families cannot afford their schooling. From Mrs. Ijni Saad I took the love of serving society.

Q — There remains the third lady who influenced your life. Who is she, Mrs. Sarkis?

A — She is Mrs. Asma Abillama, principal of the National College for Girls for about half a century, who still puts her heart and soul into teaching, far from any love of display. She is modest to the utmost degree, despite her many talents.

Q — Do you feel that your natural inclinations developed along the path you aspired to? I mean, have you other talents which circumstances prevented from being nourished and grown?

A — Would that you had not asked me this question, for you have awakened a pain in my soul that I thought had been buried with my youth. As for the answer: yes. I had a talent for music, vocal and instrumental.

Q — Rather, it still exists...

A — Yes, it exists, but rust has overlaid it from neglect... I used to train the school choir. And there was a deep hope that kept haunting my soul: to travel to Italy to study this art. But material circumstances did not allow me, and I married on the strength of a

promise that we would go to America, where the field is wide for the fulfillment of my wish. But the First World War, and other hindrances, blocked the roads before me, and I have remained where I am...

Q — What a loss... And now, I know, Mrs. Sarkis, that you work in a number of associations. Which of these associations receives the largest share of your affection and your activity?

A — As for activity, I divide it equally among the associations in which I work; as for affection, the one that receives most of it is the Tahdhib al-Fatat Society, because I am one of its founders, and it was my first acquaintance with social activity... From its founding to this day this society has educated hundreds of girls; some have become housewives, some work in the field of teaching, and others in the service of society... Its members work with energy and steadfastness to secure schooling for close to thirty pupils every year in the schools of Beirut, Shweifat, Tripoli, and Kfarshima.

Q — It is indeed a positive work deserving of every appreciation. And what more, Mrs. Sarkis, about the Tahdhib al-Fatat Society?

A — It has two branches, one in Beirut and the other