The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1888-06-28
PHANTOM pIcruREs.
An Ancient Trick of Astrologers and Me
diuns Intel.I yentIy ExpInine oil.

IN unrlcnJ tricK, WHICH mas poem re-
sorted to by mediums, astrologists and
fortune-tcllcrs in this city for many
years. Any ono who is familiar nj
MI with art materials is aware thu,
canvascs for paintings arc usually sold
stretched over lituc wooden frames.
which can aftcrward be inserted into
giltled frames II desired. The can
vases are made in certain sizes, SO
that 1t Is easy to secure duplicates
whenever desired. aud any spirit
painter" can promptly furnish an
exact counterpart of any sized canvas
that may be givon 10 thcm to operate
upon.
Like every thing else in Spiritual
ism. that which is done must be exc
cuted In the dark. A dim and uncer-
tain light is necessary. and things aro
so arranged rs to smack Of the SUPER
natural rs much as possible.
"You have brought your own can
vas, / sec." remarked medium, as
the visitor unwound q small modern
frame over which canvas was stretched.
'Ob, yes; I thought would bo able
to say that had convinced myself
that thero could DO no ossibility of
tricks"
VERY good" replies tho medium.
THE spirits and myself are well
pleased to have the mattor placed be-
yond tho question Of scoffcrs."
Tho medium is never discomfited.
She has canvas already painted just
tho size of the one brought, and lit
tic clever work in the way of sloight-
of-hand is all that is necessary. She
takes your canvas, looks Mt 1t n
moment and then asks that 1t be
marked. This is done. She care
fully notes tho position Of tho little
mark placed on the canvas, and leav-
ing the room, she marks q painted
canvas In similar manner and places
it under her skirt, through tho side of
which is wide cut largo enough to
allow tho painted canvas 10 slip out
easily. Returning to tho room, tho
medium again takes your canvas and
requests you TO face small mirror
which is so small that any thing that
happens below the level of her
shoulders can not bo seen. While
this placing Is being done the medium
apparently holds the canvas careless
ly in her right hand, but in reality
she bitches II to hook cleverly con.
ccalcd at her waist and draws out tho
painted canvas. which she raises In
such way that tho painted portion is
not reflected in tho mirror because of
n slight backward slant which Is not
noticeable to the visitor
Meanwhile, you stand with tho can
vas poised above your head before
glass, and fondly imagine. If you arc
ut all inclined to believe. that tho can
vas is the original one, and that trick
cry is out Of the q ucstion.
Now" says tho medium. 'just
hold the frame very steady for mo.
mcn,, SO rs not TO disturb tho spirit
artist, who is one of the old school.
and who will reproduce q most valua-
bic ancient painting for you"
You ho.d tho frame firmly, and look
steadily into the tiimly-lightcd mirror.
"Now," continues tho medium.
swcctly, "tip 1t forward just tho least
bit." The tipping discloscs the paint
lug in such way that it looks like n
long, dark streak on the canvas.
Nov. tip it slowly forward. for it's
developing Not too fast" You tip
tho painting very slowly forward,
guided by tho hand of tho medium.
lest it be moved too fast, and dispel
| tho illusion. The effect of this, In the
dim reflection OF the mirror. is to make
the painting appear to develop from
| the black streak first scon TO the sub
ject. the Illusion appears perfect, and
the cheap print chrome thus developed
seems to tho awcd Imagination gen.
uine work of art.
To make the trick even moro i'm
pressivo tho mTium sometimes places
touch of phosphorus in tho center Of
the canvas, which naturally attracts
tho attention and is watched with
bated breath during tho process of de-
velopment.
Another system mediums have OF
producing these art treasures is a
chemical process known TO few A
picture Is painted aud Is thon sz ell
over with this peculiar chemical mix l.
urc. II IN artist were to examine
tho canvas he would say that it had
simply boon prlmel. Whom it is
desired to produce the spirit-painting
tho canvas Is rubbed with sponge
dampened in liquid which eats of
the white priming and exposes the
picture rs fresh MS when painted.
This can be dono on wall rs we'll as
on canvas. and it is in this way that
splrit-paintings on walls are produced.
Nine. Diss Debar paints most Of hel
spirit-pictures in this manner The
secret of tho chemical preparation
used is carefully guarded by those
who know iL-M y World.