Chicago Evening American, June 8, 1921.
Peoria is all excited today over the announcement by Benjamin H.
Serkowich of the Peoria Art League that a canvas painted by a woman in
her dream with the hand of the immortal and long since departed
Whistler guiding her brush, is on display at a local theater mezzanine
floor which gave space to the annual exhibit of the League.
Mrs. William Hawley Smith, wife of Dr. W.H. Smith of Peoria, is the
woman. She and her husband are among the wealthiest and most socially
prominent families in Peoria.
Dr. William Hawley Smith is well known as a student and writer on
sociological problems. Both he and Mrs. Smith claim to have frequently
received spirit messages from the dead. Several weeks ago Mrs. Smith
says she was sleeping soundly when Whistler appeared in a dream. The
famous artist commanded her to don her artist smock and get her
brushes, paints and palette; then she translated to canvas the
instructions he imparted, and frequently his hand guided her brush.
She worked feverishly all night, and in the morning awoke fatigued,
but the picture was finished.
Chicago Tribune, Saturday, March 12, 1921.
Dreams being led to hiding place of missing girls. Mother's
vision of her daughter comes true. Girl of my dreams. Sounds
like the title of a new song, doesn't it. The girl is Evelyn
Niedziezko, 17 years old. She lives at 3939 South Campbell
avenue. Last Wednesday night she disappeared from home. That
night and on Thursday night her mother dreamed of her. In
both dreams she saw her daughter enter a flat building. It
seems to her in her dreams it was on Cottage Grove avenue,
near 27th street. Last night Mrs. Niedziezko reported the
girl's disappearance to the police. Lieut. Ben Burns, to
whom the mother talked, asked her if she had any idea as to
where the girl might be staying. She told her dreams.