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VOL. IV. No. 2.
OCTOBER, 19
THE
SYRIAN WORLD
A MONTHLY MAGAZINE IN ENGLISH DEALING
WITH SYRIAN AFFAIR? AND ARABIC LITERATURE
^P
LEADERSHIP FOR SYRIAN RACE PROGRESS
REV. W. A. MANSUR
CIRCULATING BOONS IN |!EDDAH
AMEEN RIHANT
A MESSIAH OF OLD
-WILLIAM CATZEFLIS
IN THE LAND OF PROMISE
SALLOUM A. MOKARZEL
THE SMILE OF DEATH (A SHORT STORY)
JOHN A. LA EACE
THE COPY 50c
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THE
SYRIAN WORLD
SALLOUM
A.
MOKARZEL,
Published monthly by
Editor.
THE SYRIAN-AMERICAN PRESS
104 Greenwich St., New York, N. Y.
By subscription $5.00 a year.
Single copies 50c.
Entered as second-class matter June 25, 1926, at the post office at New
York, N. Y., under the act of March 3, 1879.
VOL. IV. No. 2.
OCTOBER, 1929.
CONTENTS
PAGE
In this Issue
3
Leadership for Syrian Race Progress
5
REV.
W. A.
MANSUR
On a Valetudinarian (Poem)
J. D.
12
CARLYLE
Circulating Boons in Jeddah
13
AMEEN RIHANI
An Ideal
22
SuMAYEH ATTIYEH
A Messiah of Old
WILLIAM CATZEFLIS
23
�|
CONTENTS (Continued)
PAGE
Arab Proverbs
26
In the Land of Promise
27
SALLOUM
A. MOKARZEL
Edwin (Poem)
37
LABEEBEE
A. J. HANNA
The Smile of Death
JOHN
'
38
A. LA EACE
Book Reviews
44
Spirit of the Syrian Press
4-6
Political Developments in Syria
50
About Syria and Syrians
54
ILLUSTRATIONS IN THIS ISSUE
Partial View of Beirut
Entering Beirut Harbor
Square of the Martyrs, Beirut
Lower Section of Wadi Hammana
A Motor Road in Lebanon
Pan-Arab Congress in Session
Congress of the Desert
Druzes in War Conference
�IN THIS ISSUE
REV. W. A. MANSUR
contributes one of his usual
brilliant analytical essays on the
Syrians' needs in America.
Competent leadership is undoubtedly one of the Syrians'
crying needs and it would be
gratifying to believe that they
enjoy such an advantage. The
Syrians are one of the most
divided people on earth. To
work for unity among them is,
therefore, a most praiseworthy
effort because of the difficulty
of the task. Dr. Mansur writes
optimistically and logically on
the subject. * * * AMEEN RIHANI entertains our readers
in this issue with an original
account of his experiences while
in Jeddah, the principal port of
Arabia. In his description of
circulating boons he gives a
clear account of almost everything that circulates, and the
reader is bound to share with
him the belief that all are
boons! Unless the reader cannot sufficiently contain himself
at the various manifestations of
circulating boons and volunteers
to perform for the author the
task of throwing the broken
window shutter at the volunteer
circulating muazzen. This article from the pen of our fa-
mous writer and traveler reveals him in one of his lightest and happiest moods. * * *
SALLOUM A. MOKARZEL
begins in this issue the account
of his experiences and observations in the motherland. It is
a chronological record faithfully descriptive of the reactions of an emigrant returning
for a visit after an absence of
thirty years, and giving a comprehensive comparison between
the past and the present. Although the present account covers only the first day, it touches
on a multitude of interesting
things. A particular kissing scene
described puts to shame anything of that nature that was
ever seen in the movies. Even
in this first installment, the
writer initiates you into some
of the most intimate aspects of
high life in Lebanon. * * *
WILLIAM CATZEFLIS is
known to our readers by his
several delightful contributions during the first year of
the magazine. He has now discovered in the writings of Voltaire what should prove of immense interest to those who
would learn of the unshaken
belief of the Jews in the promised Messiah and of the distant
�...
causes of the present Zionist
movement. The incident described came very near having
a tragic ending but for the Solomon-like resourcefulness of the
Turkish sultan who succeeded
in unmasking the pseudo-Messiah and caused him to prefer
Islam to death. Mr. Catzeflis
presents an able translation of
Voltaire's account from the
original French.*** SUMAYEH ATT1YEH ably
gives us her conception of an
ideal. Miss Attiyeh is a lecturer of note and a former contributor
to THE
SYRIAN
WORLD. * * * JOHN A. LA
FACE is one of our promising
new crop of writers whose merit
is being recognized early in his
career. He is now a senior in
the University of Cincinnati
and his short story which is
published in this issue won first
prize in last year's contest. The
ingenious plot is taken from
the Arabic and well worked
out. We are happy to introduce
him to our family of readers.**
LABEEBEE A. J. HANNA
is well known to our readers
for her versatile ability. A
teacher of English in a Boston
high school, she nevertheless
is in love with Arabic upon
which she draws at times for
interesting and entertaining
material.
Her contribution
for this issue, however, is
on a subject which is universally appreciated. * * *
MRS. EUNICE TIETJENS
contributes to English literature a new version of the Romance of Antar, the great Arab
poet-lover. A comprehensive
review of her work is given in
this issue. * * * REGULAR
DEPARTMENTS of THE
SYRIAN WORLD will be found
as interesting as usual. To the
political developments in Syria
have been added accounts of
developments
in
Palestine
which, being an Arab country,
claims the interest of Arabicspeaking peoples throughout
the world. * * * The Spirit of
the Syrian Press is being further appreciated owing to the
violent disturbances that rock
the Arabic-speaking world these
eventful days. The reactions
of those who feel the people's
pulse is well-worth knowing in
this troublesome period. * * *
The other department, About
Syria and Syrians, is always interesting as a record of the
principal happenings among
Syrians both in America and
abroad. It is a monthly journal
justly considered by our readers a fitting complement in its
informative value to the only
publication in English undertaken for the benefit of the
Svrians.
�THE
SYRIAN WORLD
VOL. IV. No. 2.
OCTOBER, 1929.
Leadership for Syrian Race
Progress
By
REV.
W. A.
MANSUR
t EADERSHIP is a prime necessity for Syrian-American race
progress: for enlightenment, solidarity, happiness and glory.
Before there can be a forward race movement, some one must
step out of the masses and lead. World expansion came through
the explorer, moral betterment arose with the reformer, and political liberty began in the liberator. Whether in science, education, religion, commerce, or invention the leader is the trail
blazer in human progress. Syrian leadership is the trail blazer
for the forward, upward, and progressive movement of SyrianAmericans.
The challenge of the hour is for Syrian-American leadership
that is American in spirit, unselfish in motive, prophetic in vision,
j-acrificial in undertaking, and dynamic in passion. The rise of
Syrian race consciousness, the desire for race solidarity, and the
ambition for race progress makes our period the most important,
critical, and prophetic in the history of the Syrian-American race.
The question rises as to whether adequate Syrian-American
leadership is rising to meet the challenge of our generation. The
discussion of leadership for Syrian race progress will arouse intelligent thinking, promote preparation, and consider the tasks
of Syrian-American leadership. It will usher in a period of understanding, co-operation, and endeavor for race progress. The
following considerations are meant to awaken Syrian-Americans
to the importance of Syrian-American leadership, set forth tasks
waiting them, and challenge Syrian-American youth.
�6
THE SYRIAN WORLD
I. The Importance of Syrian-American Leadership.
Syrian-Americans are beginning to realize the importance,
place, task, and power of leadership. What the shepherd is to
the sheep, the parent to the child, the teacher to the scholar, the
governor to the state, and the president to a nation, such is the
relation of the leader to a people. Right leadership will turn
chaos to harmony, doubt to faith, ignorance to knowledge.
We need Syrian-American leaders to lead the race by envisaging race hopes, teaching race history, inspiring race youth, spurring race progress, and preparing race defense.
It is said "ninety per cent, of the public is usually behind the
times} eight per cent, is abreast of them; two per cent, leads the
way »
The Literary Digest, after making the presidential poll of
1928, stated, "The law of averages is illuminating and dependable. From twenty million names addressed in our recent 'Presidential Poll', only three million returned their ballots. Every
post card was stamped with a return postage, but only 15 per
cent, made a decision. Making a decision requires a person to
think, and it is well known that only a small percenatge of persons ever do any thinking about anything. What better illustration may be had that a thinking minority decide not only elections, but what we shall eat and wear, what motor car we shall
buy, what roof we shall put on our house, etc., etc." (Issue of
Dec. 29, '28.)
Adequate leadership is the great need of Syrian-Americans.
Syrian-American leaders to initiate movements for race welfare,
give fresh impulses for high endeavor, point the way for the
masses, and exemplify in their lives the soul, ideas, and progress
of the race, is the imperative need of the Syrian-American people.
The present character of Syrian-Americans, their being scattered
throughout the nation, their ignorance of their racial heritage,
the rise of race solidarity, and the many children and youth make
Syrian-American leadership of vital importance, power and
service to race progress.
77. The Nature of Syrian-American Leadership.
Pure Americanism, individual initiative, and worthy qualifications define the nature of Syrian-American leadership.
The paramount principle of Syrian-American leadership is
pure Americanism. It must be a single American allegiance, a
�OCTOBER, 1929
7
loyal American patriotism, and a decided American outlook. Let
us be understood on this very first, most vital, and farthest reaching point that true Syrian-American leadership stands for America First. Without equivocation, mental reservation, or legal
evasion, be it religious, moral or political, or otherwise, genuine
Syrian-American leadership must be always for America First and
nothing else. While we may seek the welfare of our native land,
speed the aid of other nations, and encourage the alleviation of
other races, we do so because of sentiment, humanity and religion,
nevertheless we Syrian-Americans stand for America First in
heart, mind and life, because we made America our homeland,
we enjoy its benefits, and it is the home of our posterity. Only
leadership that is truly American is adequate to lead SyrianAmericans to enlightenment, solidarity, and progress.
Genuine leadership is a quality of the individual. President
Herbert Hoover says in American Individualism, "Leadership
is a quality of the individual." "Human leadership cannot be
replenished by selection like queen bees, by divine right of bureaucracies, but by_ the free rise of ability, character and intelligence." Bishop Charles H. Brent says in Leadership, "A leader
is one who goes before, who keeps in advance of the crowd without detaching himself from the crowd, but so influencing them
to his ideal selfhood." W. T. Powell says in Handbook for
Workers with Young People, "The difference between the leader
and the crowd is that the leader is just a little ahead in his vision,
in his thinking, in his planning, in his attitude."
Our American homeland is giving rise to the highest type of
leadership among Syrian-Americans. Individuals by sheer ability,
splendid character and high intelligence are among the elect of
mankind. Their vision, tempered with knowledge, wisdom, and
self-sacrifice, is prophetic of race enlightenment, vitality, and
progress. Their noble ideals expressing the best in the race, upholding glorious race traditions, and projecting race prosperity
are evidences of race idealism and optimism. Their personality,
showing itself in understanding, sympathy, tactfulness, and sacrificial service, is already transforming the race.
///. The Rise of Syrian-American Leadership.
Our Syrian race urge is impelling the race forward. Our
Syrian race awakening is catching the vision of race prosperity.
Our Syrian race preservation is moving us toward race co-opera-
�THE SYRIAN WORLD
tion. Our Syrian race progress is inspiring leadership for the
onward movement of the race.
The discovery of Syrian race greatness; the abundance of opportunity free from autocracy of government, religion, and ignorance ; and the growing record of splendid achievement are
giving rise to a glorious leadership.
Count Hermann Keyserling said in an illuminating article on
America and Germany, "Just as Lindbergh is more representative
of young America than anything one may read, in the same sense
men like Dr. Eckener and the great pioneers of science and enterprise, who have already won back a good deal of Germany's
world prominence in their respective fields, are more expressive
today of Germany's best spirit than any work of abstract contemplation. Germany is beginning her career over again." (The
Forum, Feb., '29.)
In the following Syrian-American leaders we have trailblazers for future Syrian generations, torch-bearers of Syrian
race enlightenment, and range-finders for Syrian race progress:
N. A. Mokarzel, journalist, defender of the Syrian race; G. K.
Gibran, poet, singer of the Syrian soul; Ameen Rihani, traveller,
adventurer of the Syrian spirit; Philip K. Hitti, historian, scholar
of the Syrian mind; and S. A. Mokarzel, editor, leader of the
Sryian awakening.
Syrian-American leadership is now in the making in SyrianAmerican youth. Their study of Syrian history, race talents, and
race achievemnets is inspiring Syrian youth. Their imagination
is being fired with ambition. Their intelligence is searching for
tasks to match their powers. Their talents are finding projects
to express the creativeness of the Syrian soul.
Individuals are already in the forefront in achievement. They
are inspiring the Syrian-American race. They are influencing the
future leadership of the race. In the development, achievement,
and progress of Syrian-American leadership lies the larger progress of the Syrian race.
IV. The Qualifications of Syrian-Amreican Leadership.
True leadership is based on individual initiative not popular
election; personal qualification not traditional authority; and
one's achievements not one's inheritance. The following seven
qualifications are among the prominent ones found in successful
leadership.
�OCTOBER, 1929
9
1. Ability. The New Standard Dictionary says, "A leader is
one who is fitted by force of ideas, or character, or by genius,
or by strength of will to arouse, incite, and direct men in conduct
and achievement." The truest leadership is based on possessed
ability. The potentialities of leadership are within his soul. His
passions are born of his dreams. His dynamic is inherent in his
will.
2. Vision. The leader is a seer, a prophet, a wise man. John
R. Mott said to Bruce Barton, "You ask me to give a working
definition of vision. I should say it is the capacity — (1) To see
what others do not see. (2) To see further than they see. (3) To
see before they see." Roosevelt said, "Nine tenths of wisdom
is being wise in time." Without men of vision people perish,
religiously, morally, intellectually, and socially. Leadership with
vision is a paramount necessity for the preservation, civilization,
and progress of the Syrian-American race.
3. Religion. The sense of the divine is vital to the noblest
leadership. "The call of a need and the call of the crowd are
both inspiring," says Bishop Brent in Leadership, "but it is not
until there is added to them, or heard through them, the call
of God that the leader is fully equipped to achieve." The sense
of the divine, the dedication of self to others, and the devotion
to higher welfare constitute the religious call to social service.
A feeling of the divine breathes into the soul the vision, power,
and service of the eternal.
A.
il
4. Character. The leader must be sterling in character, unselfish in motive, and sympathetic in attitude. "Sincerity is impossible unless it pervades the whole being;" says James Russell
Lowell, "and the pretense of it saps the very foundation of character." It is good character that gives power to our efforts, influence to our speech, and success to our undertaking. Character
determines the nature of our motives, the direction of our leadings, and the quality of our objectives.
5. Personality. J. Ramsay Macdonald says, "The true test
of the work of a leader is what he gets out of his followers, what
he enables them to give, the spirit he infuses into them." The
leader is supremely a companion, contagious with idealism, and
compelling to activity. His personality acts as a spur to worthy
ambition, his sacrificial example as a pattern, and his initiative as
�10
THE SYRIAN WORLD
a drawing or leading power. He radiates courage, inspires confidence, compells perseverance through tactfulness, adaptability,
and sympathy.
6. Patriotism. The leader is patriotic: loves his country,
seeks the people's welfare, and works for their betterment. The
loftiest aim of leadership is the moral elevation of mankind.
Newell Dwight Hillis says of William E. Gladstone in Great
Books as Life Teachers, "At once the child of genius, wealth
and power, this young patrician took as his clients, not the rich
and the great, but the poor and the weak." "Reviewing this illustrious life, we see that the genius of Gladstone's life was the
genius of patriotism." This is the highest Syrian-American patriotism: to arouse the people to civic American loyalty; to champion the cause of the poor and the weak; to promote the enlightenment of the people; to defend them against misunderstanding,
prejudice and injustice; to challenge them to higher standards
of living; and to proclaim the fear and love of God for righteous
living.
7. Will. "Where there is a will there is a way," is an axiom
of truth and power. A leader must believe that he is master of
his destiny and cheer his followers into the same belief," says
Bishop Brent. What man can imagine that he can perform. What
seems impossible to the masses is possible to the leader with a
will. All his knowledge, plans and objectives become possible of
fulfillment only when a leader wills them into action.
V. The Tasks of Syrian-American Leadership.
The present needs of Syrian-Americans comprise the immediate tasks of Syrian-American leadership. The call for solidarity, the defense of the race, the enlightenment regarding race
legacies, and the inspiration of Syrian-American youth are tasks
of first magnitude. The following are attempts to state major,
momentuous, and timely tasks for immediate endeavor.
First, the leading of Syrian-Americans into fullest American
citizenship. Since we made America our homeland, we owe it
the fullest loyalty. Since we enjoy America's Constitution, ideals,
and institutions, we owe it true fidelity, obedience and defense.
Since our posterity is to partake of America's heritage, we owe
it an American motive, outlook, and practice.
The paramount task of Syrian-American leadership is the
Americanization of the Syrian race in America. The preamble of
�OCTOBER, 1929
11
the Constitution of the United States gives us the golden text
of true Americanism: "We the people of the United States, in
order to form a more perfect union, establish justice, insure domestic tranquillity, provide for the common defense, promote
the general welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution
for the United States of America." Let us uphold the Constitution, claim equality of citizenship, and maintain a law-abiding
citizenship.
Second, the awakening of Syrian-Americans to their inheritance. It is well to remind the reader that this was a prime purpose in founding THE SYRIAN WORLD. The editor, S. A. Mokarzel, wrote, "that one of our chief objects in helping Syrian-Americans discover themselves is to breed in them a consciousness of
appreciation for their racial qualities and inheritances so that they
may comport themselves with a befitting sense of honor as citizens of this great American nation." (Vol. I. No. 1.)
Syrian-American leaders must enlighten the people regarding their race greatness. They must show them how Syria's contributions have been foremost among the civilizing influences in
the world. They must awaken the Syrian soul to its superior
race traits, its potentialities for achievement, and its illustrious
ancestry.
