The Tripoli Disaster

The Woman's Word

Fate struck its blow, and upon Tripoli the Fragrant descended the heartrending disaster of the flood, while people were in the full bustle of preparing for the two feasts — Christmas and the New Year. Joy was snatched at once from hearts, and in its place came chokings of grief and heartbreaks; the festive parties were canceled, energies turned briskly toward rescue and the aid of the stricken, and souls turned in anguish toward the innocent victims.

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Nations are at every hour exposed to terrifying collective calamities, whose causes man's limited mind is at a loss to interpret: at one moment he traces them — in his helplessness — to the wrath of God, at another to the wrath of nature. And oh, the subjugation and humiliation of man before both!

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There is no touchstone for man like calamities: he stands naked before himself, and there is laid bare to him what wantonness and ingratitude had overrun his soul; so he takes the lesson and recoils in a shudder of fear, and conscience awakens within him, summoning him to deeds of gallantry and magnanimity.

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Calamities are a painful trial which the nation passes through against its will; they leave the stricken member torn limb from limb, felled by deprivation and sorrow... And with surpassing eagerness and love the sound members gather round it, to console and to help. In this is a renewal of intimacy and love, and in it a great consolation!

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The disaster of dear Tripoli sapped the strength of Lebanon and, beyond it, of the Arab lands; yet all rose up, a flame of zeal and ardor, binding the wounds and giving with generous, openhanded bounty. And the rising generation learned an eloquent lesson in patriotic sacrifice, above which no sacrifice stands.

It stands in the record of events that our people, in times of catastrophe, are one united and indivisible whole — and how often have I asked myself: why do we not remain, always, a whole that cannot be divided??

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Was what befell Tripoli foreordained — and the foreordained cannot be turned back — that we should meet the fact with the guidance of the shepherding mind and whet our forces to build up what was torn down? — In this, the bodies concerned — governmental and popular — showed such zeal and such nobility of feeling as deserve all praise, and gave shining proof that the breasts of the citizens are still full of humanity, love, and self-denial.

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The disaster of Tripoli, dyed in blood and ruin, turned our festive season into one great funeral — and how, without faith and resolve, is man to stand firm before the enormity of the blow!