On April 23 Antelias was thronged with the vast crowds that flocked to it to celebrate the Lemon Festival. The celebration was presided over by His Excellency the President of the Republic, in the presence of several of the ministers.
His Excellency delivered one of his splendid speeches, all love, sincerity, and guidance, calling for love of the pure and blessed land.
• The country's delight was great
at the return of His Excellency the Prime Minister Abdul Hamid Karami from his convalescent journey to London and Paris.
Great festivities were held for him in Beirut, in which the masses of the people of every class took part, and in which the government officially joined.
After remaining two days in Beirut, His Excellency left for the capital of the North, where a celebration without parallel was held for him, and the
"His Excellency Abdul Hamid Karami with the delegation of the Charitable Society"
masses of the people streamed to his palace from the various districts of the North. The women's organizations took part in offering their duty of congratulation to His Excellency: the Women's Charitable Society charged a large delegation of ladies, headed by Mrs. Iqbal Izzeddine Zouk, with presenting the congratulations, and the women's delegation brought with it some of the orphan girls whose keep is provided by His Excellency's brothers. His Excellency graciously donated the keep of one more orphan girl.
The Woman's Voice raises its congratulations to His Excellency the Prime Minister Karami.
• In mid-April there arrived in Beirut from Transjordan the two refined young ladies Fatima and Makram Abd al-Fattah Malhas, accompanied by their sister, the woman of letters Thurayya Malhas. They stayed as honored guests of the gracious Mrs. Farida Shubeilat, wife of Mr. Farhan Shubeilat, Transjordan's Minister Plenipotentiary. The gracious young ladies left Beirut for Amman after passing a full week surrounded by the attentions of Mrs. Farida and of their many friends, and after making flying visits to the various beautiful Lebanese summer resorts.
• From Cairo comes news that a league of Lebanese students has been formed, comprising 65 students, young men and women, belonging to the various Egyptian colleges, universities, and institutes.
The refined Miss Zahia Kaddoura has been elected secretary-general of this league by unanimous vote.
We congratulate the refined Miss Zahia, and we wish the league success in carrying out the vital projects that concern our students, men and women, in sister Egypt.
• On April 22 last, the Zahrat al-Ihsan Society invited the public to a great ceremony in memory of the society's departed member and the builder of its school, the noble benefactress Emily Sursock.
The speakers at this ceremony were Mr. Georges Baz, Mr. Ghassan Tueni, Mrs. Widad Maqdisi Cortas, Mr. Raif Khoury, Sheikh Abdullah al-Alayli, and Mrs. Salma Sayegh.
The speakers, men and women alike, paid tribute to the departed lady's shining benefactions in works of piety and charity.
On the occasion of the fourth anniversary of the death of the great man of letters Omar Fakhoury, a committee was formed of his friends and of the admirers of his literary work and his patriotic struggle, to observe this cherished memory. On the day of the anniversary a group of writers visited his tomb, where several of the writers delivered poems and speeches expressing their feelings.
The committee has also submitted a request to the Ministry of Education to hold a ceremony for him on May 7 at the National Library.
On April 21 a delegation of the "Partisans of Peace" in Lebanon proceeded to the Chamber of Deputies, called on His Excellency the Speaker of the Chamber, and presented him with petitions bearing upwards of six thousand signatures concerning the resolutions of the congress of the Partisans of Peace and expressing support for them.
The delegation asked His Excellency the Speaker to lay the substance of the petitions before the Chamber of Deputies for discussion and approval.
The delegation also addressed a letter to the deputies on this subject.