The Florida star., 1909-02-12
SWISS PSYCHIC GIRL
Young Wonder Who Paints Mar
veIs Under Inspiration.
At WORK ON FOURTH PICTURE

Hslsn Smith Astonishes Disciples Of
oeeultism In Geneva - American
Prima Donna Tells Of Miss Smiths
Efforts In Art-Paintins Of Portraits
Started With the Eyes.
Helen Smith, the wonderful girl psy-
chic at Geneva, who Is astonishing
even those who profess to know the
mysteries Of occultism and bewIlder-
Ing those who follow the philosophy
Of materialism. recently finished the
fourth painting In the series Of seven
which she claims she has been inspir-
cd to do, and the work Is exciting the
wonder of art connoisseurs 10 have
seen it.
Miss Minnie Tracey. the prima DON
ma. daughter OF Colonel John Tracey,
journalist, who at the time Of his
death was commissioner OF charities
In Washington. recently returned to
Paris from Geneva, where she has
made triumph In the operas Of Iris
tan und Isode" and "Tannhauser."
She Is q 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 while 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 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 a 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
In q painting Of Cagliostro In the
Louvre at Paris. Il is proposed to
bring the painting by Miss Smith to
Paris to compare the likeness OF the |
work with the real por-
trait In the museum.
Miss Smiths work 50 far has con-
sisted OF three other paintings Cru |
which possesses such strength |
and originality that 1t made tears
come to my eyes when I looked upon /
Il; Christ In Gethsemane' and a 'Vir-
gin.' She has never been out OF Ge-
aeva and has been a very limited read
sr. 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 q shopgirl until her remarka-
BILE psychic manifestations attracted
the attention OF the psycho-philoso-
piers, told me that Helen never evil
ienced great intelligence, but that she
lad remarkable memory. Whenever
The became possessed with an inspi-
'ation to paint NJ. Badin willingly al
owed her to 60 home and remain
away as long as she required.
Through Mrs. James Jackson's gen.
'rOsity she was enabled to give up her
,Osition and stay at home to develop
her powers. II
''The painting Of a picture involves
much preparation. for the 'inspira7
lon.' or whatever 1t may be. directs
Ter just how to prepare the canvas or
'anel on which to paint, indicating the
ixact size, the kind of wood or can
Ias TO be used and everything to the
ninuteSt detail. Even after every
hing has been prepared this inspira-
iOnal force often decides TO change
ts mind and will instruct Miss Smith
o commence all over again on a new
han.
She generally starts her portraits
With the eyes. The room IN which she
aints is always in a dim light, and I
bsolute quiet must prevail. She had
er first command 10 paint In 1906.
ut attributed It to some wild fancy
nd did not take II seriously, but as
he inspiration recurred she followed
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