Montour American. (Danville, Pa.) 1866-1920, 1909-03-18
SWISS PSYCHIC GIRL
Young Wonder Who Paints Mar
vels Under Inspiration.
AT WORK ON FOURTH PICTURE

Helen Smith Astouishes Disciples Of
Occultism In Geneva - American
Prima Donna Tells of Miss Smiths
Efforts In Art-Painting of Portraits
Started With the Eyes.
Helen Smith, the wonderful girl psy.
chic at Geneva, who is astonishing
even those who profess to know tho
mysteries Of occultism and bewilder-
ing those who follow the philosophy
of materialism recently finished the
fourth painting in the serles of seven
which she claims she has been inspir.
ed to do, and the work is exciting the
wonder of art connoissears who have,
seen it.
Miss Minnie Tracey, lhe prima dom
na, daughter of Colonel John Tracey,
journalist, who at the time of hia
death was commissioner of charities
In Washington, recently returned to
Paris from Geneva, where she has
made a triumph in the operas Of Iris
tan und Isode" and "Tannhauser"
She IS great friend Of Helen Smith
and spent much time with her watch.
ing her work upon the portrait of
Cagliostro, which is Miss Smiths lat
est work. Speaking Of her experience,
Miss Tracey said:
II called upon Miss Smith quite fire.
quently white in Geneva and saw the
portrait OF Cagliostro grow from its
beginning. 1t was simply wonderful.
At first the outline appeared like the
features of a young man, but as Miss
Smith worked the face grew older and
wrinkled. The color of his dress was
changed several times during the max
ing Of the picture and finally remained
q rich brown.
You understand that Miss Smith Is
an uneducated girl, without n knowl-
edge Of or even an acquaintance with
painting She Is always In a trance
while doing her work and never takes
anything TO eat or drink on the day
she receives her inspiration AS there
is u painting of Cagliostro in the
Louvre Mt Paris, 1t is proposed to
bring the painting by Miss Smith to
Paris to compare the likeness of the
Subconscious work with the real por-
trait In the museum.
Miss Smiths work so far has con-
sisted of three other paintings-a Cru
cifixion' which possesses such strength
and originality that 1t made teara
come to my eyes when 1 looked upon
1t: Christ In Gethsemane' and n 'Nir-
gin She has never been out of Ge-
neva and has been very limited read
er Yet the historic facts she states
are always correct, and her knowledge
of geography and Of places Is perfect
M. Badin, in whose store Helen
acted as shopgirl until her remarka-
Bile psychic manifestations attracted
the attention of the psycho-philoso-
piers. told me that Helen never vi,
denced great intelligence. but that she
had a remarkable memory. Whenever
she became possessed with an inspi-
ration to paint NJ. Badin willingly al
lowed her to go home and remain
away as long as she required,
Through Mrs. James Jackson's gen
erosity she was enabled to give up her
position and stay at home TO develop
her powers.
"The painting of picture involves
much preparation, for the 'inspira-
tion,' or whatever 1t may be- directs
her just how to prepare the canvas or
panel on which to paint, indicating the
exact size. the kind of wood or can
vas to be used and everything to the
minutpst detail Even after every
thing has been prepared this inspira-
tional force often decides to change
its mind and will instruct Miss Smith
to commence all over again on a new
plan.
"Shc generally starts her portraits
with the eyes. The room in which she
paints is always in dim light and
absolute quiet must prevail. She had
her first command to paint in 1906,
but attributed it to some wild fancy
and did not take it seriously, but as,
the inspiration recurred she followed
its instructions and finished her first
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