The Season's Celebrations

• In the series of ceremonies held by the "Ahliah College for Girls" last month was the grand oratorical ceremony, to which the men of letters and the poets were invited. At this ceremony a number of chosen con-testants competed; they were: Miss "Rida Maksad," "Suad Nassouli," "Janette Nassif," "Nazira Kansouh," and "Salwa Farah." Valuable prizes, donated by Mr. Abdallah al-Rishani, were awarded to the winners.

• The Young Muslim Women's Association continues to hold its lit-erary gatherings, and on June 16 the cultivated Beirut public witnessed the latest of them, at which Mr. Kamel Mroueh spoke on the subject "With Woman in the Train of the World," and Miss Khadija Osseiran spoke on the subject "The Child: An Angel and a Philosopher."

• "The Problems of Youth: How Shall We Treat Them?" This was the subject of the talk discussed by the woman of letters Mrs. Salma Sayegh and Mr. Muhyi al-Din al-Nassouli at the forum of the magazine "Scouts of Lebanon," on June 25. It was a valuable lecture, which each of the two speakers handled with the liter-ary and oratorical ability for which they are known; and they treated the subject with much deep study.

• In the middle of last June Tripoli witnessed two great ceremonies held on a single day. The first was the ceremony of the Society for the Relief of the Destitute, at which Messrs. Abdallah Mashnouq and Najib Hankash and the poet Salah Labaki spoke. The literary ceremony was presided over by Mrs. Helene Jeha, who excelled entirely in presenting the speakers, thanks to the outstanding oratorical personality for which she is known. The musical side was nourished by the Rahbani Brothers, who cast over the ceremony a light atmosphere and a spirit of pleasant Lebanese gaiety...

• The second ceremony held in Tripoli was the silver jubilee ceremony of the Orthodox Ladies' Renaissance Society. The ceremony was under the patronage of His Beatitude Alexandros III, Patriarch of Antioch. His Excellency Mr. Habib Abu Shahla, the poet Said Akl, and others spoke; and the society's own address was given by its president, Mrs. Karima Assi, who welcomed those present and touched upon the society's efforts throughout 25 years.

Both ceremonies met with a brilliant success, of which Tripoli circles are

still speaking with much satisfaction and pleasure.

• Beirut possesses two strongholds of Arabic oratory among the girls' institutes: Ahliah National College and the Islamic Girls College. Witness the oratorical ceremonies held annually, at which prizes are distributed to the winners. This year's ceremony, at both institutes, was of the utmost excellence and order; the speakers succeeded in fine delivery and in keeping clear of error. We cannot but esteem this good ini-tiative — the endeavor to raise up our beautiful language and to train our girl students in oratory in it, in verse and prose. Would that all our schools followed the example of these two...

• The Girls College of the Makassed Islamic Charitable Association held its ceremony for the distribution of diplomas to the graduates of the various classes.

The ceremony was under the patronage of Mrs. Faiza, wife of His Excellency Riad al-Solh, who dis-tributed the diplomas to the deserv-ing girls with her own gracious hand. She then pinned the silver Order of Education, second class, upon the breast of Miss Zahiyah Dughan, directress of the Girls College; and upon Miss Ihsan Mahmasani, her deputy, Miss Salwa Khayyat, direc-tress of the Khadija al-Kubra School, and Miss Samia Qaranful, supervisor of the kindergarten, the bronze Order of Education, of the third class.

Mrs. Najla Saab delivered, on behalf of Her Ladyship, a gracious address expressing the government's appreciation of the efforts of these young ladies in the field of education and instruction.

The orator of the ceremony was

the literary lady Mrs. Widad Sakakini al-Muhasini.

"The Woman's Voice" offers these young ladies its sincerest congrat-ulations, wishing these institutes lasting prosperity....

• Among the splendid ceremonies of the season was the one held by the National College at Choueifat for the distribution of diplomas to its girl and boy students. This ceremony was, as its ceremonies always are, of the utmost perfection and good taste; and what strikes the eye at this institute's ceremonies is the national, patriotic spirit manifest in everything the boy and girl students perform, in anthems and in speeches.

• The Child Protection Society, attached to the Red Cross organi-zation, held its annual ceremony on the occasion of the close of the school year in the two kindergartens attached to it. The ceremony was under the patronage of Mr. Georges Hajri. This ceremony, like the opening ceremony, was of the utmost order and arrangement; the children's work over the year was exhibited at it, and it bespeaks much taste and care...

• On the twenty-eighth of May a troupe of girl students of the American School for Girls in Tripoli presented the play "A Rope Around the Neck" by Niqula Bustros, the proceeds of which go to the education of the poor girl. It was the finest play presented on the stages of Tripoli this season. The assignment of the roles was most felicitous, and as for the actresses, they excelled entirely in performing their parts.

We ask God to strengthen their arms to press on with their charitable and cultural projects.