*
Third, the insuring of Syrian-Americans toward co-operation. "It is now evident that the Syrian people in this country
refuse to further remain in obscurity," says David Zail in answering the challenge to organize a federation of Syrian Societies.
"It is also gratifying to note that our people have awakened to
the call—the call to band themselves together3 to come to the
forej to win recognition." Fred S. Rizk says, "The young Syrian element stands, as it were, on the threshold of a new era, »
Joseph W. Ferris says, "We are sorely in need of such a body. »
(THE SYRIAN WORLD, Jan. '29.)
We must inspire the Syrian-American people for co-operation. We must organize our race sentiments. We must create
race solidarity for race preservation. We must challenge Syrian-Americans through pride in our ancestry, welfare for our
descendents, and law-abiding citizenship.
Fourth, the challenging of Syrian-Americans to win recognition. The Sage of Washington Street said to A. Hakim, "What
�12
THE SYRIAN WORLD
I do believe, however, is that we should never permit ourselves
to wane in the appreciation of our racial heritage. The American
nation is composed of different racial strains and to the end of
time history will record this fact and give each race credit for its
especial contributions. It should be our ambition to get our due
recognition." (THE SYRIAN WORLD, Feb. '29.) President Calvin Coolidge said to the American Legion Convention at Omaha,
Nebraska, "The bringing together of all these different national,
racial, religious, and cultural elements has made our country a
kind of composite of the rest of the world
" "Every one of
them has something characteristic and significant of great value
to cast into the common fund of our material, intellectual, and
spiritual resources."
We must acquaint Americans with our racial history. Let us
inform them about our race contributions to human progress.
Let us enlighten them about Europe's and America's debts to
Syrian religion and morals; Syrian navigation and commerce j
Syrian letters and science. Let us tell the American nation regarding Syrian race character, race progress, and race loyalty
to America.
Fifth, the teaching of Syrian'American youth to -perpetuate
Syrian race heritage. We Syrian-Americans are dreaming dreams
of glory for the future of our race. We are organizing for race
co-operation, race defense, and race preservation. We are planting, through education, literature, and achievement, for the happiness of our posterity. Let us remember that we shall realize
the dream through our children; bring organization to accomplishment through our young people; and harvest the glory
through our descendents. In the hearts of Syrian-American children let us plant the seeds of our race inheritance, race legacies,
and race glory.
ON A VALETUDINARIAN
Translated from the Arabic by J. D.
CARLYLE
So afraid is Isa, and anxious to last,
So afraid of himself is he grown,
He swears thro' two nostrils the breath goes too fast.
And he's trying to breathe thro' but one.
�OCTOBER, 1929
I
-
13
Circulating Boons in Jeddah
By
•»
•,•
AMEEN RIHANI
^BOUT four in the morning I was awakened by a voice, loud
and harsh, void of a single pleasant intonation, crying m the
street: Arise and praise Allah, the Living, the Eternal! The
volunteer circulating muazzen was passing beneath my balcony.
"Sleep no more: the dawn is at the door!" No one had delegated
the gentleman to the sleeping population, except it be the circulating orchestra of Jeddah. But of this later.
The circulating muazzen was doing a little good work on
his own account, something akin to almsgiving; but having nothing, I suppose, to give, he went around at that Muhammedan
hour waking innocents from sleep. "Allah is great! It's late,
it's late! Sleep no more! The dawn's at the door! Get up and
pray! Allah obey!" I could have thrown upon him the broken
shutter of my balcony window. But his zeal is appreciated by
a pious population.
A tall figure in a white robe, passing through the city streets
at that grey, moon-veiled hour, would have awakened a different
feeling in me, had he a redeeming virtue in his voice. But to
perform a sacred duty in a raucous, barbarous yawp were ungodly even to the Prophet. I tried to sleep again, forgetting and
forgiving; and again, not long after, I was awakened by a voice
crying, Hali'eeeh! (milk)! No, there isn't a good voice in all
Jeddah.
' m *
I
1
_ The milkman in London cries, Voo-hoo', curt and sharp, in
imitation, I was told, of the cow. Which is bad enough. But in
Jeddah the long drawn metallic iii-eeeeb is infernal T Give me
Beyrouth and Damascus to wake up in: for there the human
voice is an improvement on the herd's, sometimes even on the
song birds. The milkman there is poetic withal. Pure as the
dawn! Eye of the fawn! And not a word about milk. It's indeed a joy to rise to such poetry and music. But in Jeddah, as
in London, the milkman is a vulgarian, a boor. Hah'eeeb! It
sounded like Hurry up! Luckily for him he hurried in passing;
and I tried again to sleep.
But someone always does murder sleep in Jeddah. For
�T)
14
.
THE SYRIAN WORLD
while I was still half awake, I heard a whirring noise outside,
not very near, like that of an airplane; and then, a knock at my
door, followed by a voice, that of the Foreign Secretary Sheikh
Fouad: "Get up, get up quick." He almost tore the mosquito
netting in pulling me out of bed.—"Hurry up, come out and see
—see our airplanes." The Hijaz Government had four in those
days, and one of them, of a certainty, was circling over the Palace, serenading His Hashemite Majesty with the lute of the
Western world, the motor, and fusillading the citadel of sleep.
The only defense now was to abandon the citadel and gird me
for the day.
It was a raw morning, the wind having executed a volte-face
during the night, which is not unusual on the Hijaz coast where
rarely more than two winds blow, succeeding each other with
equal violence. The aziab or south wind is the harbinger of the
simoom, which sucks the humidity out of the atmosphere. Otherwise, it is not conducive of any piety. I could never get into
the mood of a pilgrim on an aziab day. But the north wind,
which often comes at its heel, is worse in its immediate effect,
because the necessary change of clothes is not always possible.
One has to go like the Bedv. in but a single garment to combat the aziab*s burning blast; and then, without warning, comes
this blustering monster, blowing like mad, chilling the very sands
which yesterday were too hot for the bare feet of even a camelherd. The north wind is also exasperating, because the sun,
which often comes with it, is as helpless against its winter flow
as Ceasar's dust. All that morning it blowed outside, and I shivered within. There was no argument against the north wind's
staff of attorneys, ranting through every window. Because of the
lattice screens, the lower half, they would not be ruled out by
the upper half, the blinds.
There was nothing to do therefore but to wrap me in an aba
and sit tight, listening to Sheikh Fouad chanting poetry. He always sat cross-legged, even though on a little rush bottom chair,
and swung his torso to and fro as if he were riding a camel, the
while he droned and moaned his rhymes. It was a fitting accompaniment to the north wind, evoking all the dreariness of the
desert waste. And what a memory! He carried an anthology in
his head. Any incident of the least significance in the daily life
of man and beast, he could illustrate with line from the ancient
poets. But he was particularly fond of intoning in an ineffably
mournful manner his own accents. Hear his lachrymose Muse:
omi
\ I !•
�OCTOBER, 1929
15
"Myself in tears to sorrow I resign,
For tears are of the clemency divine."
I \
But when he opened his anthology, which I preferred, he
became alternately amorous and war-like. I would shut my eyes
and imagine myself in midwinter shivering around a half-heated
fire in Mt. Lebanon or near a wheezing radiator in a Paris hotel,
while a strange voice from the past of Arabia was droning rhymes
of battle or plaintively intoning of love and separation.
"In far Iraq is Leila sick, 't is said;
I wish I were the doctor near her bed."
"The night, and the steed, and the desert me ken,—
And the sword, and the lance, and the parchment, and pen."
I would then close my ears and open my eyes. Blow on,
drone on, my friends. Through the lattice screen, I beheld the
sun in all its Arab ecstasy dancing on the lagoon, and on the
sands, and on the shimmering breast of the hills beyond. A
bright summer day! In sooth, sayeth the Eye. But Gooseflesh
knows better.
Above the two irrepressible voices, however, rose strange
music-like sounds, the strangest of all the circulating abominations of that day. I forgot the north wind and the poet as I
opened one of the blinds and saw what stood in the street below.
It was the hurdy-gurdy of Jeddah without the hurdy-gurdy;—
only the human portion of it,—the most fantastic, the most comically constructed instrument of ambulating music I had ever seen.
The man was a Takruri black, a roly-poly of spotted and cracked
flesh, bare-headed, bare-footed, bare-breasted, with a pate like
a pumpkin, big bulging eyes, and teeth as white as snow in the
sun. He wore a few white and blue rags put together and tied
up by a piece of rope around his waist. From this rope hung little
round bells; and around his legs was a contrivance of brass tubes,
tied with straps, containing pebbles. He carried a broken sword
m one hand and a stick with an only string attached to it in the
other. This was his lute, to which he applied the sword. The
result was atrocious. But when he accompanied it with a dance,
swinging his hips to achieve a round tStcty it became excruciatingly, diabolically funny. After the performance he sang the
praise of the Prophet in accents that sounded like scratches of
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THE SYRIAN WORLD
potchers on brass ; and holding his hand up for the coin, he
smiled radiantly whether it was given or not. More than hurdygurdy, indeed; it was the Takruri circulating band of Jeddah
that stopped beneath my window that day. And it went on, a
circulating boon!
But dreading more of circulating boons, which fall upon you,
if you are stationary, with a crushing weight, I decided, in order
to reduce the effect, to circulate myself. I had a letter of introduction from a booklover in Cairo to a booklover in Jeddah,
which I had to deliver because it was more than a letter of introduction. It opened, after the peace and blessing of Allah, with
these words: "Forget not, O beloved one, the white doves of
Mecea, which thou didst promise many moons ago to send us,
that Cairo too might hear them praise Allah and the Prophet."
He further urged the matter upon me by saying: "Prowl in
the house of Sheikh Muhammad, and loiter in his garden, and
steal if necessary. The white doves of Mecca are a sacred treasure, a psecious possession."
I went out, therefore, with a manifold purpose, seeking
among other things, the booklover and the white doves. Jeddah
did not seem new to me. I felt that I had been there before, not
with Burton or Bruckhardt, however, but with one who had preceded them by about a thousand years. Ibn Jubair of Granada,
who made the pilgrimage to Mecca when Saladin, the mighty
and good, was on the throne, is a chronicler of accuracy and
courage. His book is still considered the best of its kind; for his
description of the Kaaba, the Mosque, and the Holy Places, as
well as the ceremonies of the Hajj, which remain till this day the
same, is graphic and vivid and accurate. His style is lucid and
flowing; and his freedom of opinion is admirable.
The Andalusian Arabs did not tolerate anything that shackled
the mind and spirit. They had the courage of their convictions—
they were protestants. Like the pilgrims that crossed the Atlantic eight centuries later, they also had fled from the tyranny
of princes and kings. If therefore the Jeddah of those days was
a den of thieves who preyed upon the pilgrims, and if the highroad to Mecca was held by bands of the Bedu who took from the
pious multitudes what the Jeddah thieves had overlooked, Ibn
Jubair said so in plain Arabic and protested to high heaven against
the rank irreligion that nested in the Holy Places of Al-Islam.
I do not know how much irreligion is still nesting in the
dark and cobwebbed corners of Mecca and Al-Medinah; but the
�« ^^
PARTIAL VIEW OF BEIRUT
Looking north across the Bay of St. George to the Lebanon range, with snow-capped Sannin in the background.
�ENTERING BEIRUT HARBOR
Syrian World Photo
This photograph was taken as the steamer was passing through the
single opening between the two sea walls enclosing the port of Beirut.
SQUARE OF THE MARTYRS, BEIRUT
The East side of the principal square of the capital of Lebanon. The
Maronite Cathedral of St. Gteorge showing in the background.
'
�LOWER SECTION OF WADI HAMMANA
Syrian World Photo
The broad stretch of this enchanting valley, dotted with thriving villages, is one of the beauty spots
of the Lebanons.
�A MOTOR ROAD IN LEBANON
Almost every town in Lebanon can now be reached by adequate roads which are being continually improved.
•
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*
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1
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OCTOBER, 1929
-
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'""""
17
den of thieves and the Bedu bandits were not in evidence. The
pilgrimage, in those happy days of Hussein the First, Sherif and
King, was comparatively safe. But the Jeddah of Ibn Jubair,
with this exception, had not changed. The same five-story houses
with their attractively walled roofs for summer nights; the same
narrow winding streets, which in places enable the housewives
through their balconies in opposite buildings, to borrow things
from each other or to pull each other's hair; the same woodsheds
in the markets and bazars to shut out the fierce Arabian sun; the
same squares and camels and shaqdoufs (litters) for the transportation of the pilgrims; (1) the same hodge-podge of humanity which Al-Islam brings together from every corner of the
earth; the same bare-footed, half-naked Arabs carrying their
only heritage of power and grandeur—a sword; the same winds
that beat Jeddah one day on the right cheek and one day on the
left, the sword notwithstanding; the same fruits and vegetables
that Wadi Fatemah yields to a frugal population; the same
watermelons whose delicious quality raised Ibn Jubair to poetic
heights of descriptions—they are all still here.
Even the balconies seem to have gone through a thousand
years of wind and rain and sun. They are mostly of teak unpainted wood, become drab, and of varying degrees of crudeness
and artistic finish;—from the simple window with a sort of fence
in lattice, in front of its lower half, for the privacy and seclusion
of the harem, to the most elaborate designs, artistically conceived
and executed, with beautiful carvings in the stalactites of the balconies, such as one sees in the mosques of Cairo. Between the two
are many crude and exquisite examples of the individuality of the
Oriental that revels in detail. The temperament of the people
and their soul are revealed in this phase of their architecture. On
the surface, there is equality in chaos;—rich and poor alike bedraggled by time;—a plain balcony almost falling and a beautiful ancient one with a patch in it of last year's timber, both
rubbing elbows on the same conglomerate, ramshackle block;
but behind them all are degrees of condition. While they all
conform to a certain tradition, everybody does so in his own way,
and according to his means.
There are-but a few things in the Jeddah of today which Ibn
Jubair did not see; as the condenser, for instance, which takes
the salt out of the sea water for the sake of the Europeans and a
(1) They now make the pilgrimage in automobiles.
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THE SYRIAN WORLD
few of the sophisticated modern Arabs. Also the tables and chairs
in the cafes—and the flies! Yes, there are stivy dens in Jeddah,
where a beduin might rattle his sword for a drink of uncondensed
water, where a city tramp might doze over a narghilah, and
where Takruri blacks, the porters of the town, are seen stretching their weary limbs and listening to the homtnal gossip of the
day.
Through a street thus adorned, which Ibn Jubair would have
called The Street of the Flies, I made my way seeking the booklover, the Sheikh Muhammad. And I met them all, the friends
of Ibn Jubair:—the beduin in a rag and the saiyed in a silk coftan; and the Muslems from Ind and Iran; and the Faithful from
Java and Turkestan; and the camels of the morning caravan; and
the white donkeys that ran, upsetting the tray and pan of the
grocer and confectionery man; and the naked Takruri carrying
an oil can, full of water for the bath of my lady Juman or the
cook of mylord Othman; and the fierce-looking chieftain of the
clan; and the dandy of Jeddah "sporting" a fan; and the moonstruck lover, sorrowful and wan—O, thou Ibn Jubair, they are
all still here. And among them is one whom I do not think thou
hast seen. He too is thin and wan, and wears a silk coftan; but
he carries a book! instead of a fan.
My friend the booklover, I said to myself, and I raised my
hand to my head and made salaam. He stopped and smiled and
did likewise.
"Thou art the Sheikh Muhammad, the booklover of Jeddah," I asked.
"I am a booklover, praise be to Allah," he replied, "but I
have not the honor and good fortune of being the Sheikh Muhammad."
A camel just then brushed by and snorted at us. He took
the hint and moved from the centre of the street, taking me by
the arm.
"Thou art a scholar," I pursued, in a bold American manner.
"I read in the books," he confessed modestly, "and try to
learn something of the secret of life and death. And thou, art
thou of the land of the Arabs?"
"I have not the honor and good fortune," I said, as we walked together to the house of Sheikh Muhammad. "I come from
a country where they make books for the delectation of the young
girl, and where people have ceased to worry about the secret of
fife and death,"
t
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OCTOBER, 1929
19
"And what do they worry about, I pray thee."
"Their latest worry is that which has been prohibited thirteen
hundred years ago by the Prophet, the Peace of Allah upon him."
"And what is that?"
I was glad we had reached the house of Sheikh Muhammad,
for I was not travelling in the interest of Prohibition.
The reverend Sheikh, a portly and dignified gentleman in
a huge white turban, a blue silk caftan and a black jubbah, laid
down the narghilah tube as my kind young guide entered and
came to meet us at the door. He led us into a room which was
apparently his library, and up to a carpeted diwan, between six
beautifully carved cases of teak wood with glass doors, full of
books. The binding is modest and uniform—a black cloth with
the title on the back in gold. The narghilah of the Sheikh Muhammad and his rugs are more imposing to the travelling eye.
He ordered a smoke for me as he opened the letter I had presented.
But while he read, his face gleamed and gloomed, his brows
met alternately and separated, and I could see, as he folded the
epistle, a tear in his eye. He kissed the envelope and placed it
in his bosom. "The Sheikh Hasan," he said, "is the highest example of nobility and worth among men. But I invoke the forgiveness of Allah—either he misunderstood or I misexpressed
about the doves. Life of the Prophet! their case is a marvel,—
a miracle they are of the creation of the Most High. They are
always singing his praise. 'Allah is great, Allah is great!' they
always sing. But they are not from Mecca. The name of honor
was given to them by one of the Grand Sherifs who was fond
of titles. They are from Al-Yaman, and I have written to have
a few of them transported to the beloved Sheikh Hasan in
Cairo."
A black slave brought in a narghilah, the like of which I had
not seen before. The water vessel is of beautifully designed brass
set on a tripod, with a stem, more than two feet high, of carved
wood on which rests a fancy bowl, veiled in silver chains and
beads hanging from its rim, containing the tobacco which they
call )arak (1) and the burning coals. The tube, made of rich
material and covered for protection with linen, is about ten feet
(1) The jarak, a word imported from India, is Persian tobacco cured, that
is soaked in a decoction of honey or molasses and musk and ambergris
and some spices—plug tobacco?
