Children's Day
international organization for education, science, and culture has considered this question, and has resolved to publish the world's books in all countries.
Dr. Charles Malik proposed, in a speech dated December 5, 1946, at the United Nations organization, that the classic books be translated into all the languages of the world, so that every human being might become acquainted with the spiritual and intellectual discoveries the human mind has made in the pursuit of the knowledge of truth. Among his words: "Peoples live only by exchanging the fruits of their endeavor, and peace will not spread over the world unless all come to know one another through books, and unless the cultural differences between the peoples disappear. Therefore all the classic books must be translated into all the languages of the world, so that even he who has learned no European language may obtain them."
Shall we, in this age of ours, strive less in the cause of the book, and of the human culture it expounds, than our ancient forefathers did?
Nay — we must cultivate ourselves with a true culture, and so give Lebanon a countenance of its own, distinguishing it among all the nations. "Kipling," the famous English poet, said: "East is East and West is West, and never the twain shall meet." And yet they have met upon this land of ours, and they do not quarrel. And upon this land shall gather the greatest cultural, scientific, and social institution history and the world have known — Unesco. Let us profit by it, and contribute to the attainment of its peaceful and humane aims; and then there will return to us that great spiritual heritage which for an age we carried as a beacon upon the brow of the peoples.
The Lebanese Child-Welfare Society invited the men of the
press and the heads of institutes and organizations to a family tea party, which it held at the Military Club on the afternoon of Tuesday, April 6. In the name of the society, Mrs. Husaynah Sa'id Farjahah welcomed the invited guests and thanked them for answering the invitation and for their effective contribution to the success of Child's Day and to the project for the child's welfare, and she presented some of the children of the homes in a varied program of songs that won the approval of all. Mrs. Zahia Salman, president of the society, delivered a speech in which she made plain the society's aims and drew attention to two happy departures in its work, which have had a great effect on the success of their labors. The first departure is the society's stepping beyond the stage of speeches and pronouncements into the field of fruitful work, proving thereby that a woman can be a model housewife and at the same time serve her community with fidelity and selflessness. The second departure is its successful endeavors toward fighting hateful sectarianism, for it is a national Lebanese women's association in its members and in the children it cares for. She then laid before the audience the society's preparations for Child's Day, which may be summed up as follows:
1. A party, as usual, under the patronage of Her Ladyship the First Lady of Lebanon, who — God preserve her — has been pleased to shower the society with her kindness, and has graciously consented to open Child Week with an appeal to be broadcast from Radio Lebanon.
2. The participation of most of the Lebanese towns and villages in its observance.
3. The participation of the other Arab countries in its observance as well.
4. The holding of a traveling
festival of the children of the city's kindergartens, to go about the streets and draw eyes and ears to Child's Day.
5. Inviting a company of the men and ladies of Lebanon to write articles of guidance, to be published during Child Week.
6. Calling for volunteers, men and women, to collect donations, as usual.
7. Presenting a formal request to the government to recognize Child's Day officially.
In the course of the meeting the society received a letter from Miss Thurayya Malhas, secretary of the Jordanian Women's Union, saying that they had answered the request of the Child-Welfare Society and would celebrate Child's Day. The newspaper "Al-Urdun," for its part, carried a leading article under this headline: "Child's Day — the Jordanian Women's Union answers the appeal of the Lebanese Child-Welfare Society." Mrs. Salman closed her remarks by thanking the press, the institutes, the organizations, and the radio, announcing that the door of discussion stands open before all, and that the society welcomes every suggestion, guidance, or question addressed to it.
After an exchange of views, and the approval by those present of the broad lines of Child's Day as drawn by the society, the zealous patriot Mr. Zaki al-Naqqash, president of Makassed College, rose and delivered one of his splendid patriotic speeches, in which he praised the efforts of woman in the field of social service, saluted her activity in fighting sectarianism, and declared, in the name of the men present, that they are soldiers, in complete readiness to answer the call of the Child-Welfare Society and to work hand in hand with it toward the realization of its humane aims.
