The celebration to which the Lebanese Women's League issued its invitations, on the evening of Saturday, October 18, 1947, in the hall of the Hotel Normandy in Beirut, was a splendid festival. It was attended by His Excellency the President of the Lebanese Republic, Sheikh Beshara El-Khouri, and by a refined gathering of prominent personalities and old families.
Mrs. Heneni Tarcha, president of the Lebanese Women's League, received the guests, ladies and gentlemen, surrounded by a select group of members of the Lebanese Women's League. At six o'clock the cortege of His Excellency the President appeared; the band of the Lebanese Gendarmerie struck up the national anthem, and His Excellency went up to take the place of honor in the hall, surrounded by a select group of the League's members and some officials.
The well-known woman of letters Mrs. Emily Fares Ibrahim conducted the celebration. She presented Mrs. Ellen Rihan to deliver the opening address, which proved eloquent in conveying its meaning with brevity and simplicity. In it she recalled that the Lebanese Women's League had held this celebration for the sake of two noble Lebanese projects: the first, a modern kindergarten, for whose building the government has donated a plot of land, while the generous Lebanese emigrants in Venezuela have donated the costs of construction; and the second, a women's magazine, "The Woman's Voice," which is the one platform in Lebanon devoted to woman. Mrs. Rihan then thanked those present for their support, and gave thanks likewise to His Excellency the
President for honoring the celebration with his presence and for placing it under his patronage.
The Program of the Celebration
After that the program of the celebration followed in succession: from Western music, to Lebanese songs and dabkeh dances — during which Miss Olga Ajam delighted the audience with her sweet voice — to feats of skill and hypnotism performed by Dr. Salmon.
Those present lingered in convivial company until a late hour of the evening, and they departed wishing the Lebanese Women's League every success in its praiseworthy endeavors in the service of Lebanese society. We have published on this page two scenes from this magnificent celebration.
His Excellency the President, Sheikh Beshara El-Khouri, with Mrs. Heneni Tarcha on his right, upon his entrance to the place of the celebration
A section of those present in the grand hall of the Normandy