In Society — In the World of Pleading for Woman's Rights

And there was evening and there was morning...

...And the crowning touch — before the ministry of Mr. Abdallah al-Yafi presents to the Chamber of Deputies a bill giving us our rights in full — the crowning touch was Mrs. Laure Tabet's defense of these rights, at the invitation of woman's friend and one of her great champions, Mr. Michel Asmar, founder of the Cénacle Libanais.

Throughout her defense, Mrs. Laure was as Lebanese society has known her: a princess among the princesses of culture, a lady among the ladies of wit, and a symbol of faith in this small homeland. She was firm without violence, and gentle without weakness.

She surveyed the bondage of woman since woman has existed... and the tyranny of man since this man has existed! In bondage there is humiliation and abasement, and she wants honor and freedom for herself, by a grace God has bestowed on all His creatures, and so that her children may be raised in dignity and honor. Hence her insistence (that she share in legislation, in defense of herself and of her home, and out of her desire to be a useful citizen striving in the cause of justice and good).

A number of men of letters attended the defense, and she wrung admiration from them; they bowed their heads and acknowledged the gifts of the Lebanese woman, her qualifications, and her sincerity. The gracious man of letters Mr. Fouad Mishalani published his admiration in the newspaper al-Nahar in something resembling a prayer...

But... — and there must be a "but," for it is forever bound to exist — but Mr. Mishalani gently and sincerely cautions Mrs. Tabet (to go somewhat slowly in demanding these rights). As for this theory of his, he traces it to the fact that (our present complaints stem from the ignorance of men and their remoteness from civilization and national consciousness in the outlying parts of Lebanon — so what, then, of the women?).

It is as if we heard the man of letters saying: do you want to add a new affliction to our afflictions??