St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1888-06-23

PHANTOM PICTURES.


PHANTOM PICTURES.
a Ancient Trick ~ Astrol0Goes ana Me-
dlums Intelligently Explained.
Nine. Diss Debar' spirit-painting is
nm ancient trick. which has been re.
sorted to by mediums astrologists and
iortune-tellcrs in this city for many
years Any one who is familiar at
all with art materials is aware that
canvases for paintings are usually sold
stretched over little wooden frames.
which can afterward bo inserted into
gilded frames il desired. Tho can.
vases are made in certain Sizes 50
that it is easy to secure duplicates
whenever desired. and any 'spirit-
painter" can promptly furnish an
exact counterpart Of any sized canvas
that may bc given to them 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
30 arranged rs to smack Of the super.
natural as much IS possible.
''You have brought your own can
vas. see." remarked a medium. as
the visitor unwound . small modern
frame over which canvas was stretched.
oh. yes; thought / would be able
to say that had convinced myself
that thero could be no possib ility Of
tricks"
VERY good" replies the medium.
THE spirits and myself are well
pleased to have the matter placed be.
yond the question of scoffers"
Tho medium Is never discounted.
She has . canvas already painted Just
the SIZE Of the one brought, and a lit.
tie clever work in the way of sleight-
of-hand is all that is necessary. She
takes your canvas looks at it a
moment and then asks that it be
marked. This is done. She care.
fully notes the position Of tho little
mark placed on the canvas. and leav.
ing the room. she marks a painted
canvas in . similar manner and places
it under her skirt through tho side of
which is a wide cut large enough tc
allow the painted canvas 10 slip ou,
easily. Returning to the room. the
medium again takes your canvas and
You to face . small mirror.
which is 50 small that any hing that
happens below the level of her
shoulders can not be seen. While
this placing is being done the medium
apparently holds the canvas careless
ly in her right hand. but in reality
she bitches It to hook cleverly con.
sealed at her waist and draws out the
painted canvas. which she raises in
such = way that the painted portion is
not reflected in the mirror because Of
. slight backward slant which is not
noticeable to the visitor.
Meanwhile. you stand with the can.
vas poised above your head before
glass. and fondly imagine. il you arc
at all inclined to believe. that the can
vas is the original one. and that trick.
cry is out Of the Z uestion
Now" says the medium. 'just
hold the frame very steady for q mo-
mcnt. 50 rs not to disturb the spirit
artist, who is one Of the old school.
and who will reproduce most valua-
BILE ancient painting for you"
You hold the frame firmly. and look
steadily into the dimly-lighted mirror
Now" continues the medium.
sweetly. 'tip it forward just the least
Bit" The tipping discloses the paint
ing in such way that it looks like a
long. dark streak on the canvas.
Now. tip it slowly forward. for it's
developing. Not too fast" You tir
the painting very slowly forward.
guided by the hand Of the medium.
lest it be moved too FAST and dispel
The illusion. The effect Of this. in the
dim reflection Of the mirror. is to make
the painting appear to develop from
he black streak first seen. To the SUBJ
(ect. tho illusion appears perfect, and
The cheap print chrome thus developed
seems to tho awed imagina alton gen.
nine work of art
To make the trick even moro i'm.
pressive the medium sometimes places
! touch Of phosphorus in the center Of
tho canvas which naturally attracts
lhe attention and Is watched with
batcd breath during the process OF de-
velopmsnt tT",.
Another system mediums have Of
producing these art treasures is a
chemical process known to few. A
picture is painted and is then sized
over with this peculiar chemical MKT
are. II An artist we're to examine
The canvas he would say that it had
simply been primcd. When it is
desired to produce the spirit-painting
The canvas is rubbed with . sponge
lampened in . liquid which eats of
he white priming and exposes the
picture IS fresh as when painted
This can be done on wall As we'll as
on canvas and it is in this way that
,pirit-paintinss on walls are produced.
Mmc. Diss Debar ''paints" most Of her
in this manner. The
,ecret of the chemical preparation
,sed is carefully guarded BY those
Who know It. IN y World
Authentic information.