*
�HnH
20
THE SYRIAN WORLD
long. Here be the pink of luxury in the East. The narghilah
was followed with unsweetened coffee flavored of cardamon,
and then green tea, and then sweetened hot milk served in wine
glasses, and then soda water of different colors, the black slaves
continuing to come and go till I had risen to take my leave.
Meanwhile, there were visitors, a few of whom accepted the
invitation to the diwan, while the others, in a modern practical
manner, remained standing. And they asked of the Sheikh Muhammad astounding questions.
"Did you receive the book of the English Lady who disgrrced the English Court and Nobility? (Meaning the Memoirs of Margot Asquith which had been recently translated
into Arabic.)
.
,.
.
"Is it true that the men of science of America have discovered
that the rays of the sun are crooked?"
"Give me, of your kindness, the name of the Historian who
opened his historv of the world with the biography of the devil.
"I pray thee, O Sheikh Muhammad, have you in your wonderful library the book of the English philosopher who spoke
the truth about the Prophet, the peace of Allah upon him, and
praised Al-Islam?"
The beningant Sheikh Muhammad, the living encyclopedia
of Teddah, would answer in his habitual calm each question,
taking cut a book now and then to refresh his memory or confirm
his opinion, and allowing the inquirers, the thirsters for knowledge, to take the books home if they desired. A few of them
did so; a few others brought with them the books they had taken
previously.
"Does the learned Sheikh," I asked, "lend out his books?"
"Not to everybody, O esteemed one, but to those only who
prove to us that they have a thirst for knowledge."
"What is the proof that mylord the Sheikh exacts?"
"Thev come to his diwan and participate in the discussions,
which reveal, of a certainty, the quality of their minds. I am
proud of every one to whom Allah in His bounty has enabled
me to lend a book. And they all take good care of the books
they borrow. Look, for instance, at this one; it has been out for
ihe tenth time, and it is still new."
The book he showed me was Carlyle's Hero and Hero Worship, an excellent Arabic translation, by the way, in which most
of the idiomatic humor of "Thammis" is faithfully reproduced
in Arabic dress. The Hero as Prophet which he has chosen to
i.t
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OCTOBER, 1929
21,
complete his cycle and add another string to his peculiarly conceived and strangely constructed spiritual Harp, is not having
the right effect among Muhammedans. It humors the ignorance
of the many and confirms the learned few in their perversity.
Had Caryle had access to Ibn Jubair, or had he taken the trouble
to acquaint himself with the present state of Al-Islam, he would
have added to the Hero as Prophet a chapter on the quackery
of mechanical religion.
Even the most learned Sheikh Muhammad admired unreservedly the book, accepted it as Cospel, or rather Koranic,
truth. He was curious to know more about this philosopher of
the English; and to my story of a visit to the house in Chayne
Walk, Chelsea, they all listened with wrapt attention. The
double wall in the attic amused them. "Had he come to live
here amongst us," said one, "we would have invoked the great
Allah to silence even the simoom for his sake."
"Did he lend out his books," asked the Sheikh Muhammad,
combing with his fingers his trimmed white beard.
I spoke of our public libraries in reply. "We also have what
we call circulating libraries, which lend out books for a period
of time to the young girl and the young man who thirst for
knowledge—and for thrills."
While one of those present was asking what I meant by
thrills—it is perturbing, the thrill—not good for the soul—my
host was repeating to himself: The young girl, too!
He asked for more detail about the circulating library system, intending, I suppose, to improve his own.
"The circulating library is an excellent name," said one of
the guests.
"By Allah!" exclaimed another, who dropped his narghilah
tube in excitement, " we shall call it the circulating library of
Jeddah."
"Yea, O most worthy Sheikh Muhammad," said the third,
who moved his turban back and forth to air his shaven skull,
"henceforth, it shall thus be called. We thank thee, O honorable one, for this noble idea."
When I got up to go, my host recalled that I had come to
him recommended by his worthy and beloved friend the Sheikh
Hasan of Cairo, and he asked me to be his guest during my stay
in Jeddah. He also placed his library at my disposal.
"Here is the Index. Please take it with you and glance over
�THE SYRIAN WORLD
22
it. There may be a book among this small collection of the slave
of your virtue which you may desire to read."
I asked if he had one on Al-Yaman, and he pointed to a few
in the Index.
He was very pleased, for the sake of his friend in Cairo and
the white doves of Mecca, to know that I was going to that part
of Arabia.
"I will give you a letter to my friend there to deliver to you
the doves. You will be charmed with their singing."
An Ideal
By
SUMAYEH ATTIYEH
To forget the mistakes of the past and work for greater
achievements today.
To be too big for worry, too noble for anger and too strong
for fear.
To be so firm that nothing can disturb your peace of mind.
To talk health, happiness and success to everyone you meet.
To be just as enthusiastic about the success of others as you
are about your own.
To give so much time to the improvement of yourself that
you have no time to criticize others.
To be cheerful under seeming obstacles and to have a smile
for everyone you meet.
To think well of yourself and proclaim this fact to the world,
not in loud words, but in great deeds.
To see the golden truth in all religions and to realize that
the world is your home and all its people are your brothers and
sisters.
To live day by day making each day a worthy chapter of
your life.
1
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OCTOBER, 1929
Ok
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23
A Messiah of Old
By
WILLIAM CATZEFLIS
^ITH Zionism arrayed against the nationalism of the Arabs,
and the conflicting claims of Syrians and Jews creating for
Great Britain, as the mandatory power in Palestine, a rather embarrassing position, the Jewish question has of late claimed the
interest of the whole civilized world.
Readers of THE SYRIAN WORLD may be interested, in this
connection, to read about an occurrence of the last half of the
17th century, which is indicative of the mentality of the people
in those days, a mentality of which traces can i till be found
among many races and creeds even in this so-called enlightened
century.
Voltaire, one of the greatest thinkers and writers of the
world, reports the occurrence referred to in his "Essai sur les
Moeurs et l'Esprit des Nations", tome 11th, chap. CXCI of his
works. We give it herein for what it is worth, and will let that
great master relate it in his own, inimitable way.
During the war with Candie, (1666), there happened in
Turkey, an event which attracted the attention of both Europe
and Asia. A rumor had been spread, based on idle conjecture,
that the year 1666 was destined to witness a great revolution
on earth. The mystic number: 666, which is found in the Apocalypse, was the source of that opinion. Never was the expectation of the Anti-Christ more universal. The Jews, on their side,
claimed that their Messiah was to come that same year.
A Jew of Smyrna, named Sabatei-Sevi, a man of culture
and the son of a rich broker for English factories, took advantage
of this general trend of thought, and declared himself the Messiah. He was eloquent, of attractive appearance, affecting great
modesty, preaching justice, speaking as an oracle, and declaring
that the end of times was at hand. He travelled first in Greece
and Italy and while in Livourne eloped with a girl of his race,
whom he took with him to Jerusalem, where he began preaching
to his brethren.
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THE SYRIAN WORLD
There is a constant tradition among the Jews that their Shilo,
their Messiah, their avenger and king, can come only with Elie.
They are persuaded that they have an Eliah, who will reappear
at the rebirth of the earth. That Eliah, whom we call Ely or
Elie, was thought by many "savants" to mean the sun, from the
Greek derivation of the word, and also because Elie having been
carried from earth in a chariot of flame, drawn by four winged
horses, has a great deal of resemblance with the chariot of the
sun and the four horses invented by the poets. But without further pursuing these researches, and without examining whether
the books of the Jews were written after Alexander, that is to
say after the Jews began to know something about Greek mythology in Alexandria, suffice it to say that the Jews have been
awaiting the return of Eliah from time immemorial. Even today, (in Voltaire's time), when these people circumsize a boy,
they place an armchair in the room for Eliah, in case he chose
to honor them with his presence.
Elie is to bring the Sabbath, the Messiah, and the universal
upheaval. That idea pre\'ailed also among the Christians. Almost all fanatics expect their Elie. In 1724 the police magistrate
of Paris had two men arrested and incarcerated in an asylum,
because they were fighting to determine who, of the two, was
the genuine Elie. It was, therefore, absolutely necessary that
Sabatei-Sevi be announced to his brethren by an Elie, lest his
mission should be doubted and ignored by his people.
He found a rabbi, named Nathan, who thought there was
enough gain for him in playing this second part. Thereupon,
Sabatei declared to the people in Asia Minor and Syria that Nathan was Elie, and Nathan assured them that Sabatei was the
Messiah, the Silo, the One awaited by the chosen people.
Between the two of them, they did great work in Jerusalem,
where they reformed the synagogues. Nathan interpreted the
prophets and convinced the people clearly that, by the end of
the year, the Sultan would be dethroned, and Jerusalem would
then become the mistress of the world. All the Syrian Jews were
convinced of that truth, and the synagogues echoed with their
chants: "Arise, arise Jerusalem, in thy strength and thy glory;
there shall be no uncircumsized nor impure in thy midst." Every
Jew made ready to lodge one or more persons of the lost ten
tribes, and their hopes and faith were so great that they neglected
their business and all prepared for the trip to Jerusalem.
Nathan selected twelve men, in Damascus, to preside over
�-*+.
OCTOBER, 1929
25
the twelve tribes. Sabatei-Sevi went back to Smyrna, to show
himself to his brethren, and Nathan wrote to him: "King of
kings, lord of lords, when shall we be worthy of standing in the
shade of thy donkey? I prostrate myself to be trodden by the
soles of thy feet."
Sabatei, in Smyrna, deposed several doctors of the law who
had refused to recognize him, and replaced them by others.
Frightened, one of his bitterest enemies, named Samuel Pennia,
was suddenly converted, and publicly acknowledged him for the
son of God.
One day, Sabatei had occasion to visit the Cadi of Smyrna,
with many of his followers. Several of these swore they saw a
column of flames between him and the Cadi. This, and other
''miracles" of the sort, sealed his mission in the eyes of his people.
Jews from all over were now bringing their gold and jewels and
depositing them at his feet.
The Pasha of Smyrna was about to have him arrested, when
he fled to Constantinople with the most zealous of his followers.
But the Grand Vizier, Ahmad Cuprogli, who was about to go to
the siege of Candie, had him arrested and put in jail. All the
Jews who wanted to could see him, for a money consideration,
as is the custom in Turkey. They went there in numbers to kneel
at his feet and kiss his chains. He blessed them and preached to
them, and never did he complain. But the Jews of Constantinople, believing that the advent of the Messiah abolished all
obligations, refused to pay their debts. The English merchants
of Galata betook themselves to Sabatei, and told him that as
he was the King of the Jews, he must order his subjects to pay
their debts. Whereupon he wrote the following:
"To you who await the salvation of Israel, etc.,
satisfy
your legitimate debts. If you refuse to do so, you shall not enter
with us in our joy and our empire."
The debts were paid.
The prison of Sabatei was always full of worshipers. But the
Jews had begun to make a whole lot of noise in Constantinople.
The people were then dissatisfied with the rule of Mahommed
IV, and it was feared this tumult might endanger the peace.
It would seem that a government as severe as the Turkish government would have put him to death, but they simply transferred him to the Castle of the Dardanelles. The Jews then
clamored that it was not within the power of man to put him
to death.
�" " W"
26
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I. II ,
THE SYRIAN WORLD
His reputation having spread to all the European countries,
he began receiving deputations of Jews from Poland, Germany,
Livourne, Venice and Amsterdam, who paid very dearly for the
privilege of kissing his feet. It was probably this which saved
his life.
The talk about him and his miracles was so great that the
Sultan Mahommed had the curiosity of seeing and interrogating him They took the "King of the Jews" to the Seraglio,
lne Sultan asked him, in Turkish, if he were the Messiah. Sabatei replied modestly that he was. But as his Turkish was bad,
the Sultan said to him, "You speak badly for a Messiah, who
should have the gift of languages. Tell me, do you perform
miracles?" — "Sometimes," replied Sabatei. "We'll," said the
Sultan, "take off his clothes. He shall serve as a target for the
arrows of my archers. If he proves invulnerable, we shall recognize him as the Messiah."
Sabatei fell to his knees, and weeping, confessed that that
was a miracle beyond his power. They then proposed to him
either to be impaled or else to become a Moslem, and to go publicly to the Mosque. He did not hesitate, and became a Mahommedan on the spot. Then he began a new sort of a prediction,
to the effect that his mission had been from the beginning intent
upon substituting the Moslem religion for the Judaic, in accordance with ancient prophecies.
It can easily be seen what was the discomfiture and the
shame of his adherents. That event added greatly to the contusion and unhappiness of the world's Jewry.
Arab Proverbs
If you should do a good deed conceal it, but if a good deed be
done to you proclaim it.
Trust not in him who cannot restrain his tongue.
To have to keep company with the ignorant is one of the worst
punishments.
Experience is the beginning of knowledge.
Every container must reach the filling point, except the container
of knowledge which increases in capacity the more you add
�'
OCTOBER, 1929
27
In the Land of Promise
A Chronological Record of the Editor's Trip Abroad
By SAI.LOUM A. MOKARZEL
II.
QUNDAY, July 21, broke bright and clear amidst a riot of
colors. The placid surface of the sea revealed the beautiful
transparency of the inimitable Mediterranean blue. A few clouds
with silver linings and gold rims tinted by the rising sun floated
gently with the breeze. That was all that could be seen in an
otherwise perfectly clear sky. We were now in Syrian waters
and all our expectations of ideal atmospheric conditions were
coming true.
All on board were astir with unusual activity. Beirut was
the last port of call of the "Providence" before making her home
port of Marseille, and all the remaining passengers expected to
land at the Syrian city. True there were about a hundred odd
Syrians returning for a visit to their motherland, and the excitement among them would be but natural. But there was also about
an equal number of tourists, mostly American, who were coming
to visit Syria and the Holy Land, and the excitement among them
was no less tense. We had been eighteen days at sea, and although
sailing conditions were ideal, we all were anxious to reach our
destination. The novelty of the sea voyage had just about reached the waning point.
Along about noon someone sighted land and all passengers
crowded on the port side of the ship to view the welcome sight.
But it was not the land of our ultimate destination. What we
saw looming on the clear horizon were the mountains of Cyprus,
situated along the northwest coast of Syria. All were happy, nevertheless, in the realization that we had actually come in sight of
the first outpost on the last leg of our journey.
Cyprus looks but a tiny speck on the map, but to us its ragged
coastline seemed interminable. Our anxiety to reach port was
running foul of our reason and we were seeing things in exaggerated forms.
After a while we began to lose interest in the mountains of
Cyprus. They appeared inhospitable in their nakedness. They
were beginning to work an unfavorable impression on our
�28
THE SYRIAN WORLD
minds lest the other mountains we were to see, those of Lebanon,
prove to be of the same nature.
But there were those who kept scanning the horizon persistently and with the utmost anxiety. They scrutinized every cloud
in the sky in the hope that it would be a land outline. And
strangely enough, those most anxious were not Syrians or Lebanese, but Americans.
Around three o'clock I felt a sudden grip and thug at my arm
pulling me toward the railing, and an excited voice exclaiming,
"Look, look! It is the peak of Sannin!"
The speaker was Dr. Wm. A. West of the American University of Beirut who, to use his expression, was returning "home"
with his wife and mother. One could see by the expression of his
face that the strongest emotions of happiness and expectation were
surging within him.
I strained my sight to distinguish the form he was pointing
out. Wasn't there a possibility that it was a cloud bank? I was so
excited myself that I felt the need of double assurance.
But the Professor was absolutely positive. "I am too familiar
with Lebanon to be deceived. See that high peak directly ahead?
That is Sannin as it looks from the northwest. And that dense
white patch along the side of the faint outline of the peak? That
is the perpetual snow characteristic of the Lebanon. Perhaps you
have been away too long to be able to identify it as I can."
I admitted that I had been away for almost thirty years, and
asked how Jong he had been absent from "home."
"Only two years," he replied, "and I consider them a lost
portion of my life, such is my love for the Lebanon." Dr. West
was born in Beirut.
Soon the shape of the mountain began to take more definite
form. The summits emerged plainly from the haze and the valleys became discernible. Then the beauty of Lebanon began to
unfold itself gradually before our admiring eyes. It was unlike
anything we had seen, except, perhaps, some parts of the Italian
coastline. The mountain was not at all deforested as we had been
led to believe by some descriptions. Where it was not thickly
wooded it was planted to mulberry or olive groves or symmetrically terraced for vineyards. The whole range was dotted with
what appeared to be prosperous looking villages of fine white
stone houses covered with red-tile roofs. The panorama, as we
approached, was fascinating. The dark green of the forests was
broken with the vivid white and red colors of the dwellings in
�OCTOBER, 1929
29
such pleasing contrast that the landscape appeared like a huge
canvas fresh from the brush of a master artist.
The pilot in his red tarboush gave us the first intimate indication that we were in Oriental waters. Now we began to distinguish human forms on the quay, and the returning Syrian and
Lebanese emigrants were straining themselves to recognize some
relative or friend. The slow progress of the big steamer into
the inner harbor seemed to be interminable.
We had no sooner anchored than a swarm of boatmen and
welcomers boarded the ship. Among the first arrivals was Ameen
Hitti, Beirut member of the New York firm of A. K. Hitti &
Co., followed by his men with the name of the firm in bold letters on cap and right arm. Boatmen of all other steamship
or travel agencies appeared in the same manner, a regulation put
into effect since the French occupation. Only those who are acquainted with conditions at the port of Beirut during the Turkish
regime can appreciate the necessity of such precautions. I shall
have occasion to refer to these conditions later.
The scenes on board when relatives met one another after a
long separation caused one's heart to melt with sympathy. Here
was an aged father still in native costume and displaying all the
simplicity in speech and manners characteristic of the mountaineers of Lebanon, weeping with joy in the arms of a returning son.
Brother met brother and husband wife in the same ecstasy of delight. But for the shouts of the boatmen and the excited inquiries
of some anxiously expectant relatives one could have heard nothing but sobs and the resounding smacks of kisses.
And of all the kisses I have seen enacted or heard described
there was none to compare with what I saw on this occasion. I
particularly noticed a young man who apparently was greeting
his brother spring at him with the agility of a panther and overwhelm him with kisses. They were kisses so warm and fa^t that
the recipient seemed helpless under the onslaught. And they
were not staged or affected kisses. On the contrary, they were
kisses that plainly displayed an exuberance of joy uncontrolled.
