Mrs. Aminah Makdisi — Miscellaneous News

The "League of American Women Voters" held a congress in March of the year 1950, in Atlantic City, in which delegates took part from 36 American states and from Lebanon, Italy, Greece, Sweden, Germany, the Philippines, Iceland, and Mexico. The subject of discussion was how the American woman can be an effective force in democratic political life.

Mrs. Aminah Khoury Makdisi, delegate of the Lebanese Women's Union to the congress, has written explaining the subjects and the discussion. She admires the activity of the American woman and the firm union among the ladies and their mutual support in pursuing the fulfillment of their demands; and if one of the deputies neglects to help any district, the women do not vote for him at election time.

When she was asked to speak about the work of woman in Lebanon, she mentioned women's activity generally in the social and charitable fields, their culture and their national consciousness, and she explained at length the work of the Lebanese Women's Union over the past 28 years, and that the Union, ever since Lebanon became independent in 1944, has been demanding that woman be granted her political rights.

★ At the beginning of last month, the kindergarten attached to the Zahle Women's Renaissance Society was opened, after the end of the winter vacation which it is customary to take, when the snows prevent the lessons from continuing..

The kindergarten in Zahle keeps pace with modern methods of education. Its specialist directress is assisted by active members of the Zahle Women's Renaissance Society; and this association, young though it is, lets no opportunity pass without turning it to account to raise the standard of the kindergarten — by adding the lovely games that captivate the children, strengthen their bodies, and train them to stay in the open air, and so endear learning to them....

Perhaps every mother looks with longing and hope toward a near future in which a kindergarten — indeed, kindergartens — will be founded in every town of our dear Lebanon, so that not a single child, rich or poor, is denied the right to care, learning, and play in a healthful, well-ordered atmosphere... God bless the women of Lebanon who labor for the sake of the child....

Miss Layla Abu Dahir, a pupil at the National College in Choueifat, won the first prize in the composition contest held by the magazine "al-Taliba al-Misriyya" for pupils of the preparatory classes. As for the prize, it is: "al-Ayyam," in its two volumes, by Dr. Taha Husayn, and "al-Tilmidha al-Khalida" by Ahmad al-Sawi.

The subject of the contest was "a contemporary person who has left a good mark," and Miss Layla Abu Dahir spoke of the head of her school, Mr. Charles Saad, and of the esteem, respect, and admiration she carries for him in her soul. She set forth his lofty qualities, down to the last of what a child of ten years can feel, in a gentle, tender style, and for this she deserved her victory over her fellow pupils, boys and girls. So we congratulate little Miss Layla and wish her lasting success in her literary life to come..

★ Mrs. Farida al-Maghazji, wife of Mr. Kamil al-Maghazji, who held the post of cultural attaché at the Iraqi Legation in Beirut, has left us for Ankara. Mrs. Farida joined her husband in his new post at Ankara after spending more than three years in Beirut, where she won the admiration and affection of her many friends. She appears in the picture with her two children, Jamal and Nidal. "The Woman's Voice" wishes the honored Maghazji family a blessed journey and a happy stay in the lands of Anatolia, and hopes that Mrs. Farida will continue to supply her magazine with her good news.