lands founding associations and building up societies to study the question of woman in the Arab world and to bring her to her rights in full. The Alawite youth on this Syrian coast possesses an inspiration, a genius, and a creative gift beyond that of any other Syrian citizen, and the reason for that lies in the beautiful nature, the pure air, and the quiet, simple life. Towering mountains, white and gentle; a sweet, refreshing breeze; green, dewy slopes; rich, extended plains; fresh, clear water; a blue, dreaming shore; and moist, delicious fruit. All these things are among the qualifications for the possibilities of inspiration in the youth of this generation. But alas, neither the young man nor the girl has thought of reforming the home — this home which cannot be reformed except by reforming woman. Woman is the first school of the rising generation and
the first teacher of society, and so long as she remains isolated from social life, this beautiful face of Syria will remain backward."
I have known some Alawite women whom time allowed to appear on the stage of social life, and they took
• And from Mr. Filib Muslim of Jerusalem comes a word full of lofty literary grace and sweet elegance.
With much regret we apologize for not publishing the beautiful story that Mr. Muslim sent us, because it was long delayed in the mail, so that long months now lie between it and Easter. Here is the beautiful letter that Mr. Muslim enclosed with his splendid story:
Honorable Madam,
Warm greetings... and now, here before you is this little story, entitled "On the Third Day," which I send to the illustrious magazine "The Woman's Voice" in answer to the request of a sister of mine...
As for how that came about... it is a matter of long consideration and short... a little... and a lot... — One evening, while the household were leafing through the pages of the magazine, one of my sisters sprang up, saying:
— Why don't you write to "The Woman's Voice"?...
— I have turned my path away from the face of every woman, sister... even from her voice!...
— But if you listened, you would hear a voice the like of which your ear has never known... Send them, brother, one of your stories...
— And which story?!...
— Whichever you wish... "On the Third Day," for instance... Easter is not far off, so it would be published in its season...
— Well then...
And so...
As for the writer of this little story, he is a young man from Lebanon, from the depths of Lebanon, who graduated from the American University, Beirut, then studied law at the Institute of Law in Jerusalem, and here he is, still teaching the Arabic language at one of the national colleges of this country — and before all this and after it, he has been enamored of the story for no small time, practicing it in reading, in writing, and in broadcasting...
As for this "On the Third Day," it is one of those stories that have not yet been broadcast, and it holds as much of the scrutiny of reality as it holds of the suggestion of imagination — according to what is set down in the books, and what is not...
This, and if you are content, Madam, with its hurried words — or if you ladies are content — then I shall have done no more than a small part of what is mine to do and what is owed by me!...
Please accept my respects.
Jerusalem, March 6, 1948
• And from the far Maghreb, a letter from Mr. Aziz al-Din Salih, resident of Dakar — a charming letter in which he comments on an article that The Woman's Voice published, by Dr. Jack Makari, on the harms of smoking. Mr. Salih asks whether the nargileh (the arghileh) causes harm as the cigarette does, and Mr. Salih awaits an answer from Dr. Makari..
And this is some of what his letter said:
To the director of The Woman's Voice, the respected Mrs. Heneni Tarcha.
To you the greetings of a countryman to his brother. To proceed: I have received the April issue of your illustrious magazine, and since I am one of its supporters beyond the seas and one of its admirers — especially for what it publishes in its pages of guidance and opinions from the ladies and young ladies, and certain articles by our honored women of letters — I say, I took up the said issue and leafed through it with all care, as is my habit, for such a fra
ternal call delights us — this beloved women's voice that reaches us from time to time from our rising Arab sisters, crossing the seas to us. And it truly delights us emigrants to see you today, O daughters of the homeland, calling, summoning, in revolt against those obsolete customs, guiding fathers and mothers toward the making of the youth of tomorrow and toward what the homeland requires of them. To you, then, virtuous ladies, our highest feelings of esteem and admiration. Forward!
Dakar, 10 May 1948