This particular kisser, though untrained in the art, could outkiss
any professional of Hollywood. He began by holding his brother-—for such we must consider him—in a vise-like grip of his
powerful arms and began kissing him on the neck and shoulder.
Then he held him at arms' length and looked him straight in the
eyes for a minute, his face beaming with delight, and resumed
his fervid kisses in such manner that every inch of the brother's
�30
THE SYRIAN WORLD
face was fully covered. For he kissed him first on one cheek and
then on the other repeatedly and swiftly, shifting to the forehead and descending systematically to the eyes, the cheeks, the
lips and the chin.
He was hungry for his brother and fairly devoured him.
Because, seemingly not content with what he had had, he began
another onslaught, but in this instance with more moderation.
He again gazed into his eyes for a second, and with the utmost
deliberation, kissed him this time on the tip of the nose. But this
was not the climax of the performance. Some finishing touches
had been left out and he proceeded to execute them. With still
another gaze into his brother's eyes and as if tasting of a choice
bit of sweets at the conclusion of a meal, he handled fondly the
pointed tip of his brother's mustach and gave it the parting kiss.
For warmth of affection and exuberance of joy I had never
seen a scene to equal this in unaffected manifestation. It was characteristic of the East and was well worth coming all this distance
to witness.
In the welcoming party were representatives of all classes and
sections of Syria and Lebanon. Some had come from as far north
as Aleppo and as far east as Damascus, while from Zahle and
other nearby localities of Lebanon there were welcomers by the
score.
The formalities of visaing the passports over, there was a
scramble to land. All around the steamer were rows upon rows
of rowboats manned by sailors in native costume. The picturesqueness of the scene is one that holds great appeal to one witnessing it for the first time and without knowledge of the traditional ruthiessness of Beirut boatmen. But to him who has had
previous dealings with them, the very mention of their name
strikes terror in his heart. We had been informed that they were
made to behave after the coming of the French. Now it was our
opportunity to verify the truth of the statement.
It fell to my lot to experience this change of conduct on the
part of the Beirut boatmen in person. The opportunity came unexpected!}' and proved to be a complete and adequate test.
A Syrian passenger came to me as I was ready to disembark
and asked for assistance in landing. He said a certain boatman
had taken his baggage without his consent in an effort to induce
him to take his boat. He stated that he was one of Hitti's passengers and wanted me to advise him on what to do. He appeared unduly excited, and after appeasing him I called the
�OCTOBER, 1929
i
31
matter to the attention of Amee'n Hitti who immediately detailed one of his men to claim from the unauthorized boatman the
baggage of the passenger. I thought the matter was settled and
betook to my boat.
Before I had settled in my place I heard a commotion and
turned to find that the Hitti boatman was wrangling with the
other boatman over the right of the transportation of the passenger and his baggage. I was in the Hitti boat and that of the
other boatman was immediatelely alongside. The action that
followed was very swift. Words led to blows and there was a
grapple. The footing of the two contenders, each in his boat,
was not sure and they were soon rolling over the sides of the
swaying craft. Now one would be on top and then the other.
The edges of the two boats nearly touched water and there was
fear that they would capsize. There were shouts to me from
deck to jump to one of the other boats nearby.
In former days such a dispute would have inevitably lead to
tragic consequences. Even now there were threats by each of
drowning the other. At one time the head of one was pushed
perilously near the water.
But while the struggle was going on other forces were put
into motion which worked methodically and swiftly. The Maritime Police officer stationed at the head of the ladder had noticed
the scuffle and whistled for the Police launch. In but a few minutes it reached the scene and the officer in charge sternly commanded the two fighting men to stop. And they immediately
stopped. Not a shot was fired nor a stick wielded nor a knife
drawn. It was simply the stern voice of authority which this
heretofore lawless element has learned to obey to the relief of the
traveling public.
I later learned that the offending boatman was sentenced to
jail for ten days. I was further informed that such incidents have
become the rare exception at the port of Beirut, while formerly
they were the common rule.
Upon landing at the Customs House the first official I encountered was a native woman. I was later to be delightfully
surprised in learning that the women of Syria were rapidly effecting their economic emancipation by seeking employment in
independent and gainful pursuits.
The customs officials were most courteous. We were advised
that the government of Lebanon had issued explicit orders to
waive the regular formalities in connection with the landing of
�as
32
THE SYRIAN WORLD
the tourists traveling under the auspices of the firm of Hitti and
as a mark of encouragement and appreciation. For this the editor of THE SYRIAN WORLD, who was a
personal witness to the considerate treatment accorded the Syrian
tourists on this occasion, can express the grateful appreciation of
all passengers concerned for this action of the Lebanese government.
But even before leaving the Customs House I was made witness to a peculiar incident which I later discovered was typically
indicative of the trend of thought among the people of the country. The people resent what they believe is the overbearing attitude of the French in the exercise of their duty. Some French
officers are accused of not being civil in their treatment of the
natives although they may be within their incontested rights.
This particular incident came about through the efforts of my
cousin and companion, Joseph Mokarzel, publisher of Ad-Dabbour, a popular weekly of Beirut, to gain permission for a simple
peasant to enter the Customs House to greet his father who was
returning from America. The French officer stationed at the
door dismissed the request with an attitude of impatience which
hurt the impetuous publisher. What followed seems almost incredible. The publisher flew immediately into a rage and threatened to "dump" the French officer into the sea. "This is outcountry and not yours," he shouted at him. "You allow privileges
to some and refuse them to others. This is a condition we will
not tolerate and you shall soon find this out to your regret."
A crowd of several hundred men soon collected and pressed
around the two men. There were shouts of encouragement to
the dynamic little publisher to keep up his tirade. Right or wrong,
it was apparent that the sympathy of the crowd was with their
countryman.
The incident was brought to a close by my representation to
the officer of the facts of the situation which made him rescind
his earlier refusal. Obviously, the unpleasant incident could have
been avoided had he granted the permission in the first place.
Otherwise, if he considered himself in the right, he should hive
adhered to his first decision regardless of the consequences.
"What made you display such temper so quickly?" I asked
of my cousin immediately after we had left the confines of the
Customs House.
"The French in Syria have adopted such a vacillating policy
that they can be rightly accused of having no policy at all," he
THE SYRIAN WORLD
�OCTOBER, 1929
.
S3
replied. "What I said to the Customs officer is true. Favors are
granted some and denied others. The French in Syria cede only
to force. When they find the people submissive they abuse them.
The attitude of some French officials is so arrogant that it is wellnigh becoming unbearable."
That night I did not sleep in Beirut. It was Sunday and the
city was almost deserted. It is so convenient for the inhabitants
of the capital city of Lebanon and the greatest seaport of Syria,
to seek relief from the torrid heat of midsummer. In within
fifteen minutes to an hour they can reach any altitude to their
liking, even up to an elevation of eight or nine thousand feet.
One of the distinctions of Lebanon, for instance, is that its winter and summer capitals are only twenty minutes apart by automobile. Beirut, the winter capital, is semi-tropical in its climate.
Even an occasional snow flurry causes the greatest surprise. One
of the familiar expressions in description of the severity of a
winter is that "it snowed on the coast." Yet Aley, the summer
capital, can be seen crowning a hill directly above Beirut at an
elevation of 2,540 feet, while the summit of Sannin clothed in
its perpetual mantle of snow and rising to almost 10,000 feet,
looks surprisingly near. This being the topography of the country, urbanites of even moderate means can indulge in the weekend exodus to the cool regions of the mountain.
My cousin and companion was in sympathy with my plans
to profit of every moment for study and observation and he
helped materially carry them out. We therefore decided to
spend the night at Saufar, the reputed resort of the elite of the
country and the rendez-vous of the fashionable and sporting
element. I was anxious to see the interior of a gambling casino,
inasmuch as I had never been in one before.
It was then dusk and the hills of Lebanon began to scintillate
with their myriad electric lights. Villages could be distinguished
by the density of their illumination and resembled so many great
Milky Ways in the shadowy expanse of the landscape, while on
account of their elevation, they almost merged with the heavens
and their lights seemed to form a part of the galaxy of stars.
Sporadic lights appeared here and there to indicate isolated habitations or newly established resorts. This new condition in Lebanon was a revelation. The mountain could never be seen in
such a brilliant mantle of light before except on the day commemorating the discovery of the Cross. The Lebanese hold this
day in great reverence and celebrate it by extensive illumination
�34
THE SYRIAN WORLD
using for that purpose primitive but effective methods. This
consisted principally in soaking ash piles with kerosene and setting fire to them. These fires would be located on the fringes of
church roofs and other buildings and would give the effect of
the whole mountain being ablaze.
Except for this phenomenon, there was little for us to see
of the natural beauty of Lebanon by night. But the expectation
of being soon at Saufar, and of spending our first night in Lebanon in the reputed center of the greatest social activities in the
country, was sufficient compensation. We lost no time in hiring
an automobile to convey us thither.
Saufar is situated at an altitude of four thousand feet and
we reached it in half an hour. The road leading to it is the main
highway between Beirut and Damascus and owing to recent improvements, has become one of the finest motor roads in all Syria.
The dry mountain air as we climbed higher and higher was exhilarating.
We stopped at the Hotel Royal, conducted by Wadih Mokarzel, where we had an excellent dinner. But although this
hotel is almost directly opposite the Grand Casino, there seemed
to be little activity for such a fashionable center.
It was a distinct advantage to have for companion and guide
such a man as the pubJisher of Ad-Dabbour, who seemed to know
everything and everybody, and to be known by everybody as
well. With him it was never a matter of guess work. He could
place his finger on the cause and point out the effect with absolute
certainty. He had served his apprenticeship in the newspaper profession abroad and combined to this acquired knowledge the native talent of the Oriental. I wish to state that I am indebted to
him for a good deal of the information I possess, some of which,
however, I shall not feel at liberty to use, out of respect for the
ethics of the profession.
He conducted me to the Grand Casino and led me through
the spacious gardens to the grand entrance. Then he led me
through the grand lobby to the grand ballroom. And all the
while I was promising myself the sight of the grand activities that
were to be seen within. But alas! the wheel of fortune had turned against me on this occasion. We did not encounter a single'soul
in the bar except a' solitary bar-tender dressed in immaculate
white and doing his best to look cheerful. Then we passed through
the heavy velvet curtains into the equally grand casino proper.
All around were all sorts of devices for games of chance, but the
�OCTOBER, 1929
35
tables and the devices were deserted. Strange, indeed, that the
most popular resort of its kind in the country should present such
a desolate appearance on a Sunday!
But we were not to be disappointed altogether. At the far
end of the room was a group of players whom we approached
leisurely and stopped to watch. There were about a dozen men
and four women absorbed in the study of their cards. We could not
possibly disturb them, so intent were they on their tasks. Not
one as much as raised his head or batted an eyelid. The stakes
must have been large.
We watched for about ten minutes. Not a sound was to be
heard except the call of the stakeholder. Nay, I must correct
myself. There was the lady addict to the arghile who held the
stem tightly between her teeth and caused a continuous gurgling
in the bottle. All others were smoking cigarettes.
We could not very well engage in conversation while the
atmosphere was so tense for fear of distracting the players. But
once we had satisfied our curiosity my companion and I retired
to a far corner where we could safely engage in a whisper.
"Who are the ladies and gentlemen?" I inquired, anxious to
learn something about their standing in the community. Being
a stranger to the country, I could not tell whether the participants
were professionals or casual players. But my companion, knowing
everything and everybody, as I have stated, was in a position to
know.
"This group represents the elite of our society," was the reply. Two of the ladies are members of one of our wealthiest
families whose summer villas are located nearby. The man at
the head of the table is an ex-minister who is also a scion of another wealthy family. The rest are drawn from other walks of life
but all ranking high in the social ladder."
"But why the deadness of the atmosphere? Is this the extent of the activities in the foremost summer resort of the mountain at the height of the season?" I again asked.
The question was apparently beyond the publisher's ability to
answer promptly and satisfactorily. But he was resourceful and
would not admit defeat. He sought the manager of the Casino.
Mr. Najjar is a corpulent individual who must have been
extremely jovial by nature, but now appeared visibly worried.
He clapped for a waiter and ordered coffee, then sat to give us a
dissertation on what is basically wrong with the economic conditions of the country.
�36
THE SYRIAN WORLD
What I heard from this hotel manager was the first note of
dissatisfaction that later re-echoed in my ears wherever I went in
the country. Everything was wrong because of the government.
The government was held to blame for the rise in the price of
flour as well as for the unpopularity of gambling resorts. It would
seem to the visitor that but for the equable climate of the country-,
the government would be blamed even for the change in the
weather. The people expected the government to take the initiative in every move. This state of mind plainly indicated the
utter dependence of the people. It is the continuation of a condition of paternalism and feudalism from which the country has
not yet succeeded in shaking itself free. Its manifestations encompass the whole range of national life from the educational to
the social and economic. The people seem not to have developed
either the courage or the strength to stand on their own feet.
The first night spent in Lebanon fully proved the widely proclaimed virtues of this mountain as a health resort. I retired late
and rose early fully refreshed after but a few hours' sleep. The
early morning walk up the motor road to where we could view
the beautiful panorama of Wadi Hammana, immortalized by
Lamartine, made us doubly enjoy the generous breakfast served
in the open-air dining room of the hotel. A week's vacation in
the bracing air and soothing quiet of this resort would have been
ideal, but the call to duty was too urgent. We must be back in
the city that very morning, my companion to prepare copy for
his paper and I to meet and greet a host of friends whom I knew
by name but had never seen. We managed to leave before the
congestion, for they have their rush hours in Lebanon, too.
The descent down the slopes of Lebanon along a road running now through the heart of a dense grove of pines or a wellcultivated vineyard, now through the main street of a bustling
little village, and all the while in full view of the sea and of the
city of Beirut, left no regrets except that it was accomplished too
quickly for the fuller enjoyment of the beautiful scenery. Beirut,
resplendent in a robe of dazzling white, hedged about by the
green groves of the rich coastal plain, facing the immense expanse of the blue Mediterranean, its myriad windows reflecting
the rays of the rising sun as it emerged from behind Sannin,
presented the appearance of a huge diamond in a gorgeous setting. Between this captivating view of the city and the ever
changing beauty of the mountains around, one felt the time pass
all too quickly. We soon found ousselvcs by the tombs of the
�OCTOBER, 1929
37,
Pashas at Al-Hazimyeh, marking the boundary of the city limits.
Then it was a swift drive over the broad and level road to Sahat
Al-Burg, now rechristened Place des Canons, which faces the
Small Saraya, administrative building of the native government,
in contradistinction to the Grand Saraya, seat of the French High
Commissariat.
At last we were in the metropolis of Lebanon, the emporium
of Syria, the cultural center of that part of the East and the capital of the first republic to rise in the Arabic-speaking world. There
we were to come in contact with the political forces that are guiding the destinies of the country, to study the courses of the social,
economic and cultural life of the people, and to see whatever remained of the distinctive Eastern characteristics in a city that is
coming faster than any other under Western influences. This
I set myself to do from the very first day.
Edwin
By
LABEEBEE
A. J.
HANNA
The rose bloomed for a day
And withered
And fell;
My cheek bloomed as the rose
And grew pale
And wan.
Our love bloomed like the rose
And withered
And died—
And remnants remaining
Grow ashen
And dried.
Tenderly put the ash
In an urn,
And save—
And decorate and lable
As any
Grave.
�THE SYRIAN WORLD
38
The Smile of Death
A SHORT STORY
By
JOHN
A.
LA EACE
IDLENESS does breed mischief. Men who are busily engaged
in the problems of life and existence have no time to ask needless and unfathomable questions for mere curiosity. But a vain
and idle man—particularly a monarch—invariably will subject
his advisers to deep and intricate inquiries in order to gloat over
the prospective torture he will inflict upon them in event he is
not satisfied with their answers.
Sultan Omar was such a vain and idle monarch. The magnificent throne he sat upon did not even tempt an admiring look
from his haughty eyes. Beautiful mother-of-pearl from the
Persian Gulf inlaid in precious wood from the cedar forest of
Mt. Lebanon; golden tigers clawing at each other savagely—the
work of some Persian artist;—rubies and sapphires in attendance
on a large moon-glowing diamond—drew the always admiring
and covetous eyes of the court attaches, but no recognizance
from the ruler.
On this particular day, something seemed to be troubling his
otherwise peaceful mind. He glanced about the walls of the
throne room in an absent-minded manner. His eyes roamed nervously over the beautiful tapestries that fairly shouted for attention without outwardly acknowledging them until they rested
upon one in particular—one which was the object of interesting
comment by the ministers and of sacred awe by the Moslems.
It depicted the Prophet sitting on a heavenly throne with a look
of wisdom in his eyes, glancing down upon Islam represented
by a row of bowed caliphs at his feet. His left hand was extended
as a token of peace, but his right rested on a brilliant scimitar.
He was clothed in the sacred garments of the highest caliph,
which enveloped him in a profusion of linen and silks. The sultan's eyes, now alert, were fixed on a remarkable adornment
which hung in a secluded cove to the right of the holy tapestry.
It was a likeness of one of Sultan Omar's distant sires,—AliPasha the Dreaded. It was this Sultan Pasha who subjugated
the outlying tribes which roamed the expanses of the Syrian
i -wo- -
i
i
i
t
I
t
a
c
\
F
t
v
s
n
o
Si
d
w
t!
�OCTOBER, 1929
29
Desert—the fierce Bedouins and the war-like Kurds, bringing
them into the folds of the empire. He was an immense individ
uai, standing, as he was in the painting, six feet six inches of brutality, his fierce countenance scowling even in the picture, with
huge moustaches fairly bristling against his cheeks. His large
cat-grey eyes shot forward like lances thrust from the sturdy
arm of a Spartan, and his luxurious, disheveled hair added to the
fierceness of his appearance. On his left cheek was a long jagged
scar which, tradition tells us, was received in a savage encounter
with a tiger, which he brutally strangled to death. Tradition
continues to relate now he was merciless beyond belief It was
he, also, who crushed his eldest son to death in a terrible embrace,
because the latter ret used—rather prudently, one should thinkto pursue a wounded tiger unarmed!
