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 sin-cerely 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??

The nursing school of the Lebanese Red Cross held its annual ceremony for the distribution of diplomas to the graduates on the afternoon of Tuesday, June 26, 1951, in the UNESCO hall, presided over by His Excellency the august President of the Republic, and attended by the central president, Mrs. de Freige, His Excellency the Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies, Their Excellencies the ministers and the deputies, senior officers, all the members and physicians of the Red Cross, and a large number of distinguished personalities and the families of the graduates.

The ceremony was opened by Dr. Elias Baklini, vice-president of the Lebanese Red Cross, with a com-prehensive speech on the works and activity of the insti-tution in all the humanitarian and health fields, address-ing sincere thanks to His Excellency the President of the Republic and his wife, Her Ladyship the First Lady of Lebanon, for their constant solicitude toward the Red Cross; he likewise thanked all the members and physi-cians who serve humanity with energy and sacrifice under the banner of the Red Cross. He was followed by Dr. Philippe Chedid, chief physician of the Red Cross, with an address directed to the graduates, thanking those among them who have volunteered to serve the sick, and offering the guidance and counsel to be followed in their coming working lives. Then were read out the names of the graduates, who came forward to receive their diplomas from the hand of His Excellency the President of the Republic, in the following order:

First-aid section: Malaké Basbous, Renée Doumit, Samira Hayek, Carmen Hashimeh, Marie-Joseph Marchal, Andrée Moretti, Marie-Louise Mokarzel, Lina Nadra, Rola Najjar, Gilberte Boutros, Aimée Sahyoun, Mimi Sayegh.

Children's nurses section: Rose Abi Habib, Angèle Abi Habib, Geneviève Azar, Antoinette Mokarzel.

First-year nurses section: Thérèse Abi Jaoudeh, Lilian Abi Rached, Dolly Akkad, Thérèse Aoun, Arlette Blaila, Cécile Baghdadi, Simone Chaarawi, Claude Chedid, Thérèse Hajj, Odette Howayek, Gladys Habib, Suzy Jamati, Odette Mokarzel, Thérèse Babiardo, Claude Salba, Eva Saleh, Leila Sawma, Gisèle Razzouk, Claire Toameh, Dolly Yoakim, Ghita Wehbeh.

Second-year nurses section (Red Cross diploma): Lilian Ajram, Laure Azouri, Shella Derziyeh, Georgette Frangieh, Jeanne Ghanimeh, Marie Hajj, Aimée Jalkh, Jeannette Massoud, Denise Nihad, Mida Bamboukdjian, Olga Takla, Lydia Zayek, Violette Zoun.

Third-year nurses section (Government diploma): Sister Azael Awad, Eileen Abillama, Renée Chammas, Fortunée Doueik, Souad Habcheh, Inas Kazi, Sister Arcelia Meriani.

Aviation first-aid section: Nadine Chemaya, Rose Ajil, Aida Maarbes, Nabila Saab, Aurore Salibi, Marie-Rose Tannous.

The ceremony ended in an atmosphere inspiring respect and admiration for the Lebanese Red Cross and for the women enlisted in the service of the sick and of humanity.