Their Memory

Three women of letters. Of our own. We lost them. In two years. On 27/9/1953 and 14/8/54 and 7/8/55. Salma Sayegh, 1889–1953. Julia Tu'mah Dimashqiyah, 1880–1954. Rose Atallah Shahfa, 1890–1955.

They served humanity 45 and 50 and 30 years. Their striving. They taught, and wrote, and gave speeches. Strugglers for years in their associations.

Salma: "The Breezes," 1923, and "Pictures and Memories," 1946, and "Some Aspects of Goodness in Lebanon," 1949. And the institutes of Zahrat al-Ihsan, and the Sisters of Charity, and the Laïque. And the two associations, Al-Nahda An-Nisaiyah, 1924, and the Women's Union.

Julia: "The New Woman," 1921, and "The Little Ones' Companion," 1925, and "Al-Nadim," 1926. And schools: the Friends School of Brummana, and Hasnaa of al-Mukhtara, and the Makassed charitable schools. And the associations Tahdhib al-Fatat, 1910, and the Ladies' League, 1917, and the Women's Union, 1921, and the Red Cross.

Rose: "The Inspiration of Motherhood," 1950. And the Ladies' Club in Damascus, and the Lebanese Women's Union.

All three alike received the gilded Order of Merit. In a single year, 1947. How dear, and how sweet, their memory.