,Ic was no^ed by the more observant, that although the sultan s eyes would roam somewhat absently about the chamber they
always turned to the likeness of his savage forefather, and that
his eyes would suddenly illuminate when they met the features of
Aii-.Fasha. lhe boldest among his courtiers would even venture
beyond this in telling of certain instances when his. dreaded majesty would peer intently into Ali-Pasha's features, his eves would
flash lividly and his face would assume a pallid, rigid appearance
which was alarming to those who knew him.
It was common gossip about the court that the sultan did not
inherit the physical brutality of his forebearers, but that he was
blood-thirsty and treacherous beyond common acceptance And
herein lies our story.
One particular day, when Sultan Omar sat thus captivated
by Aii-Pasha, his features suddenly relaxed into a hideous smile,
a smile tnat quickly transformed his suave countenance into that
of a snarling, yapping, blood-thirsty beast; the peaceful room
was immediately turned into the sometimes roaring, sometimes
pacific, dark, treacherous jungles of deepest Africa. Omar was
tne silent brutal cobra, and his quaking panic-stricken attendants
were the hares and yea! even the gazelles of the jungles which
succumbed to the fangs of the demon. Yet, as that smile slowly
melted away, the lingering expressions suggested the cunning
of the fox, and forecast, as those who associated with him knew
some ugly finesse, which would terminate in the bloodv, hackine
death in which he delighted. Such was the smile of death and
woe unto the unfortunate one who would fit into the plans of
the demon and fall into the clutches of that deception I
�THE SYRIAN WORLD
Motioning from his royal seat, the sultan of thetwokiruV
pheres and the ruler of the two seas, (as his title goes) the lust
for blood deeply possessing him, summoned before him his
vSier Al-RaJa^ and addressed him thus: "Slave, I£D 4km
thee ilitil an hour before the hour of prayer to solve the following problem which has been puzzling me constantly. It, at the
end of this period, you have not sufficiently enlightened me, by
Allah I will forfeit thy head!"
,
Poor Rassan's heart sank. The smile of death was directed
toward him! He turned his head momentarily, and tried to
imagine some cruel question his lord could inflict upon him He
hufdered violently when he considered the fate of his predecessors (the viziers were always the target for the cunning and the
cruelty of the sultan inasmuch as they were supposed to be exceptionally enlightened, and therefore, the sultan always liked to
match his wits with theirs, with their life at stake). So far, no
vizier had emerged victorious from this battle of wits!
"I am ready, your Highness, to enlighten you with any matters, as much as Allah permits, that might disturb your most
"^"AtleTdl" Omar fairly leaped as he said, "Who is God? in
what direction is His face turned? and What is He always doing?" The startled and despairing look of the frightened vizier
was' in marked contrast to the confident countenance of the ruler
who felt like the cat which toys with the mouse, enjoying its suffering before mercifully putting it to death.
"Can Your Most Dreaded Highness allow your unworthy
slave an extension of the allotted time to enable me to see my
family?" Al-Rassan was heard to plead pitifully.
"Emphatically no!" roared the sultan, "and furthermore,
vou are not allowed to leave the palace."
Slowly and wearily, the vizier dragged his well-nigh useless body to an ante-chamber, where he sank at the foot of an
image of Mohammed which was on the wall. "Oh Allah and
Mohammed," Al-Rassan cried, "What have I done to deserve
such a cruel fate? Who am I, to be able to divulge the affairs
of heaven? Oh my favorite wife Zura, and my precious son
Achmed, soon you will be thrown upon the harsh treatment of
an unsympathetic world! If only I could save you from such a
disaster'" and he bowed his head in sorrow.
"Perhaps you can, my son," a voice suddenly spoke above
him, "Allah may have decreed that 1 be sent to help you.
�—
OCTOBER, 1929
41
The vizier was startled, and in his troubled frame of mind,
imagined that the likeness of Mohammed had vanished from
the wall. He turned suddenly about him in fear, but saw nothing.
"Look not with thine eyes, my son, for I am without the
perception of human vision, but human ears can hear me, so hearken to my advice and I will deliver thee from the clutches of
yon monster."
"By Allah, what a heavenly voice," thought Rassan, but acquiesced and listened to its instructions.
"Do exactly as I bid thee, and no earthly being can harm
thee," it concluded and suddenly ceased.
"I am thy servant and thy slave, whosoever thou may be,"
answered Al-Rassan passionately, and sank again with reverence
to his knees.
When he arose, his mind was clearer, and he was strengthened
by the unknown voice. Glancing at the wall again, he noticed,
somewhat perplexed, that Mohammed's likeness once more was
upon it. As he stood there, still confused by the trend of events
about him, and dazed by the apparent deception of his eyes, a
bell suddenly echoed musically from the throne room, and with
a start, Rassan realized his presence was demanded there.
"Allah is with me!" he whispered fervently, as he parted
the gorgeous tapestries that hid him from the presence of those
in the court chamber and entered into the hushed atmosphere
within.
Mohammed's successor seemed in a jovial mood as his vizier
appeared before him and glanced about the room in a conceited
manner, as if saying to his attendants: "no one could match wits
with Sultan Omar!"
Al-Rassan, on the other hand, appeared as composed as a
martyr, and drew the unconcealed admiration of all those about
him.
"Wretch, are you prepared to enlighten me?" demanded the
sultan of his vizier.
"I will satisfy your curiosity, Most Exalted One, if you will
only agree to do my bidding!" answered the unemotional councillor. "What is the first part of your question?" he continued.
"Who is God?" quietly said the sultan, a broad smile creeping across his face, and his eyes glowing in anticipation.
�THE SYRIAN WORLD
"Will Your Highness count from one to ten?" asked AlRassan.
"One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten," hurriedly counted the sultan.
"Now count down from ten," interposed the vizier.
More cautiously, the sultan descended: "Ten, nine, eight,
seven, six, five, four, three, two, one,.;. " Here he paused uncertainly, and looked up inquiringly at Al-Rassan.
"Will Your Majesty not continue?" besought the latter.
"
zero," faltered the monarch.
"And still further," urged the vizier.
"Impossible, you fool!" bellowed the sultan.
"Then beyond the realm of human accomplishment lies God
and His power," reverently replied Al-Rassan.
A murmur of mingled surprise and approval rippled through
the audience; the monarch, undaunted, emitted a short ejaculation, but the stoical face of the vizier betrayed no emotions.
"Now, where is His face turned?" demanded Omar, as domineering as ever.
"Will Your Majesty order a lighted candle be placed on
that table?" a^ked Al-Rassan. No sooner was this asked than
done by many eager hands, and then:
"In what particular direction is the light o£ this candle shed?"
shot Rassan at the king. Omar broke into a boisterous laugh at
this seemingly absurd question, and his mirth became so uncontrollable that it threatened to burst his jugular vein, which was
becoming dangerously prominent. His flushed face to an uniformed onlooker might imply a genuine sense of humor or good
nature, but those who knew and understood his ways realized
what a terribly false impression this was, and, as if accentuating
this idea, they unconsciously backed away from the author of the
outburst. Wiping his brow leisurely with a silken handkerchief
which he always concealed in his sash, the sultan condescended
to answer the inquiry if Rassan would repeat it, "for," he said,
a
"the
pig may be seeking to ensnare me in a trick question."
Rassan repeated his question and the skeptical king was convinced that it was ethical enough.
"Well," drawled Omar, "in all directions, of course," and
gazed presumptuously about the faces in the court room.
"Then the face of God is turned in all directions," reverently
replied Al-Rassan, as unmoved as ever.
\m
�43
OCTOBER, 1929
Omar plainly became uneasy, and a scowl of displeasure swept
across his face; he realized that in Al-Rassan he had met a worthy
wit. The assembly was murmuring loudly, and slowly edged
toward the throne, as the incoming tide surges upon the sandy
shores, becoming louder and louder as it bursts with a roar on
the beach.
Undismayed, the stubborn sultan clung tenaciously to a mask
of indifference which gave him a calm and unruffled appearance,
and the courtiers milling about him stopped abruptly in thentracks at this remarkable exhibition of self-control. Glancing up
at the painting of Ali-Pasha, Omar muttered to himself, "I will
triumph yet!"
"Tell me what is He always doing ?" he asked the vizier
haughtily, still hoping to stave off defeat and disgrace.
"Will Your Excellency allow me, your most respectful slave,
to wear the clothes of state, and gird the sacred scimitar and sit
in your stead on the throne?" Al-Rassan said in a half-mocking
voice which was losing all pretence to submissiveness.
Omar was openly baffled at this sudden turn of events, and
became suspicious of the true motives of the vizier. He remembered, however, his promise to do the other's bidding; therefore,
he allowed Al-Rassan to change robes with him, and to gird the
emblem of authority.
"Now," the vizier began, but was interrupted by the outburst
of the spell-bound assembly, which had suddenly come to life,
like an unheralded storm on the south seas, and madly roared
about the throne. Al-Rassan cleared his throat, faced the cowering sultan and began anew:
"I have demonstrated what God is always doing; humbling
the despotic and conceited mighty, and elevating the weak and
oppressed."
*
*
*
*
The spell of the smile of death was broken forever, and
when the hour for prayer was announced, all the people of the
land turned toward Mecca, the holy city, and thanked Allah the
Almighty and His favorite Mohammed for their deliverance.
�44
THE SYRIAN WORLD
Book Reviews
AN ARAB WARRIOR-LOVER
The Romance of Antar. By Eunice Tietjens, New York, CowardMcCann. 219pp. $2.50.
Antarah, commonly called Antar, is a historical character.
He was one of the great Arab poets whose merits were recognized by the hanging of one of his epic poems on the walls of
Al-Kaaba, in Mecca, in pre-Islamic days. There used to be held
each year in Mecca in those times a national literary contest, as
it were, to determine the relative worth of the nation's contemporary poets, and only those poems judged by acclamation as
superior in merit were accorded the honor of being hung in AlKaaba. The literary fair was called Suq Akaz, and the poems
which in all the history of Arabia deserved the honor of being
chosen to be hung up in the holy place of Arabia were called AlMuallaqat, or the suspended ones. Antarah's poem is one of
these immortal seven.
There is no gainsaying the fact that Antarah was a great
poet, lover and warrior. His beloved, Abla, still lives in song
to the present day. Arab story-tellers still recount the exploits
of Antarah as one of the great heroes of the race. There has
sprung up among a certain class of Arabs what would be equivalent to Antarah Societies, certain enthusiasts coming together
to hear recalled over and over again the great exploits of the
hero as told in his poetry and added to by legend and the weaving fancy of the fertile Oriental imagination down the ages.
But Antarah, although known to the Western scholarly world
for over a century, was not a popular character. He was treated
more like a classical figure appraised more for his literary qualities than for his war deeds. Perhaps that the Story of Antar,
as it exists in Arabic, is too long and contains too much of vaunting verse to have served as popular material. Arab story-tellers
consider Antar's poetry an integral part of the story itself and
tell it in the fullness of its detail. The late Chukri Ganem's
French dramatization of the story in operatic form, served only
to have it produced for a season at the Odeon.
But now that Mrs. Tietjens has undertaken to retell the
story of Antar, there is ground for hope that the Arab hero
will receive his due share of popularity. Mrs. Tietjens has
�OCTOBER, 1929
45
succeeded in epitomizing the story and casting it in such romantic form, in spite of its brevity, as to meet contemporary
reading requirements. She has capably shaped the plot so as to
hold the attention of the reader from beginning to end. Even
what appears to be the post climax, the chapter telling of the
hero's death, does not detract from the interest of the legend.
The story of Antar is familiar to all natives of the Arabic
language. It is one of the chief sources of inspiration of Arab
pride. Born in slavery, Antar's ambition is to rise to the rank
of an Arab freeman. In this he is inspired by his great love for
his cousin Abla. All his great courage and superhuman strength
he directs to the attainment of this end. He is put to many
trials, from which he emerges victor, but his great quality is his
fidelity to his one and single love. He contemptuously spurns
the temptations of ease and luxury in the royal courts of AlMunzer, the Arab, and of Chosroe, the Persian, and elects to
return to his desert encampment to be near his beloved. Not
even slave girls of great beauty and accomplishments tempt
him, other than to make gifts of them to Abla. He finally
achieves his great desire and lives in happiness with his wife
for ten years, until an enemy whom he had blinded takes revenge by shooting him from ambush with a poisoned arrow.
The author of this popular version of the Romance of Antar may not be an Arabic scholar, and had to follow the translations of the legend as they exist in European languages. For
that reason those conversant with Arabic can readily excuse the
faults of transliteration of some Arabic names. Munzar, for
instance, could have been more properly spelled Munzir, or
Munzer. Milik does not faithfully reproduce the Arab sound
of Malek. This would appear essential in view of the fact that
innumerable references to Abla occur in Antar's poetry as the
Daughter of Malek, and a proper rendition of the original
sound would seem necessary, especially that this modern retelling of the Romance of Antar holds great promise of becoming
the popular book that it deserves to be.
On the whole, we believe Mrs. Tietjens efforts, even from
the critical viewpoint of one who has read the story in the
original Arabic, is admirable. She has brought into the recasting of it the art of a master in faithfulness to the main theme
and the recording of essential details. Her book is one that every
lover of Arabic lore should welcome for the sheer delight one
gets in reading it.
�THE SYRIAN WORLD
46
Spirit of the Syrian Press
Under this caption we hope to present from time to time a microcosmic
picture of the Arabic press, not only in this country, but wherever Arabic
dailies and magazines reflect the opinions of responsible, thinking writers
who are treating the different problems that confront the Arabic-speaking
world from all conceivable angles. Needless to say, we will take no part in
the discussions reproduced, nor assume any responsibility. Our task will
simply consist in selecting, to the best of our knowledge and with utmost
sincerity, what we think is representative of the public opinion as expressed
in these editorials.
Editor.
THE RIGHT OF THE
JEWS TO PALESTINE
For the Moslems, Christians and
Pagans in the East to persecute the
Jews is a shameful injustice. The
Jews, it is true, are not above reproach. Not every one of them is
a saint, nor are they, without exception, honest and exemplary of conduct. But what can be rightly said
of the Jews is that no other nation
of their size, beset as it is with
persecution and tribulations and
condemned to dispersal, has produced
as many and as illustrious men of
genius and talent in all branches
of science, philanthropy and the
arts.
Only ignorance, bigotry, laziness
and the selfish designs of the leaders are arrayed now in opposition
to the Jews because the latter have
succeeded in their work of reclamation and are laying plans for the
economic progress and prosperity of
the country. Honest, right-thinking
men cannot bear malice against a
people who are capable of doing
such constructive work. Only the
indolent and the wicked can harbor
such motives.
Civilization has an incontestable
right which cannot be overruled by
any right of possession. Otherwise
cannibals would be, even to our present day, the masters of vast territories, and nomads would be roaming
about with no respect for law and
order.
The Jews originally occupied the
Land of Promise by force, and after
them came the Westerners and then
the Arabs. It is by no other right
that the British now occupy the
country, and to us Easterners there
is a lesson in present conditions.
It is to our benefit to learn from
the people of the West their respect
for the law and their belief in firmness of policy, until such time that
we become fit for independence and
the Westerners w^ll then retrace
their steps and leave us to our
destiny. As conditions now stand,
they have complete right to require
that their neighbors be on a level
with them and conform to their
standards. This is in keeping with
our accepted axiom that city ordinances require inhabitants not to
disturb others cr trespass upon the
commonly prescribed rules of decency.
Al-Hoda, N. Y., Nov. 22, 1929.
�OCTOBER, 1929
ZIONISM EXPIRING
The wise among the Zionists are
now coming to believe that they
cannot expect peace in their promised national home in Palestine by
dependence on the English or the
use of force. Lord Balfour promised
them peace and security in the
Holy Land and they thought his
promise was sufficient in itself. Now
that they have discovered that they
cannot expect peace based upon unreasonable demands they have turned about face and decided to make
peace with the Arabs.
The Zionist id? a is now in the
throes of death. It has come to
this end because it does not deserve
to live. Its doom is due to the fact
that it ;s not based on a just cause,
condemning, as it does, one people
to replace it by another. If, therefore, the wise among the Zionists
are now seeking to "come to an understanding with the Arabs it is
because they have no other alternative open to them if they wish
at all to make of Palestine a sacred
home for themselves just as it is
now for the Moslems and the Christians.
As-Sayeh, N. Y., Nov. 23, 1929.
PAN-ARAB UNION
Recent dispatches from Palestine
indicate complete co-operation between Christians and Moslems in
national matters. Such developments are bound to bring joy to the
hearts of all those who wish the
prosperity and welfare of Arabicspeaking countries. This is particularly pleasing because of the fact
that those who now proclaim the
necessity of union and co-operation
are the same elements who previously declared that the Arab movement is primarily a Moslem'one.
47
Now that they have corrected their
stand and begun to see the futility
of their former views there is ground
for hope that the pan-Arab union
will be much advanced.
One pf the immediate results of
this change of policy is that the
Lebanese have declared themselves
heartily in support of the stand of
the Arabs of Palestine in spite of
the well-known policy of the Lebanese in upholding the French mandate and the administrative separation of Lebanon and Syria.
What has been the trouble is that
religious mistrust stood all along
in the way of consummating an
Arab union. But now that the Moslems are beginning to show signs of
toleration the Lebanese declare
themselves in hearty support of the
aspirations of their brother Arabs.
We may expect the realization of
the Arab union immediately there is
established true equality between
Christian and Moslem in the Near
East and there is absolute trust of
each faction in the other.
Syrian Eagle, N. Y., Nov. 8, 1929.
JEWISH NATIONAL HOME
The most recent statistics ind-'cate
that the total number of the Jews
in New York has reached 1,835,030
and that by next year their number
is expected to increase to over two
millions. This is approximately more
than one-third of the inhabitants
of the American metropolis.
Is it not cause for wonder that
ever since Lord Balfour made his
famous declaration the Jews are
straining every effort to usurp Palestine from the hands of its legitimate owners in order to establish
for themselves a homeland in that
country while their logical homeland
is here in the city of New York?
Can they not perceive that in this
�48
city they wield a power that is by
no means negligible and that they
here enjoy complete security of life,
property and trade?
