In Society — Mrs. Zahia Salman Represents Lebanon at the Childhood Congress in Paris

The Ministry of Social Affairs, one of the youngest of our ministries, quietly accomplishes a great deal without the public realizing all that it does; suffice it to say that it is in contact and understanding with the various social organizations in Lebanon. It recently chose Mrs. Zahia Salman to represent Lebanon at the childhood congress held at Sèvres, in the suburbs of Paris, from April 24 to May 3.

Mrs. Salman is one of the pioneers of the childhood movement in Lebanon.

The congress was organized by the United Nations, and delegates, men and women, from the European countries took part in it; as for the Near East, it was represented by the delegates of Lebanon and Syria.

Mrs. Zahia returned to us more optimistic and more enthusiastic, for congresses of this kind whet resolve and give birth to projects and plans for the future. Our lady told me of the things she saw and of the most important work carried out by the members there. What pleased her, and astonished her too, was everyone's attentiveness and their absorption in their various tasks and their writing, whether in drafting reports or in framing proposals and exchanging views, and then in attending the sessions at the appointed time from beginning to end. In this there is a lesson for whoever will heed it.

Mrs. Salman added that the life of the Western woman is, generally speaking, a life of production and perseverance, whether for personal or public benefit; and comfort enough for her that she does not blind herself to her circumstances in any situation, nor to her means, especially the material ones; she does her utmost to make her steps suit and keep pace with her material reality — no recklessness, no foolish extravagance, no love of loud ostentation.

And yet our lady returned from France with the blessings enjoyed by the woman here grown greater in her eyes. She alone is the pampered, indulged one — and how could it be otherwise, when she is the lady of all, in her home or at her work?

Woman works in Lebanon, but her work, generally speaking, does not prevent her from presiding over her little kingdom or doting on her children. As for the Western woman, the pressing necessity of continuous work keeps her from enjoying the raising of her children and drives her to toil and labor outside the home exactly like men; and so the day nurseries there have taken the place of the mother's lap and of her motherhood, and they call those nurseries "the necessary evil." Our lady often heard them sighing for the days of the past, before motherhood was weaned away and stifled by society's speeding wheel. Yet all this does not erase the need for day nurseries here, to care for children for a few hours in the day.

Our lady pledged to me — after pledging to herself, of course — that she will not cease demanding and calling for the building of public gardens for children in the quarters of the capital.

God is the keeper of children and little ones, before the mother or the government keeps them.

That is why I did not ask Mrs. Salman whom she left in her place at home during all the days of her absence. And the return home is best, in any case!