The woman of letters who deprived millions of readers of her literature, to plant it in the souls of thousands of girls of her homeland
She refuses to say that she has accomplished much in her life.
She falls silent, with a gracious, noble look, and raises her three fingers, to say that they are three.. Afifa, Ziad, and Fatina Saab. Even on the foundation stone laid for the building of the al-Sirat al-Jadid School she insisted that the three names be carved.
She was content to make of her life that of an educator.. an educator to an entire generation; and she left behind her a literary renown won by a supple pen and a radiant mind, the letters and words flowing from her pen as gifts, feelings, and lessons.
Do you call this contentment?!
Thirty-two years — so far — has Afifa Saab stripped from her life: watchful, watchful waking and sleeping, bidding farewell to one class to welcome another, fighting want with patience, and failure with confidence — confidence in herself and in those around her.
With this confidence Afifa Saab today crowns her long, bitter struggle by laying the foundation stone for the new school building; and she refuses to acknowledge that the new school, the new education, and the new woman — she refuses to acknowledge that she set their foundation stone when she devoted herself to raising up the school, education, and woman.
This new building is a small thing beside the vast, solid edifice Afifa Saab has raised in the souls of thousands of girls of her nation.
I will not make her take offense.. Afifa, Fatina, Ziad — among the foundation stones in the building of the new society!..
(1) The only time the fame-shy woman of letters was put on the spot: Emir Maurice Chehab pins the Order of Merit on her breast!..
(2) The radiance of happiness, hope, and confidence at the laying of the foundation stone. Afifa Saab; on her right, Emir Maurice Chehab, Director of Antiquities in the Ministry of Education; then Mr. Emile Abu Samra, judge of Aley.