The total number of the Jews in
Palestine does not exceed one hundred and fifty thousand, including
both the Arab Jews and those others
whom Zionist designs have inveigled into the country there to be the
adversaries of its people and the
disciples of aggression against the
right of every man in the possession
of his lawful property.
While the number of the Jews in
Palestine does not exceed one-fourth,
what right have they to claim a
right to the ownership of the whole
country, while in New York they
are almost a full third and they
here hesitate to exercise the privilege of ownership, although they are
here the most industrious, prosperous and respected element?
The wise among the Jews should
hold in check the ambitions of the
unruly element which seeks to establish a national homeland in Palestine which can never materialize,
and in the establishment of which
both their money and their lives
will be sacrificed in a vain effort to
accomplish the mad designs of their
leaders
As-Sayeh, N. Y., Nov. 14, 1929.
SYRIAN SOCIETIES IN AMERICA
Whosoever ponders the future of
Syrian immigrants in America realizes the imperative necessity of
combining all their societies and
clubs so that they may have an organized body to promote their interests and properly represent them.
Many societies have sprung in our
midst during the past which were
of local benefit and perhaps served
to do more harm than good. They
THE SYRIAN WORLD
did not have the proper objectives
in view and their failure was a foregone conclusion.
But the one organization that is
bound to bring genuine benefit to
the Syrian immigrants is that which
interests itself in the Syrians' affairs in this country instead of
abroad.
We must keep in view the obvious
truth that we have adopted this
country as our permanent home and
have acquired its citizenship. Consequently we have lost all political
rights or claims in either Palestine,
Lebanon or Syria. It behooves us,
therefore, to occupy ourselves with
the immediate interests that affect
our standing and welfare in this
country instead of living in the past.
What we urgently need is to work
for a Syrian-American federation of
all our clubs and societies to direct
our national affairs, while each individual organization retains freedom of action in all its local matters. This has been the procedure
of all other ethnic groups in America and it is time we follow in their
footsteps.
Ash-Shaab, N. Y., Nov. 6, 1929.
TOURISM IN LEBANON
The program of the Eddy Cabinet
discloses an earnest desire to encourage tourism and summering in
Lebanon. In its tentative budget it
has included a considerable sum to
be spent abroad for this purpose.
There is no gainsaying the statement that this policy is one of the
most constructive moves for the improvement of economic conditions in
Lebanon. But up to the present it
remains in the formative stage. And
there is the danger that what has
been practiced in the past will be
followed in this case also. A department would be set up to which would
1
�wmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmammammmmmmamMmxmMmtmmmmmam*
PAN-ARAB CONGRESS IN SESSION
Photo Al-Lataif
Delegates from all the Arab countries attended the congress held in
Jerusalem on October 27, 1929, to protest British policy and Zionist
designs in Palestine.
CONGRESS OF THE DESERT
Photo Al-Lataif
Nationalist leaders of Syria and Palestine who met at Wadi Sirhan
at the call of Sultan Pasha Atrash, who is indicated by figure (1) in
the center directly in front of tent pole.
�DRUZES IN WAR CONFERENCE
A typical scene at the Druze Headquarters during their revolt against the French in Syria in 1925-27.
�OCTOBER, 1929
be appointed a head receiving a large
salary, and under whom there would
be an army of petty officials, and
the matter would rest at that.
What is required of the government is to devise the means at the
same time it seeks the end. So far
all patrons of Lebanon's summer
resorts have been drawn from neighboring countries — Egypt, Palestine
and Iraq. While it is a known fact
that Americans, owing to their
enormous wealth, have become the
greatest tourists and travelers in
the world. To profit, therefore,
from the American tourist trade, the
Lebanese government should undertake an active propaganda in America to acquaint the American public
with the advantages of Lebanon's
climate, the greatness of the ruins
of Baalbek and Palmyra, the beauty
of the famous Cedars of Lebanon
and similar distinctive and exclusive
features.
Let the Lebanese government not
be deceived into the belief that the
French consuls can be depended upon
to undertake this necessary mission.
These officials know nothing of Lebanon and the Lebanese, or of Syria
and the Syrians, other that Syria
and Lebanon are under French
mandate.
The Lebanese government could
very well afford to curtail in some
of its unnecessary expenses to furnish funds for the promotion of this
vital matter.
Ash-Shaab, N. Y., Nov. 18, 1929.
CHANGING ARABIC
CHARACTERS
The Arabic press of Egypt has
given serious consideration to the
preposition of a Dutch scholar on
the adviBability of substituting the
Latin for the Arabic characters. We
cannot conceive of any valid reason
49
for such a change, inasmuch as
Arabic characters have long stood
the test of all requirements. Unless
there is a hidden design on the part
of Europeans to bring about a severance of the ties which bind the Moslems of all nationalities with their
sacred Book, Al-Qoran. If this be
the purpose then the proposition is
doomed to abject failure, because
the Moslems are too wise to be deceived by the subtle devices designed
to estrange them from their religion.
Es-Saada, Morocco, Sept. 28, 1929.
JEWISH LOGIC!
The Rev. Rabbi Stephen Wise of
New York accused the Christians of
being the instigators of the spirit
of dissension between Arabs and
Jews in Palestine, and went so far
as to say that if he were a Christian he would teach these troublemakers something of the true spirit
of Christianity which they seem to
lack.
Undoubtedly the Rev. Wise has in
mind the admonition of Christ to
His followers not to return injury
for injury. But why should he not
leave questions of religion aside
and confine himself to the single
question: By what right does an
alien people muster its forces
throughout the world to attack another people in their own land in an
attempt to take it away from them
under no other pretext than the
promise of an English statesman?
Or, if we were to put the question
in another form, we would say to
Rabbi Wise: Why should one people
be permitted to invade Palestine
with the might of England, and the
people of Palestine themselves be
prevented from defending their own
country by the combined power of
their Moslem and Christian elements ?
As-Sayeh, N. Y., Nov. 2, 1929.
�—
50
THE SYRIAN WORLD
Political Developments in Syria
Arab congress in Palestine protests Zionist aggression — French High
Commissioner Ponsot returns but is reticent on his plans —
New Lebanese cabinet still deliberating reform program.
Recent events in Palestine have
had the effect of rallying the Arabs
to the defense of their threatened
rights and of promoting a spirit of
unity between Moslems and Christians as never before. A call to a
pan-Arab congress to protest Zionist aggression was issued by the
Central Executive Committee and
the meeting held October 27. It was
attended by almost one thousand
delegates and prominent visitors
from the different Arabic-speaking
countries. At the conclusion of the
congress a Moslem imam and a
Christian priest embraced each other
publicly as a token of lasting amity
and union between the followers of
the two religions in defense of their
common cause.
The following are some of the
momentous decisions reached by the
congress:
1—Al Buraq, (the Wailing Wall)
is incontestable Moslem property,
being an integral part of the Mosque
Al-Aqsa, and cannot be subject to
controversy as to its ownership.
Moslems and Christians are of one
accord as to its status whether nationally or politically. Permission
for the Jews to visit it, providing
such is devoid of all ritual, paraphernalia or sound, is only an act
of toleration by the Moslems, and
whatever transgresses on the mode
of observance of this visit is plain
violation of the rights of the Arabs,
whether such violation be on the
psrt of the government or of the
Jews.
2—All sale of land to the Jews
is to be strictly prohibited: a boycott
of Jewish merchants is to be put
into effect, otherwise those of the
Arabs patronizing the Jews will
themselves be boycotted. Only the
purchase of land from the Jews is
sanctioned.
3—Inasmuch as the authorities
have shown themselves partial to
the Jews, the Arabs will adopt a
policy of passive resistance by the
non payment of taxes. A special
committee was appointed to further
study the causes of Arab grievances
for submission to the next session
of the congress.
4—The British High Commissioner in Palestine, Sir Chancellor, having displayed unmistaken partiality
towards the Jews by accusing the
Arabs of aggression and barbarism,
the congress strongly condemns this
unjust attitude on the part of the
High Commissioner and declares
the lack of confidence of the Arab
nation in him.
Other resolutions condemn unrestricted immigration, the retention
by the government of Mr. Bentwitch,
the public prosecutor, in spite of his
bias against the Arabs and his avowed pro-Zionist leanings; the use of
force in dealing with the Arab demonstrators in Damascus, and corporal
punishment of Arab pupils in the
schools of Nablus.
Recent developments in the Palestine situation indicate a change in
sentiment which bids fair to ag-
�OCTOBER, 1929
11
gravate the split in Zionist ranks
concerning the ultimate goal of
Zionism. It is a well-known fact
that Jewish settlement in Palestine
had been going on long before the
Balfour declaration, and no protest
to the movement was evinced on
the part of the Arabs. The appearance on the stage of aggressive
Zionism, and its striving to establish in the country a national home
for the Jews with a distinct political
status, aroused the Arabs to the
appreciation of the danger of the
situation especially when the Jews
began to flow into the country backed by almost unlimited funds. But
since the conflict of interest between
Arab and Jew began to manifest
itself in serious disturbances which
at times developed into bloody encounters, a certain element among
the Jews began to perceive the futility of the Zionist policy as it now
stands and to advocate a peaceful
understanding with the Arabs with
a view to establishing only a cultural center for the Jews in their
historic homeland. The most influential protagonist of this policy
among the Jews is Dr. Judah L.
Magnes, Chancellor of the Hebrew
University in Jerusalem, who was
reported in recent dispatches to
have declared himself in favor of
the establishment of a parliament
in Palestine as a solution of the
Arab-Jewish problem. He further
elaborated on his views by advocating the declaration of Palestine as
an international holy land, which
would entail the renunciation by the
Jews of all idea of political domination and the restricting of their
ambitions to the creation of a cultural center in the country. This
proposition, if finally adopted, would
serve as a basis for a permanent
understanding between Arabs and
Jews as the Arabs offer no objection
to the establishment of a Jewish
51
cultural center in Palestine providing the Zionists renounce their political designs.
As would be expected, the militant
Zionists in America and Europe
were loud in their denunciation of
the heretical proposals of Dr. Magnes, but it is plainly noticeable that
discussion of this saner course of
action in Zionist policy is being conducted with more frequency in Jewish organs while previously it was
an almost unanimous cry of revenge
and punishment against the Arabs.
The recent outbreaks in Palestine,
while rousing the Jews to great indignation at first, have served to
bring to the Jews a keener appreciation of the gravity of the situation of their brothers now struggling
against great odds to maintain themselves in a country overwhelmingly
Arab and hostile to their aspirations.
Sporadic assaults against the
Jews continue to take place in Palestine, but the authorities now seem
to have the situation well in hand
and to be conducting their investigation in an atmosphere of order.
The events of Palestine had their
repercussion in all the neighboring
Arabic-speaking countries. In Damascus there were great popular
demonstrations in which police interfered and were accused of having
assaulted the native editors taking
part in the march. This caused the
publishers of all the Damascus papers to suspend publication for a
day as an act of protest.
There were demonstrations also
in Beirut and the other principal
cities of Syria. Beirut newspapers
for Nov. 2, the anniversary of the
Balfour Declaration, carried a uniform protest in bold type expressing
the disapproval of the Arab nation
in all parts of the world of the Balfour Declaration and declaring that
this day would be observed every
�52
THE SYRIAN WORLD
year as a day of mourning so long Commissioner. When the latter exas the declaration remains unre- pressed surprise, mingled with admiration, according to some press
pealed.
Special action, however, was taken reports, at their action, their leader
by the Syrian Nationalists in the declared that "Not only are we
form of a memorandum presented ready to discard the veil, but to take
to the consuls of the foreign powers up arms and shed the last drop of
in Beirut for transmission to their our blood in defense of our country."
A delegation representing the
governments and to the League of
Nations. After explaining that the women demonstrators later waited
Balfour Declaration is at variance upon the foreign consuls to express
with the promise of Great Britain their grievances. They were said to
to the Arabs to create Syria an in- have been well received by the
dependent State of which Palestine American consul who is reported in
would be an integral part, and stat- the Arabic press as saying: "The
people who displays such patriotism
ing that the Jews are an alien race
constituting but a small minority in and whose women take such a decisive stand in defense of their rights
the country, the petitioners make
is unquestionably fit to take its place
the following demand:
"For the reasons advanced, the in the sun and to be granted its independence."
Syrian people demand that an end
The representative of the Arab
be put to direct English administration in Palestine at the earliest King Ibn Saoud in London was reopportunity and that the country be ported to have upheld the rights of
turned over to its own people that the Jews in Palestine, and when the
they may set up a parliamentary Syro-Palestinian Executive Commitgovernment in which Arabs and tee called this matter to the attenJews would be represented propor- tion of His Majesty he officially retionately. To this end we would ask plied that his stand cannot diverge
an immediate cessation of all ar- from the "traditional policy of Isbitrary methods designed to carry lam as regards other religions
out a promise which is impossible which preceded it" and that he
of fulfillment so long as Moslems shall continue in the future as he
and Christians throughout the world had in the past to share with the
are determined to oppose such an Arabs of Palestine their ambitions
unjust policy to the bitter end with and aspirations.
all means at the command of the
INCREASE IN POLITICAL
> Arab race."
ACTIVITY IN SYRIA
The signers of the memorandum,
all members of the Constituent AsM. Henri Ponsot, French High
sembly from Damascus, are Zaki
Commissioner
in Syria, arrived in
Khateeb, Said Gazzi, Faiz Khoury,
Beirut on the 25th of October travAhmad Lahham and Lutfi Hajjar.
eling overland by way of Egypt
Concurrent with the convocation
of the Arab congress, the women and Palestine. While in Jerusalem
of Palestine took the unprecedented he had a long conference with the
course of holding a public demon- British High Commissioner Sir John
Chancellor. His arrival in Beirut
stration of protest against the Balwas
unheralded and unostentatious,
four Declaration, wherein they apand he immediately went into conpeared unveiled, and in such condition waited upon the British High ference with M. Tetrau, who WM
�WBHHritonHBHMVH
MMpBHnnpMM
OCTOBER, 1929
acting High Commissioner during
his absence.
M. Ponsot's aversion to public
statements is well-known. Ever since
his return he has refused to give
any statement to the press or to
make any public declaration. But a
French journalist of Egypt reports
having interviewed him during his
stop at Alexandria and elicited
from him the information that
France holds no objection to the
establishment of a monarchy in
Syria if that be the wish of the
population. The High Commissioner
is also reported to have guardedly
stated that he has reached a complete agreement with the Foreign
Office on the future policy of France
in Syria and that he is now in a
position to offer all the assistance
needed for the progress of the country whether financially or technically.
Some observers are inclined to deduce
from the attitude of M. Ponsot that
he is now in a position to inaugurate
a more liberal policy in respect to
the Syrian question and that the
solution, according to his reported
statement, "is nearer than many are
inclined to think."
The Syrian Nationalists bestirred
themselves to greater activity following the return of M. Ponsot and
their leaders held several conferences both in Damascus and Beirut.
Their deliberations resulted in the
preparation of a memorandum which
they presented to M. Ponsot on November 1st and which may be summarized as follows:
"While welcoming your return
we wish to call your attention to
the fact that we have acted on you.suggestion embodied in a letter to
the President of the Constituent Assembly and that we have suffered
the suspension of the Assembly
three times in the hope of reaching
an amicable agreement with the
French Government. Our amicable
S3
intentions are proven by our baring
maintained a quiet atmosphere for
the orderly conduct of the negotiations leading to an understanding.
This understanding, we wish to affirm, can be reached only on the
basis of recognizing Syria's sovereignty and independence and the establishment of treaty relations
similar to those pursued in the case
of Iraq."
SITUATION IN LEBANON
Although the program of Prime
Minister Emile Eddy has not yet
been published, it is understood to
recommend drastic methods of administrative economy by the abolishment of over four hundred offices said to be created for sinecures
and constituting a drain on the resources of the government. Already
a loud cry has been raised against
such action and the Prime Minister
may be compelled to alter his stand.
Lissan-Ul-Hal, one of the most influential papers in Beirut, affirms
that 66 per cent, of the government
revenue is now being spent in salaries, leaving only 34 per cent, for
all other public needs. The complaint of the objectors is that throwing four hundred government employees out of employment at once
will serve to aggravate the economic
difficulties of the country.
CONGRESS OF THE DESERT
On September 26 Sultan Pasha
Atrash, leader of the Druze revolt
of 1925-27, issued a call to all Syrian parties and political bodies to a
conference to be held at his desert
exile in Wadi Sirhan on October 25,
for the purpose of dscussing the
present political situation in Syria
and Palestine. The conference was
well attended and passed the following resolutions:
�—
I.I
i
in
.1 .1,1.,.
mi.
THE SYRIAN WORLD
54
1 .Disapproval of the present administrative division of Syria.
2—Adherence to the original national demands.
3—Protest against present conditions in Palestine and condemnation of Zionist propaganda in favor of a Jewish homeland.
4—A call for understanding and cooperative action among the
various Syrian political bodies.
6—A protest against the policy of
M. Ponsot, French High Commissioner in Syria, especially
his dissolution of the Constituent Assembly.
6—A call for funds of which a part
is to be used for propaganda
and publicity and the balance
devoted to succor the needy
among the refugees and exiles.
7—Expression of thanks to former
contributors.
!
About Syria and Syrians
RIHANI IN DEMAND
AS PUBLIC SPEAKER
The gifted Syrian author and
speaker, Ameen Rihani, is no
stranger to the United States. He
was well known in American literary circles long before he chose to
return to his native town of Freike,
in historic Lebanon, to lead the life
that best suited h's creative literary
proclivities. Now that he is visiting the United States he is being
hailed as an apostle of better understanding between East and West,
and his profound knowledge of Near
Eastern affairs gained during his
extensive travels in Arab countries
as well as his intimate contacts with
rulers and political and cultural
leaders, is being drawn upon for the
enlightenment of the American public. He has already spoken extensively under the auspices of the
Foreign Policy Association which
has arranged for him a program
that will eventually take him to all
parts of the country.
On November 20 Mr. Rihani spoke
at the Cosmopolitan Club in New
York on the countries under mandate in the Near East. He had just
returned from a lecture tour which
took him to Boston, Hartford,
Springfield, Philadelphia, Elmira,
Chicago and other points west.
