Another Resource Dies

A correspondent of The Woman's Voice met with a noble Egyptian lady who has been residing in Lebanon for some time. Various conversations passed between them, in the course of which the subject of summering in Lebanon was taken up. The noble lady showed her devotion to Lebanon and her love for it, and offered some observations and suggestions on this head, which we summarize as follows:

Summering is necessary for man, because it removes from him the fatigue and sluggishness that have beset him through the seasons of the year. Summering used to be the preserve of the well-to-do class; now, however, the middle class takes to it for the benefit it finds in it.

It is no secret that Lebanon is the natural summer resort of the Arab East, situated as it is at its center, and endowed by God with lofty mountains, towering trees, sweet waters, and enchanting scenery. Indeed, it may be counted in the front rank of the world's summer resorts for that unique advantage which distinguishes it — namely, that no rain falls during the summer season, as is the case in most European resorts. But, regrettably, beautiful Lebanon does not receive the publicity, care, and attention it deserves, as the other European resorts do.

Publicity, care, and attention to summering in Lebanon have become more necessary than before, in view of the possibility and ease of travel to the European resorts after this war. My love for Lebanon, and my devotion to it as an Arab woman, prompt me to offer the following observations and suggestions, in the hope that they may find attentive ears among those responsible:

First — The government should bear part of the expenses so as to help bring prices down; likewise the people should make sacrifices too, and support the government in its task.

Second — Increased supervision of the small hotels. It is not only the very wealthy who have the right to enjoy a comfortable summer resort; the middle class — the mainstay of the nation, upon whose shoulders every country rises — has the right, it too, to enjoy comfort.

Third — Making contests general — such as beauty and athletic contests — and setting up traveling theaters, and organizing popular musical and singing troupes that carry to the summering stranger varieties of Lebanese art.

Fourth — Improving the means of transport and lowering their fares.

Fifth — Establishing temporary cinema houses in all summering centers, or holding literary contests in which the summer visitors take part.

This — and how welcome it would be if the Lebanese people would act by the prompting of its conscience, and hold itself, in word and in deed, above whatever injures its homeland; thereby it would assist the government in performing its task of providing the means of comfort for the summer visitors and removing every cause of their complaint.