The Cairo Bulletin, Cairo, IL, January 1, 1904
Famous Pictures, Crests, Automobiles, Phrases and Bad Jokes on Some Fair Integuments.
Alfred South, of Cockspur street, who may be described as the pioneer of the tattooing art, has during his career operated upon upward of 15,000 persons, including about 900 English women, the designs in a great number of cases being of the most peculiar description, says the London Mail.
Perhaps the most striking of all are representations of two celebrated paintings, “The Crucifixion” and “Ecce Homo.” One woman has depicted on her skin a picture representing a flight of birds. Portraits of husbands and lovers are popular with women, and there are several instances in which women have been tattooed with their husbands’ regimental crest. Monograms, initials and family quarterings abound.
Languages, too, have their due share attention. Many women have written on their arms words belonging to various tongues — Assyrian, Chinese, Arabic. Religious subjects are very popular, especially with the Roman Catholics
There are some instances where ladies have had the inscriptions on their wedding rings tattooed on their fingers beneath the ring. Etchings of bracelets in yellow encircle the arms of many. Ladies who like to keep pace with the times may be adorned with illustrations of motor cars.
Another device is that of a figure of Cupid disappearing into the recesses of a pewter pot, having cast aside his bow and quiver. This picture, which has been tattooed on the arm of one woman only, is entitled “Love Gone to Pot.”
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