While in Chicago he spoke at the
University of Chicago and at a meeting of the Council of Foreign Relations. His audiences on all occasions were drawn from the highest
intellectual classes.
One of Mr. Rihani's principal
subjects is the attitude of the Arabs
towards the Zionist question. He has
written extensively on this topic in
the Nation, Current History and
other publications.
I
LEBANESE GOVERNMENT
TO HELP EMIGRANTS
The Lebanese press reports that
the government is in receipt of information to the effect that there
are now in America eight thousand
Lebanese emigrants in distress and
anxious to return to their native
land. The government had previously appropriated about four thousand
dollars for the return of those of
its nationals unable to earn a living abroad, which sum it is now
willing to spend to repatriate those
i
�OCTOBER, 1929
wanting to return and to make further appropriations if necessary.
Three thousand of these Lebanese
are said to be in Brazil, and two
thousand in Argentina, while the
rest are in various other countries.
Commenting on this news, AlHoda of New York, reiterates its
disapproval of the action of the
Lebanese government remarking
that if there be any Lebanese unable
to earn a living in America he would
be so indolent as not to be worth
the expense for his repatriation.
TRAGEDY IN SYRIAN
NEWSPAPER OFFICE
The Syrian newspaper Ar-Raid,
of Sao Paolo, Brazil, had been publishing scurrilous inuendos which a
Syrian merchant of that city, Toufik Khoury, born in Beirut, fancied
were directed at him.
On the afternoon of October 28
Khoury visited the office of Ar-Raid
demanding an explanation, and during an altercation with the editor,
Najeeb Constantine, was shot by the
latter three times and instantly
killed.
Constantine made his escape during the confusion and so far has
not been apprehended.
Al-Hoda of New York states that
this is the fourth murder committed
by Constantine, who is also wanted
in the United States for a murderous assault on one of his countrymen.
SYRIAN WOMEN HOLD
ANNUAL CONVENTIONS
Ever since 1924, the Federation of
Syrian Women's Societies composed
of twenty-nine units, has been meeting in annual conventions to determine the Syrian woman's role in
influencing national life.
55
The Syrian press reports that the
Federation has issued a call for the
1930 convention in which it has
mapped out an ambitious program
composed of three main divisions,
namely: emigration, the family and
economics.
One of the interesting recommendations under the first title is
to combat emigration tendencies by
the promotion of a spirit of selfrespect and love for productive labor
together with the encouragement of
home industries and the fostering
of the spirit of co-operation and
collective action.
la the economic field, one of the
principal recommendations is for
the Syrian people to depend less on
emigrant remittances, otherwise
funds from America, because of the
harmful effects this dependence is
having on the attitude of the people
towards productive work and selfsupport. This admission, on the face
of it, indicates an earnest determination on the part of the Syrian people,
as represented by the attitude of its
women, to bravely face actualities
and work out their own destiny independently. '
SYRIAN WORLD EDITOR
SPEAKS ON HIS TRIP
Following his return from his trip
to Syria, the editor of The Syrian
World is being repeatedly called
upon to give talks on his experiences and observations abroad to
both American and Syrian audiences.
The latter part of November was
particularly crowded with speaking
engagements. On the afternoon of
Saturday, the 23rd, he spoke to a
large group of the Professional
Women's Mission Club of Peddie
Memorial Church of Newark and
their friends at the hall of the Bowling Green Neighborhood Associa-
�56
tion. The meeting waB under the
auspices of the Rev. Clarence V.
Howell, founder of the Reconciliation Trips movement, and Mrs. S.
Willard Coleman of Newark.
That same evening the editor
spoke under the auspices of the
Lebanon League of Progress of New
York to a large Syrian and Lebanese
audience at the Brooklyn Academy
of Music.
Sunday evening, November 24, he
addressed an audience of over five
hundred Syrian and Lebanese in
Paterson, N. J., meeting under the
auspices of the Lebanese Society of
that city. Mr. N. A. Mokarzel, editor of Al-Hoda, acted as chairman.
Monday, the 25th, an interview
with Miss Teresa Nagel broadcast
over station WPCH was designed
to give general information about
Syria, its historical interest, the
sU.tus of its women and other subjects of interest to the American
public.
LEBANON LEAGUE OF N. Y.
GIVES ENTERTAINMENT
The Lebanon League of Progress
of New York gave a musicale and
entertainment at the Brooklyn
Academy of Music on November 23
which drew a large attendance both
from the city and nearby towns.
Mr. N. Hatem presided. The principal speakers were S. A. Mokarzel
who gave an account of his observations in Syria and A. Rustum who
delivered an original poem composed
for the occasion.
Zaki Murad, a noted Egyptian
singer, gave several selections. He
was assisted by his brother Meyer
Murad and a native orchestra composed of Fethalla Abyad, Zaki Baz,
Sami Rumieh and Mike Hamaway.
Mrs. Fedora Corban sang the Indian
THE SYRIAN WORLD
Bells from Lakmee and The Garden
of Your Heart. Mrs. Julia Asia gave
several classical Arabic songs to
oud accompaniment by her uncle,
Bishara Hallal. Miss Rasheede Baabdati performed an Oriental danse.
PROPOSED STATUE OF
JOSEPH BEY KARAM
Joseph Bey Karam, the foremost
Lebanese patriot of the nineteenth
century, was a native of Ehden, in
northern Lebanon. He died in exile
in Italy but his body was brought
back to his native town where it
now reposes in the principal church.
His memory is invoked in Lebanon
as an inspiration to patriotism.
Natives of Ehden in the United
States have formed a committee to
collect funds for the erection of a
statue to Joseph Bey Karam. Already a sum of over $4,500 has been
realized. Al-Hoda, the influential
Lebanese paper of New York, is supporting the movement.
MOSLEM MOSQUE IN
THE UNITED STATES
According to an announcement in
Al-Bayan, an Arabic paper published in New York, the Moslem colony
of Ross N. D., is planning the erection of a mosque in their town on
which build:ng operations will start
this coming spring. A committee
has been formed to prosecute the
work and an appeal issued for the
collection of funds from all the Arab
settlements in the United States.
Al-Bayan strongly supports the
project and calls on its readers to
contribute generously towards its
realization, promising to publish a
full list of the names of the contributors and the amounts of their
contributions.
�57
OCTOBER, 1929
STATEMENT OF THE OWNERSHIP, MANAGEMENT, CIRCULATION
of The Syrian World, published monthly at New York, N. Y., Oct. 1st, 1929.
STATE OF NEW YORK
COUNTY OF NEW YORK.
Before me, a Notary Public, in and for the state and county aforesaid,
personally appeared Salloum A. Mokarzel, who, having been duly sworn
according to law, deposes and says that 'he is the publisher of The Syrian
World, and that the following is, to the best of his knowledge and belief,
a true statement of the ownership, management (and if a daily paper, the
circulation), etc., of the aforesaid publication for the date shown in the
above caption, required by the Act of August 24, 1921, embodied in section
411, Postal Laws and Regulations, printed on the reverse of this form, to wit:
1. That the names and addresses of the publisher, editor, managing
editor, and business managers are:
Name of—
Post office address—
Publisher, Salloum A. Mokarzel,
104 Greenwich Street.
Editor, Salloum A. Mokarzel,
104 Greenwich Street.
Managing Editor, Salloum A. Mokarzel,
104 Greenwich Street.
Business Managers, Salloum A. Mokarzel,
104 Greenwich Street.
2. That the owner is: (If owned by a corporation, its name and address
must be stated and also immediately thereunder the names and addresses
of stockholders owning or holding one per cent, or more of total amount of
stock. If not owned by a corporation, the names and addresses of the individual owners must be given. If owned by a firm, company or other unincorporated concern, its name and address, as well as those of each individual
member, mhst be given.)
Salloum A. Mokarzel,
104 Greeswich Street.
3. That the known bondholders, mortgagee, and other security holders owning or holding 1 per cent, or more of total amount of bonds, mortgages, or other securities are: (If there are none, so state.) None.
4. That the two paragraphs next above, giving the names of the owners, stockholders, security holders, if any, contain not only the list of
stockholders and security holders as they appear upon the books of the
company but also, in cases where the stockholder or security holder appears
upon the books of the company as trustee or in any other fiduciary relation,
the name of the person or corporation for whom such trustee is acting is
given; also that the said two paragraphs contain statements embracing affiant's full knowledge and belief as to the circumstances and conditions under which stockholders and security holders who do not appear upon the
books of the company as trustees, hold stock and securities in a capacity
other than that of a bona fide owner; and this affiant has no reason to believe that any other person, association, or corporation has any interest
direct or indirect in the said stock, bonds, or other securities than as so
stated by him.
5. That the average number of copies of each issue of this publication
sold or distributed, through the mails or otherwise, to paid subscribers during the six months preceding the date shown above is.
(This information is required from daily publications only.)
S. A. Mokarzel.
Sworn to and subscribed before me this 14th day of October, 1929.
[SEAL]
EDNA M. HUCKER,
(My commission expires March 30, 1930.)
I
�A VALUABLE GIFT
TO SUBSCRIBERS OF THE SYRIAN WORLD
We wish to double the number of our subscribers before
Christmas.
THE SYRIAN WORLD will be better than it has ever been before, and we would like to see it more generally circulated among
the Syrians of America. Our regular subscribers who have loyally
stood by us and encouraged us in our efforts during the past three
years need no inducement. But to those who have not yet had occasion to be acquainted with the publication, and to those who are
willing to co-operate in enlarging its circulation, we make the
following liberal introductory offer:
Every -paid subscriber making a gift of a subscription, or frocuring a new direct subscription, will receive free any one of the
books listed below. For every additional subscription he receives
an additional book.
Think of the opportunity of securing free one or more of
these fine books by two of our foremost authors. Think of the
timeliness of making gift subscriptions of THE SYRIAN WORLD to
your fn
during the Qhristmas season and securingfor vourself a free fine gift besides. Especially that the gifts are books
that all Syrians should be proud to possess.
BOOKS GIVEN SYRIAN WORLD SUBSCRIBERS
The books we are offering as prizes are the following:
The Syrians in America — By Dr. Philip K. Hitti.
The Path of Vision, A book of Prose — By Ameen Rihani.
A Chant of Mystics and Other Poems, A book of Selected Poetry,
By Ameen Rihani.
Here is a wide range of subjects for your selection—History,
Essays and Poetry. And each or all are yours for only the little
effort of procuring a new subscriber.
Besides, you have the satisfaction of helping propagate an
organ published for you and your cause.
Won't you show your interest?
�
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
The Syrian World Newspapers
Description
An account of the resource
<h4>Biographical/Historical Note</h4>
<p>Salloum Mokarzel, a Lebanese American intellectual, founded<em> The Syrian World</em> in 1926. Salloum Mokarzel was the younger brother of Naoum Mokarzel, the publisher of the Arabic-language newspaper <em>Al-Hoda. </em>Together, the Mokarzel brothers ran Al-Hoda Publishing, and in 1909, they published <em>The Syrian Business Directory.</em> </p>
<p>Mokarzel created <em>The Syrian World</em> in order to document and celebrate the culture and history of "Syria." At the time, Syria referred to the modern-day countries of Lebanon, Syria, Jordan, Israel, and Palestine. The publication was primarily aimed towards second-generation children of immigrants, but Mokarzel hoped that it would also appeal to the general American public.</p>
<h4>Scope/Content Note</h4>
<p><em>The Syrian World</em> was published between 1926 and 1932 as a journal. In 1932, the format was changed from an academic journal style to a newspaper style, which continued until the periodical's end in 1935. After the death of his brother Naoum, Salloum took over the publication of <em>Al-Hoda.</em></p>
<p>The articles in <em>The Syrian World</em> cover a variety of topics spanning from the practical to the theoretical. Practical subjects include international and domestic travel, historical and contemporary Arabic and Arab-American art and literature, and the mental and physical health and hygiene of immigrants. More theoretical, philosophical, and ideological subjects include ideologies of race, the changing role of women, the formation of Syrian and Lebanese-American societies, and the political and psychological relationships between immigrants and their countries of origin.</p>
<p>All issues of <em>The Syrian World</em> are available, along with full indexes for the first four volumes. For volumes five and six, there are tables of contents at the start of the issues.</p>
Subject
The topic of the resource
Arabs--United States
Arabic periodicals
Newspapers
Arab American Newspapers
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
Salloum A. Mokarzel
Source
A related resource from which the described resource is derived
New York Public Library
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
Moise A. Khayrallah Center for Lebanese Diaspora Studies
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1926-1935
Relation
A related resource
<em><a href="http://lebanesestudies.omeka.chass.ncsu.edu/collections/show/41" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Syrian Business Directory</a></em>
<a href="http://lebanesestudies.omeka.chass.ncsu.edu/collections/show/44" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Mokarzel Family Papers</a>
<a href="http://hdl.handle.net/11299/175685" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Annotated Index to the Syrian World, 1926-1932</a> at the University of Minnesota Immigration History Research Center Archives
<a href="https://lebanesestudies.omeka.chass.ncsu.edu/collections/show/58" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><em>Al-Hoda Newspapers</em></a>
Language
A language of the resource
English
Contributor
An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource
Processed by Claire A. Kempa, 2015-2017. Collection Guide written by Claire A. Kempa, 2017.
Collection Guide updated by Laura Lethers, 2023 August.
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
The donor retains full ownership of any copyright and rights currently controlled. Nonexclusive right to authorize uses of these materials for non-commercial research, scholarly, or other educational purposes are granted to Khayrallah Center pursuant to U.S. Copyright Law. Usage of the materials for these purposes must be fully credited with the source. The user assumes full responsibility for any use of the materials.
These materials are digital copies of an original resource held by another institution. The KCLDS Archive often works with other institutions to make digital materials available online to the public. KCLDS is not able to grant permission to use or reproduce these materials. The KCLDS Archive strongly encourages users to contact the holding institution for permission to use or reproduce materials from their holdings.
Identifier
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NS 0002
Access Rights
Information about who can access the resource or an indication of its security status. Access Rights may include information regarding access or restrictions based on privacy, security, or other policies.
This digital material is provided here for non-commercial research, scholarly, or other educational purposes pursuant to U.S. Copyright Law.
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Identifier
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TSW1929_10reducedWM
Title
A name given to the resource
The Syrian World Volume 04, Issue 02
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1929 October
Description
An account of the resource
Volume 4 Issue 02 of The Syrian World published October 1929. The issue begins with Rev. W. A. Mansur's essays on the Syrians' needs in the United States. Ameen Rihani recounts his experiences while in Jeddah, giving a clear account of circulating boons. This is followed by the account of Salloum A. Mokarzel's experiences and observations in Lebanon after spending 30 years of his life away from his homeland. William Catzeflis is featured next for his discussion on the Zionist movement in relation to the Voltaire’s writings. This is followed by a poem by Sumayeh Attiyeh titled "An Ideal." John A. La Eace then presents his short story titled "The Smile of Death," an original reworking of an Arabic classic. Labeebee A. J. Hanna is featured yet again in this issue for her poem titled "Edwin." The issue concludes with excerpts from the Arab press and more on the political developments in Syria.
Subject
The topic of the resource
Arabic literature--History and criticism--Periodicals
Arabs--United States--Periodicals
Lebanese-Americans--United States--Periodicals
Language
A language of the resource
English
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
Salloum A. Mokarzel
Syrian-American Press
Source
A related resource from which the described resource is derived
New York Public Library
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
Moise A. Khayrallah Center for Lebanese Diaspora Studies
Coverage
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104 Greenwich St., New York, NY
Format
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Text/pdf
Type
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Text
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
The donor retains full ownership of any copyright and rights currently controlled. Nonexclusive right to authorize uses of these materials for non-commercial research, scholarly, or other educational purposes are granted to Khayrallah Center pursuant to U.S. Copyright Law. Usage of the materials for these purposes must be fully credited with the source. The user assumes full responsibility for any use of the materials.
1920s
Ameen Rihani
Labeebee A.J. Hanna
New York
Poetry-English
Reverend W.A. Mansur
Saudi Arabia
Travel
-
https://lebanesestudies.omeka.chass.ncsu.edu/files/original/f9f1fd66a443fca13af9c7892a8911ba.pdf
0eb2ee819b9e6d3012e78ffa27eb34f4
PDF Text
Text
VOL. IV. No. 6.
FEBRUARY, 1930
|
THE
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SYRIAN WORLD
A
MONTHLY MAGAZINE IN ENGLISH DEALING
WITH SYRIAN AFFAIRS AND ARABIC LITERATURE
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AR-RAZI AND HIS MILLENIAL CELEBRATION
DR. F. I. SHATARA
II
1
A DISCIPLE IN NOMADISM AND WISDOM
AMEEN RIHANI
THE OLD CRIMINAL
RAJAH F. HOWRANI
1
FROM THE DOG RIVER TO THE CEDARS
SALLOUM A. MOKAKZEL
MAGGIE AND JOE (A SHORT STORY)
LABEEBEE A. J. HANNA
THE COPY 50c
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�THE
SYRIAN WORLD
Tublished monthly by
SALLOUM
A.
THE SYRIAN-AMERICAN PRESS
MOKARZEL,
Editor.
104 Greenwich St., New York, N. Y.
By subscription $5.00 a year.
Single copies 50c.
Entered as second-class matter June 25, 1926, at the post office at New
York, N. Y., under the act of March 3, 1879.
FEBRUARY, 1930
VOL. IV. No. 6.
CONTENTS
PAGE
A r-Razi and His Millenial Celebration
DR.
F. I.
7
SHATARA
While Mortal (Poem)
13
DR. SALIM
Y.
ALKAZIN
A Disci-pie in Nomadism and Wisdom
14
AMEEN RIHANI
Song of a Homesick Man (Poem)
21
NAT LA SABE
The Old Criminal
RAJA
;
F.
HOWRANI
Tears (Poem)
29
R. A.
I—w_-
22
NICHOLSON
�urn inn wini,
i
CONTENTS (Continued)
PAGE
From the Dog River to the Cedars
SALLOUM
A.
30
MOKARZEL
CO
Maggie and Joe (Short Story)
LABEEBEE
A. J.
39
HANNA
To My Father (Poem)
LABEEBEE
S
44
A. J.
HANNA
t!
Editorial Comment
45..
