On Syrian women's society The Syrian woman and the European woman The materialism of the West and the spirituality of the East Mixed marriage Palestine.

At an appointment with "The Woman's Voice," the lady wife of His Excellency Mr. Ahmad al-Sharabati spoke to this maga-zine's correspondent — the talk of an aware, cultured woman.

And "The Woman's Voice" honors in this noble lady such

refined national feeling and such deep devotion to the homeland that has become for her a new homeland.

The correspondent of "The Woman's Voice" said:

... She came toward us, pacing the garden of the Grand Hotel in Beit Mery with long strides that harmonized with her slender figure. For the wife of His Excellency Ahmad Bey al-Sharabati, former Minister of Justice in Syria, enjoys a share of natural beauty joined to personality. And it seemed to me, as I talked with her, that she was abundant in courtesy and ample in taste — she is German by birth and culture, so it is no wonder that her personality should appear with all its merits.

I proceeded to converse with her, and she answered my questions with deliberation and thought.

— What, in your view, are the most important features that dis-tinguish Syrian women's society from other, European, societies?

— The Syrian woman lags behind the European woman: she still disdains, to a certain extent, to tend her children herself, and she is in many cases unable to assist her husband effectively when the need arises. But she surpasses the European woman in her manners and her sedateness.

— Is it true that the European woman has become materialistic

to the point that she has lost much of her spirituality?

— I do not agree with those who claim that the European woman is materialistic and the Syrian woman spiritual — quite the contrary. The proof of this is that when the Syrian girl approaches marriage, what most concerns her to know is: "What is the suitor's fortune?" — whereas the European woman relies in her marriage on nothing but love; love alone, in her view, is what guar-antees her happiness, not money!

— Have problems arisen because of the difference of creed between you and your husband?

And what is your opinion of mixed marriage?

— It would not be strange for great problems to have risen up in my face had I married a Muslim man other than Ahmad; but I thank God for his open heart and his breadth of mind, which he acquired from his culture and from residing for a time in the West, and which made it easy for our marriage to be a successful one, in complete harmony... I am not among the extremists in advocating mixed marriage; but once love has formed between two persons, it is absolutely not permissible that their difference of creed should be a reason to stand in the way of marriage...

— And do you, Madam, love life among us?

— Of course; my love for this country is great. At the beginning this love was derived from my love for my husband; but now it has become natural...

— What are the social works in which you take part, in your capacity as a Syrian lady enjoying a distinguished position?

— I am an active member of the Red Crescent Society and of the Cultural League, and an honorary member

of the supervisory committee over the Women Teachers' College in Damascus.

— Do you know any Arabic?