lee. He had the broadeSt shoulders
 the professor had ever seen - q
 mighty, muscular back worthy of Iany artists supreme effort. Eager ly Wagner explained his plan to
 the towering client. Lee assentcd.
 and over period of two months
 came in for 20 sittings of two
 hours each.
 ! Finally Wagner silenced his chattering needle and heaved n
 great sigh. The largest single piece of tattooing in the world l was finished. Titled "The Cele-
 bration of the Fiesta of Our Lady
 of Mount Carmel" if was two feet
 by three, included nine colors, T
 large area of elysian clouds, seven golden trumpets and exactly 23 angels. Truly magnum opus---
 practically mural!