Society News

The Lebanese Women's League held a general meeting at the Officers' Club, its purpose being the election of five new members of the board. The secret ballot resulted in the election of:

- Mrs. Afifi Majdalani
- Mrs. Rose Zakkour
- Mrs. Fatimeh Daouk
- Mrs. Issam Rifai
- Miss Edma Bayoud

Miss Zahiyah Dughan presented a brief report on the kindergarten and on the critical stage this kindergarten is passing through in expanding and securing its standing.

She was followed by Mrs. Edvick Jureidini Shayboub, who spoke about the magazine The Woman's Voice and the high place it occupies today among the magazines of the Arab world, and who urged the members to give their spiritual and moral backing to this excellent women's magazine.

The association's treasurer, Mrs. Janette Tadros, gave an annual report on the association's finances.

• The ladies of the Lebanese Red Cross, together with other volunteers, are continuing their activity in distributing apportioned milk and other foodstuffs to the refugees in the Lebanese cities and in the many mountain villages that, for all their room, have grown crowded with them; they likewise continue to deliver health care.

Distribution in Lebanon was begun by the International Red Cross on the first of February, and it is hoped that the shares now being distributed will be increased in the future.

The Lebanese Red Cross held its general meeting on February 13 in the UNESCO hall, under the patronage of its honorary president, Mrs. Laure Khoury.

• Mrs. Asma, wife of His Excellency Ahmad Bey Daouk, Lebanon's Minister Plenipotentiary in Paris, returned to Lebanon at the beginning of last month.

In a short visit which the delegate of The Woman's Voice paid to welcome this gracious lady, she gathered from her conversation with her that the wife of His Excellency the Minister is here on a visit among family and friends that will last no more than another month, after an absence of three and a half years. Mrs. Asma Daouk expressed her admiration for the high level the magazine The Woman's Voice has reached, and the abundant pleasure she finds in reading it... and she wished the Lebanese woman continued progress. The Woman's Voice thanks Mrs. Asma for her confidence and wishes her a happy stay in the precincts of the homeland.

• A group of ladies in Zahle saw that the plight of the poor child had grown grave, so they held a general meeting at the Hotel Kadri, to which they invited Mrs. Zahia Salman, president of the Children's Welfare Society in Beirut, to explain to them the plan her similar project follows. Her words fell happily upon the listeners, and they grasped the importance of the work they had in hand.

Then Dr. Antoinette Maalouf followed her with a valuable address that stirred the feelings and emotions of all, and after her Mrs. Marie Khoury Rizk spoke well-chosen words.

The mistress of ceremonies was the refined Mrs. Emily Wadih Nasrallah, who handled the introductions and the conduct of the gathering with consummate grace.

This association was named the "Child Nursery Society," and more than a hundred ladies and young ladies, of the finest ladies and young ladies of the city, joined it at once.

Then the election was held, with the following result:

Dr. Antoinette Maalouf for the presidency; Mrs. Albert Breidi for the vice-presidency; Mrs. Wadih Nasrallah as secretary; Mrs. Mabouyajini as treasurer; Mrs. Michel Doualibi as representative to the government; and Mrs. Anis al-Khoury as corresponding secretary.

The advisers, Mesdames: Farah, Maalouf Abi Khater, al-Jibli, Jreissati, Skaff, Chamoun Rizk.

And for the administrative committee, Mesdames: Jamila Maksoud, Maggie Alouf, Zakiya Doualibi, Alia Jibran, Rose Ghorra, and Marie Maalouf.

The meeting then broke up in the utmost activity, enthusiasm, and mutual understanding.

May God be woman's help in this glorious mission, of which we stand in the sorest need.

Dr. Zeki Shakhashiri, one of the physicians of the medical department of the American University of Beirut, had prepared last year an exhibition on germ awareness, but the circumstances that came upon the country after the events of Palestine kept this exhibition from appearing.

This year his colleague Dr. Azar mounted this exhibition, under the patronage of the "Lebanese Public Health Association," in West Hall at the American University, and the Beirut public witnessed an exhibition of health protection the like of which we had never seen before this day.

Last month the capital held a party of music and song, at the invitation of the Arab Orphan Committee at the American University. This party was attended by a large audience of those who appreciate the works of the Arab Orphan Committee, which labors for the sake of this weak and deprived human being.

• From a statement made by the notable Mr. Louis Zakkour to a company of ladies of the Lebanese Women's League, who had the honor of visiting him and congratulating him on his return from Colombia after an emigration that lasted seventeen years, he said:

"I am very proud of the activity that woman is displaying in Lebanon, and I personally am fully prepared to support her, take her by the hand, and encourage her literary and charitable projects."

Mr. Louis Zakkour is one of our brilliant countrymen; in the Mahjar he built a name coupled with magnanimity and nobility, and he has beneficent deeds to his credit in every humane and charitable work. He roused the sympathy of the Lebanese colony in the Mahjar for the Palestine question and gathered vast sums of money. The Woman's Voice thanks him for his zeal and his ardor and wishes him, and his respected family, a happy stay.

• The Women's Solidarity Association in Lebanon held its general session at the home of its president, Mrs. Laure Georges Tabet, on January 10, 1949, and elected from among its members a reception committee to undertake, in the name of the associations of which the Solidarity Association is composed, the welcoming of the Committee on Women's Affairs delegated by the United Nations. It also elected a committee to study the agenda of the United Nations league committee, jointly with the Arab Women's Union and the other individual associations that wish to examine and inform themselves on these matters of concern to the Committee on Women's Affairs.

• Mrs. Mona Khoury Nader, wife of Mr. George Nader, of Qalhat, in the Koura, was blessed with a baby girl, their first-born, at Dr. Wahib Nini's hospital in Tripoli. To the new baby, a sweet life; and to her generous parents, our congratulations on the safe delivery of mother and child.

• Women's circles in Beirut were shaken by the death of the well-known pharmacist, Alice Abouchdid, while still in the prime of life. The lamented lady, a graduate of the American University, was the first young lady in Beirut to found a pharmacy by her own efforts, and she watched over its progress for twelve years, throughout which she was a model of fidelity and industry.

The Woman's Voice, appreciating this loss that befalls the feminine element in this country, offers the family of the departed — and especially her sister, Dr. Edma Abouchdid, professor of obstetrics at the American University — its sincerest condolences, asking God's mercy for the departed and beautiful patience for her family.

• The gifted artist Mr. Radwan al-Shahhal has been blessed with a new baby, his second son, named "Omar"!

The family of The Woman's Voice offers the artist al-Shahhal, and his lady wife, its congratulations, asking for "Omar" a lifetime filled with blessings and joys in the shade of his parents...

• The "Child Welfare" association continues its activity for the raising of the child's health, mental, and spiritual level, and its president, the refined Mrs. Zahia Salman, still watches over the care of this association, which she founded and nourished with all the knowledge and vitality she possesses.

The latest thing this association has done was the splendid party it held at Cinema Dunia, at which it presented to the public lovely varieties of dance, song, and monologues; among the strongest parts of the program was the turn presented by the artiste Tahia Carioca and the world-famous singer Fadwa Kurban...