The Ideal Woman

...for their fear of ridicule. Here, Madam, is an example:

"One day a beautiful woman was invited, in the company of one of her admirers, to the theater. She arrived after the appointed time, wearing high heels. Before she had taken three steps her heel broke, so the young man called the driver of the car and ordered him to take them back to the beauty's house so that she might change her shoes. On her return to the theater, the first act was drawing to a close. Hardly had they taken their places when she dropped her handbag, and the poor fellow had to stretch himself out on the floor to gather up the belongings scattered here and there without disturbing the others. It is only natural that after an evening like that, this young man would not venture to invite this belle of his a second time."

A man detests a woman's trivial chatter, believing that his own talk surpasses all other talk — and he has that right; the woman has only to listen, with wonder and reverence. The ideal woman, in a man's eyes, is she who contents herself with a smile and a nod of agreement, and who does not talk too much.

Madam, remember always that a man is nothing but a little child!

He is in constant need of a guide to steer him. When there is a plan in his head, let him set it forth. Let him give his opinions, and then say: "Truly, these ideas of yours are astonishing — only there is one point that ought to be looked at more closely..."

And behold, he forgets everything in order to fulfill your wishes and carry out what you want.

A man is vain by nature; he delights to hear those around

him admire his good looks, his strength, his wisdom, and his intelligence that surpasses the intelligence of all other men. A man accepts advice, but hates to admit his mistakes.

Madam, beware of ever saying to a man: "How stupid you are, my friend! Who is the imbecile who drove you to do...? That plan of yours is unsound; it is not built on a firm foundation..." Rather, cry out: "Your idea is a great one — only..." In this way you gratify his vanity and at the same time give your opinion on the problem. And behold, he is pleased, and attributes to himself the success of which you are, in fact, the maker. A man admires himself completely; therefore he wants a woman who is beautiful, devoted, modest, and above all attractive.

The perfect woman does not exist; but with a little art, Madam, you can appear before your man in the guise of the ideal woman, as far as may be. Only the foolish woman lets her faults show! For faults are easy to hide!

Arabized by: Nihad Layyan

Nihad Layyan
Weariness
The Heart's Talk
Under the cherry tree I met her —
as if, in her rich spring dress,
she were a butterfly from the garden of Eden —
a breath of tender love!
Oh, what a chance it was!
What joy took wing from my being — what an avowal!
I cried out to it — I gasped at it — unawares,
the dreaming stars of her eyes,
and her two dimples deepened, coquettish —
oh, her radiance!!
You say, Mother: "I am younger than she."
What does it matter, if it were so?
The clusters of cherries bear witness:
my head stood level with her head,
and upon the velvet of the grass
my shadow matched her shadow.
What does it matter that she is older than I?
Among my comrades I am the tallest;
every morning I train... and every night,
so that tomorrow my chest may show.
And as for clothes — you know —
I wear only the fitting, manly kind.
In years... in a year!
My cheeks will sprout their down... my voice will roughen,
and in youth — you shall see —
what a knight I shall become,
what a prince!
Or, after all this,
shall I still be the little one?
Oh... woe is me!
Why, Mother — why
did you not bear me... before her?!!
Aphrodite

Victoria

The address of elegance and taste for all woolen work — women's, children's, and men's

The workshop — Sursock Street

Shadid and Mounir Jureidini.

The shop — Souk Iyas

Camille Jureidini.

In Bhamdoun in summer — Camille Jureidini

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