Ahmad Shawqi Visits "The Woman's Voice"

Two months ago we concluded the extensive press inquiry which the editorial staff carried out into the case of the boy Ahmad Shawqi Abu Zayd, one of the victims of the "Abu Ali" flood in Tripoli, who lost his whole family and, with them, his memory... We recounted his remarkable story in four installments, and ended with Ahmad joining an Egyptian ship, working aboard her as a sailor, roaming God's wide countries...

On the morning of June 19 last there came a happy surprise, when the editor-in-chief of The Woman's Voice entered her office and found herself face to face with Ahmad!.. He had come to offer his deep thanks for her concern with his case... and to reassure her about his condition: he had obtained a Lebanese identity card, and had been working on the Egyptian ship "Ramses," and at Suez his work shifted to the Lebanese ship "Lira," owned by the Tripoli notable Mr. Adel Abd al-Wahhab..

Ahmad spoke at length of the care and the special attention lavished on him by Mr. Adel Abd al-Wahhab (Abu Habib) and by the ship's Greek captain, "Harry" — he is cherished and honored like a son of theirs; they put his wages away in a safe place, so that of the seventeen pounds a month he spends scarcely anything worth mentioning, but saves it all...

And the questions rained down on Ahmad from every side, especially as his person has become famous, not only among the readers, but among the staff of the office and all the visitors who call there. It is worth mentioning that he proved, through all his answers, that he has gained command of his nerves to the last degree of command, and has overcome the state of anxiety that used to seize him; he appeared a pleasant young man, speaking Egyptian from his company with the Egyptian sailors, and answering with a gentle smile that lit up his sweet dark face..

The important thing I wanted to convey to the readers who took an interest in Ahmad's story is that he is now happy, content with his life, and assured of his future in the company of good people upon the sea.. and that whenever he comes down to Beirut he does not forget his friends, but calls on them with affection and thanks...