palace to go down in the early morning of her day, gathering remnants of assorted cloth from the shops and carrying them to her palace, where she joined her servants in weaving them into rugs or blankets for the orphans—while other daughters of palaces joined night to day in an atmosphere of laxity and idleness.
We all know how she knocked at the doors of the well-to-do among our friends, not only in Lebanon but in Syria and Egypt, appealing to them to donate to her charitable projects, then returning to donate herself many times over what they had gathered—while other daughters of palaces sat around the green table, squandering their strength and their money, and finding ample time to sneer at her works.
The days have forgotten all those who assailed her with biting criticism, but the generations do not and will not forget what that rare
woman did in the cause of suffering humanity and universal good.
How splendid she was—working by day for the needy, and sitting in the evening to entertain princes of influence.
How beautiful she was—riding out in her carriage to meet the governor and pleading with him to reconsider the execution or imprisonment of an innocent man; and he would grant her request, until she was called the woman who looses men from the gallows.
How great she was—receiving a letter from the admiral of the British fleet asking her to intercede with the high naval command of his country to permit him to bring the Mediterranean fleet to the shores of Lebanon and make the acquaintance of her noble person.
How beautiful she was—telling the Russian Tsar of her projects, and he sending her subsidies to buy land and build schools.
How lofty she was—levying a tax upon the card-players in her palace to spend upon her humanitarian projects, then turning about and forbidding play altogether, shattering a destructive social custom which our gambling rich practice to this very day.
Return to us, O pure spirit, today and every day—not only to the blessed institute that keeps for you a memory the days cannot efface, but to every corner of this city which, however far it may stray, will forever hallow your immortal memory.
And remind us that love never fails, because it suffers long and is kind; because it envies not, vaunts not itself, is not puffed up. Remind us that love seeks not its own, and thinks no evil; because it bears all things, believes all things, endures all things.
And there is no love greater than that a man should lay down his life for those he loves.
A Friend Who Will Not Betray You! (Pond's)
A friend who will not betray you!
The famous preparations of
Pond's
are beyond rivalry—a friend in summer and in winter.
A friend against storms and the glare of the sun.
Use them today and assure yourself of their quality and superiority.
General agents: Baroudi Bros. & Co.: Beirut and Damascus