Let Your Children Make Merry...

You may suppose, dear reader, that this picture was taken at a party held in America or France — but no, it was taken here, in the heart of the Lebanese capital. Yet, regrettably, this party was held not in an Arab home, but in a foreign one!!

Among our most important problems today in child welfare is the question of how to amuse him and give him merriment. Naturally, the Arab mother's time does not permit her to devote herself to her child — how could it, when parties and associations take up all her time? So God bless the abundance of maids and nannies who have taken this "heavy burden" off her back. But how can our ladies hand their child over to an ignorant maid, and then say they want the best upbringing and learning for their son?

I shall confine my words today to one side of the activity and gaiety by means of which you can win your child over, nourishing his personality and strengthening it — namely, by holding parties for him. The parties need not be

of the grand-banquet sort; rather, let every lady act according to her means.

And do not be, madam, of the "cliché" type — that is, an imitator; try instead to hold one party for your child each year, and let your party be original and full of the surprises that delight a child.

Some time ago I was invited to a party that a foreign lady held for her son on his birthday, and the children were all from the foreign colonies in Beirut.

The hostess was no millionairess, but by her capacity for management she was able to make it one of the grandest of children's parties. Yes, she was original in the way she spread an air of merriment and delight over the children at the party: she required every child to wear whatever costume he wished, and then gave prizes for the best dress.

As for the party's program, it was full and varied. A motion-picture camera took in all the scenes of the party, while the children moved from the dancing ring to the courtyard to putting on little sketches.

I noticed that most of the children were skilled at rhythmic dancing, and I asked one of the mothers, who told me that teaching children to dance is a duty like sending them to school.

And here are some of these pictures:

1: The children in the dancing ring, each holding a balloon.

2: A group of children in their various costumes. This one is a Dutch peasant girl, and that one in the corner is a master cook!

3: A child wearing the dress of the nobility — the French cavaliers of the sixteenth century.