Spirit of the Syrian Press
47
Political Developments in Syria
51
About Syria and Syrians
54
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ILLUSTRATIONS IN THIS ISSUE
General View of the Dog River
Showeir and its Heights
The Dog River Park
The Solitary House at the Dog River
A General View of Beit Shabah
The Hub of Ehden
The Spring of St. Sarquis
c
a
t
F
c
�IN THIS ISSUE
)
V
DR. FUAD SHATARA should prove most helpful to
contributes to this issue an ap- those who would be initiated
preciation of the eminent Arab into the intimate life of the
physician Ar-Razi apropos of country, or those contemplating
the proposition to celebrate his a future visit to that interesting
millenial anniversary. It is re- land. * * * LABEEBEE A. J.
freshing to learn through the HANNA contributes an origbiography of Ar-Razi of the inal short story that deals with
substantial contributions of the a phase of Syrian life in AmerArabs to medical science even ica and is quite original in its
as far as a thousand years back, treatment. Her additional conAnd the account is by no means tribution of a poem will be
scientifically dull—on the con- found of extremely tender aptrary, it is of a happy, facile peal. * * * RAJA F. HOWRAstyle and abounds with anec- NI translates from the Arabic
dotes. *** AMEEN RIHANI a treatise entitled "The Old
gives us another delightful Criminal" by the foremost
chapter of his eventful travels Arabic woman writer, Mary Ziand describes in his present con- adah. The theme is based on a
tribution some of his rare ex- radical method of reasoning and
periences in Jeddah. The read- affords much material for
er is here introduced to a novel thought. Mr. Howrani is at
Prayer Club, the like of which present a student at Columbia
is possible only in Arabia. The University. * * * DR. SALIM
author further gives a most en- ALKAZIN gives various reatertaining account of a conver- sons for enjoying being mortal
sation he had with the Arab in a charming poem.* * * NAJKing, in which His Majesty LA SABE, a new contributor of
cites many heretofore unknown Brooklyn, echoes the song of a
reasons for 'Allah's especial fa- homesick man in the delicate
vors to Arabia. *** THE EDI- feeling of a young girl. * * *
TOR takes us on another leg of Other departments will be
his travels in Lebanon. In this found unusually interesting.
installment he covers the disJOIN
tance from the Dog River to
THE GREAT
the Cedars and describes many
SYRIAN WORLD
interesting places on the way.
CONTEST
This series of travel articles
�mg/m
Great Syrian
For a FREE TRIP to
I
I
\
The editor of THE SYRIAN WORLD having made a trip to Syria in j
the summer of 1929, which he is now describing in a series of articles in
the magazine, came to realize not only the great educational and cultural
advantages of such a trip, but its unrivalled possibilities for pleasure and
recreation. In our enthusiasm for the benefits of such tours, we decided to '
offer one as a prize to our readers. This is on a par with the most liberal
offers made by the biggest American publications, whose readers are hun^
drede of thousands and even millions. Needless to say that this is unprecedented in the history of Arabic journalism, whether in America or abroad.^
THE SYRIAN WORLD, in making the great prize offer in spite of
the heavy sacrifice involved, considers that in so doing it is promoting the
cause of sympathetic understanding of the motherland. This is in keeping
with the main object behind the publication of the magazine. Whether the
winner be a boy or girl, American or Syrian, the purpose would have beerit
served by the actual contacts established with the great scenic beauties}
and places of immense historical interest in our country of origin.
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�IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT
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QWING to the appreciation by the public of our liberal offer
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�THE
SYRIAN WORLD
FEBRUARY, 1930
VOL. IV. No. 6.
Ar-Razi and His Millenial
Celebration
I
By
DR.
F. I.
SHATARA
AL MUKTATAF, one of the leading Arabic magazines published in Egypt, has arbitrarily set January 30, 1930, as a date
for celebrating the passing of one thousand years since the death
of the famous Arab physician Ar-Razi, and has called upon the
Egyptian Medical Society, the Arab Academy of Damascus, and
other scientific and medical organizations throughout the Arabicspeaking world to consecrate that date in memoriam of Ar-Razi,
and to send in scientific contributions describing his life and works.
In the December issue of the same magazine is published a splendid lecture on Ar-Razi delivered before the Arab Academy of
Damascus last October by Dr. Joseph Faraj Hiraiz.
In view of this, the Editor of THE SYRIAN WORLD has accorded me the honor of asking me to review the life and accomplishments of this famous physician. I do this gladly but with
the understanding that I am unable to contribute anything original to what has already been written, and with the hope that his
life may be another reminder to the Syrians in America of their
rich heritage, and a stimulus to them to emulate his by contributing their share to the upbuilding of culture, learning and civilization of the land of their adoption.
Abu Bakr Mohammad ibn Zakariyya was born at Ray, near
Taharan in Persia, so that he, like many of the scholars of his
day, was an Arab culturally though not racially. The surname
Ar-Razi or Rhazes is derived from the name of his birthplace.
He was probably the greatest and most original of all the Moslem physicians and one of the most prolific as an author. He
stands in sharp contrast with Avicenna, for Avicenna was a better
�«=*****
8
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THE SYRIAN WORLD
philosopher than physician, while Ar-Razi was a better physician
than philosopher. (Browne).
There is some uncertainty about the date of his birth and it
can only be guessed at by computing from the date of his death,
which is somewhat less uncertain, occurring probably in the year
923 A. D.
Ar-Razi spent most of his life in Persia and was first interested in music, finance and other pursuits and did not take up
medicine until the age of 40. His interest in medicine was aroused
by visits to the Adudi Hospital in Bagdad, and conversations with
an old druggist who informed him that the first herb medicinally
used was accidentally discovered along a river bank by a descendant of Aesculapius who had suffered from inflammation of
his arms. On a subsequent visit to the Hospital, he beheld a fetal
monster with one head and two faces, and this aroused his curiosity and interest in medicine.
One of his principal teachers in medicine was Ali ibn Rabban
of Tabbaristan, whose father Rabban was either a Christian or
a Jew, probably the latter. Ali, according to Al-Qifty, embraced
Islam after he entered the service of the Caliph Al-Mutawakkil.
He is the author of Firdaws-ul-Hikmat—the "Paradise of Wisdom", a treatise on medicine and philosophy which was probably
used as a text by Ar-Razi.
Shortly after completing his medical studies his ability was
recognized and his fame spread rapidly. He was made physician
in chief to the hospital at Ray, where large clinics were held by
him and his pupils, and his pupils' pupils. Every patient who
reported to the clinic was first examined by the latter, and if the
case proved too difficult for them it was passed on to the Master's immediate pupils, and finally, if necessary, to the Master
himself.
Subsesuently Ar-Razi became physician in chief to the Adudi
Hospital in Bagdad, which received the name of the great Adudu'd-Dawla. Here exists some confusion, for this ruler's reign
extended from 949 to 982 A. D., long after the probable date
of Ar-Razi's death. Ibn Abi Usaybia states that when Ar-Razi
was asked to select the most suitable site for the Bagdad Hospital
he caused pieces of meat to be hung in different quarters of the
city, and selected the section where they showed the least signs
of decomposition. Another writer, Kamal-ud-Din Abi-Turab,
states that in selecting the physician in chief to the Bagdad Hos-
h
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FEBRUARY, 1930
pital, Adudu'd-Dawla resorted to a process of elimination and
had a list prepared of about one hundred of the most famous
physicians. Out of this list he selected fifty according to ability
and skill, and out of the fifty he picked fifteen, and then three,
and out of these chose Ar-Razi.
It is agreed by all biographers that Ar-Razi's code of medical ethics was of the highest standard. Thus Ali Ibn Ridwan, an
Egyptian, states that the most befitting description of his standard of ethics is that contained in the Hippocratic Code, namely
"that the physician shall be more interested in curing disease than
in obtaining reward; in treating the poor more than in treating
the rich; and that he should diligently pursue learning and devote
himself to the benefit of others."
Ibn Abi Usaybia, in describing Ar-Razi, says:—"He was intelligent, kindly to the sick, diligent in curing their ailments,
persistent in his search into the mysteries of medicine and other
sciences, and spent most of his spare time in reading and having
a friend read to him the writings of Hippocrates, Galen and
others."
The Editor of the Fihrist states:—"He was the man of his
day and age, who possessed the knowledge of the ancients,
especially in medicine. He traveled about the country and was
very friendly with Al-Mansur, in whose honor he wrote his
book Al-Mansuri."
He was described by a native of Ray as "an old man with a
large drooping head, who sat among his pupils to whom patients
reported, and never interrupted unless the case was too difficult
for them. He was generous, virtuous and sympathetic."
He became blind toward the end of his life from a cataract
and refused to undergo an operation on the ground that he desired to see no more of a world with which he was disgusted and
disillusioned. (Browne). As contributing causes to his blindness
it is stated by some that he was hit on the head by a patron to
whom he dedicated one of his works on alchemy when he refused
to put his theories into practice by the actual production of gold.
Others ascribe his blindness to the excessive eating of beans of
which he was very fond. For this there is no medical justification.
There is less uncertainty about Ar-Razi's writings than about
other phases of his life. The Fihrist enumerates 113 major and
28 minor works by him, besides two poems. Browne states that
of his many monographs the most celebrated is his well-known
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THE SYRIAN WORLD
treatise on small-pox and measles first published in the Arabic
original with a Latin translation by Channing (London, 1766).
Of this a Latin translation had already appeared in Venice in
1565 and an English version by Greenhill was published by the
Sydenham Society in 1848. This tract was formerly known as
"de Peste" or "de Pestilentia" and, as Neuberger says, "on every
hand and with justice, it is regarded as an ornament to the medical
literature of the Arabs."
Other monographs of Ar-Razi were on stone in the bladder
and kidney, on gout and rheumatism, and on colic. He gave a
description of spina ventosa, spina bifida, hernia and its treatment, and other surgical topics, borrowing largely from Hippocrates, Aetios and Paulos of Aegina. For cancer he advised
against excision unless the disease was limited, in which case the
entire mass affected should be removed. For bites of rabid animals he prescribed the cautery.
He added several chemical preparations to the category of
official medicines. Among these were orpiment, blue and green
vitriol and borax. (Wilder).
He wrote an entertaining work on the success of charlatans
and quacks in securing a popularity often denied to the competent and properly qualified physician.
Of his major works on medicine, the best known are the Jami
or compendium, the Kan or sufficient, the Lesser and Greater
Madkhal or introduction, the Muluki or royal, the Fakhir or
splendid, the Mansuri or Liber Almansoris, dedicated to AlMansur, one of the kings of Khorasan, and the Hawi or Continens. Unfortunately, the Hawi has never been published in the
original and what exist are translations of some of its volumes,
three of which are in the British Museum, three in the Bodleian,
four or five in the Escorial and others at Munich and Petrograd.
The Fihrist enumerates 12 volumes while the Latin translations
contain 25. On account of its enormous size, and the mass of details it contained, The Hawi appalled the most industrious copyists and was beyond the reach of all save the most wealthy bibliophiles, so that Ali Abbas tells us that in his day he only knew of
two complete copies.
There are many accounts and various valuable observations
by Ar-Razi depicting his skill in the art of medicine. The following case reported in Kitabul Faraj ba'da Shedda (book of
relief after distress) is typical.—A young man of Bagdad came
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FEBRUARY, 1930
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to him seeking relief for vomiting blood. After careful examination no cause for this malady could be determined and the patient
was in despair, believing that where Rhazes failed no one could
succeed. Rhazes, touched alike by his faith and his distress, proceeded to question him carefully and found that he had drunk
water drawn from a stagnant pool, whereupon he said to the
patient:—"When I come to-morrow I will treat you and not
leave you until you are cured on condition that you order your
servants to obey me in all that I command them concerning you."
The patient consented to this. On the following day Ar-Razi
returned with a large quantity of moss (tuhlub) which he ordered
the patient to swallow. The patient obeyed until he was unable
to take any more, whereupon Ar-Razi ordered the servants to
hold him flat on his back and force more and more of the weed
down his throat. This induced severe vomiting, and on examining the vomitus a leech was found. This had attached itself to
the patient's stomach and sucked his blood until it transferred
itself to its usual and more congenial medium—the water weed,
and thus the patient was cured. Numerous case reports similar
to the preceding could be cited. These show the unusual skill,
intuition, and power of observation of Ar-Razi.
The following are a few of the edicts he announced:—"Treatment of disease according to book instructions is dangerous unless
controlled and supplemented by the judgment and opinion of the
skilled physician."
"The physician should foster in his patient the belief in ultimate recovery even where the physician is in doubt as to the outcome, for the vital processes of the body are greatly influenced
by the status of the patient's mind."
"Stick to one physician in whom you have confidence. The
possibility of his error is negligible. In changing from one physician to another you are likely to suffer by the mistakes of all."
"If the physician is able to treat by natural means instead of
drugs he is pursuing the right course."
"The physician should be of moderate circumstances neither
too wealthy and tempted to attend to material pursuits, nor too
poor and obliged to be distracted from his scientific endeavors."
An Evaluation of Ar-Razi:
No medical Hall of Fame would be complete that did not
dedicate a liberal space to a statue or some other concrete way
of commemorating Ar-Razi. If it were possible to resurrect all
'-4BHHMPMMBHH
�12
THE SYRIAN WORLD
the dead Masters of Medicine from the time of Hippocrates up
to the present day and assemble them on a stage for the present
generation to view, Ar-Razi should be, and rightly belongs, in
the front ranks. If we possessed a yardstick for medical achievements and a scale to weigh ability, the achievements and ability
of Ar-Razi would hardly be outweighed or outmeasured by, any
of the greatest physicians in history
And what is the secret
of his greatness: Was it because of his unusual skill, his high
code of ethics, and the wisdom of his edicts? Was it because he
was one of the most prolific writers or was it because "he walked
with kings and yet did not lose the common touch" and thus won
the respect and admiration of the highest and the lowliest of his
day and age? While he possessed all these unusual qualifications,
any one of which alone entitles a man to distinction among his
fellow men, the secret of his greatness lay elsewhere. It lay in
his ability to use his five senses to better advantage than any
other physician of his day and age or any other day and age. He
resolved every medical problem to simple fundamentals and then
found and applied a simple remedy. He was not awed, or dazzled. His insight was clear, his observation keen, and his reasoning precise. He went right to the heart of a problem and did
not permit incidentals to befog his vision or detract his attention.
When Adudu'd-Dawla asked him to select a site for the hospital
in Bagdad, he knew that the driest section of the city would be
the healthiest. He did not possess, as we do now, an instrument
of precision to measure the degree of humidity, but did not permit this handicap to thwart his efforts, and therefore contrived a
simple but efficient method of hanging pieces of meat and watching for putrefaction.
When the young man who vomited blood was brought before
him he diagnosed the condition with startling accuracy and applied the remedy with equally startling efficiency. No X Rays,
stomach tubes, blood tests or any of the numerous modern diagnotic aids were available to him. If that young man were to
present himself to-day before a group of the most eminent physicians and surgeons of modern times, it is doubtful if after a
very exhaustive study they could arrive at the diagnosis as quickly
and as accurately as did Ar-Razi alone and unaided, and if they
did succeed in making the diagnosis it is doubtful if they could
prescribe such a simple and efficient remedy.
Modern scientific discoveries and inventions have been a great
Fl
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13
FEBRUARY, 1930
boon to humanity, but they have had the tendency of benumbing
and rendering dull the greatest gifts that a physician has—his
five senses.
It is a matter for pleasant speculation to conceive of a physician possessing all the native ability of Ar-Razi combined with
all the modern scientific methods of diagnosing and treating disease. History as yet has not produced such a physician. He is
a superman.
While Mortal
By
X
LP
V
V
DR. SALIM
Y.
ALKAZIN
To Fortune's smile I will respond
With rapture and with pleasure;
And when her brow is overcast,
With pain I fill my measure,
For still I am a mortal.
And in the silver throat of song,
I find the secret thrilling}
But in the gloomy house of death,
I am a mourner willing,
For still 1 am a mortal.
In Beauty's castle I submit
To signs of magic power,
And either laud the golden fruit,
Or sing the crimson flower,
Just like a humble mortal.
To drug the passions of my soul,
Or still its silent voice,
Or drive it like a thrall in chains
Will never be my choice.
Nor will it lead me at its will,—
But governed by concern,
Like friends, the mutual goblet fill,
And each will quaff in turn
Till I no more am mortal.
�in mi WWII
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THE SYRIAN WORLD
14
A Disciple in Nomadism
and Wisdom
By
AMEEN RIHANI
THERE is no need in ordinary hospitality for a liaison officer
between the host and his guest. You may ask for what you
want, you may refuse what is offered, you may even have an
especial desire, without any messengers, between you and your
host, except good taste and common sense. But royal hospitality
is different. The first rule is that you must not refuse anything
offered you or conferred upon you.
The kings of Arabia, despite what is attributed to them of
clannishness and coarse taste, are, in this respect, like all other
kings. They never surprise a guest, lest he become confused in
speech or conduct. Therefore, in addition to the servants, they
appoint a special person as companion to the favored one,—a
sort of liaison officer between him and Majesty,—whose business,
like a lightning rod, is to absorb desires and spontaneities, and
conduct them in mild form from one end to another.
My friend Constantine Yanni was this lightning rod; and
on the third day after my arrival on Arabian soil, he came to me
with a flow of speech which flashed with titles and decorations.
This would have been annihilating had it fallen upon me direct
from the lips of Majesty. But I reminded Constantine of the
hermit of Freike and of twenty years the said hermit spent in
America, a pitifully democratic country, without even a reminiscence of any title or decoration. And then, impressing the matter
strongly: "I am at thy mercy, O Constantine. Be quick to intercept the boon before it falls." Whereupon he said: "What about
presents?"—"Of presents I will accept anything that comes."
On the following day one of the black slaves of the Palace
came carrying upon his two hands, from His Majesty the King,
a bundle wrapt in cloth of silk, on top of which was a Meccan
dagger in a scabbard of filigreed gold; and in the bundle was a
kiswah—a suit of Arab garments—and a piece of the cUftaiii- of
the Kaaba, on which In the name of the Most Merciful God is
elaborately designed in what looks like a bas-relief in gold. My
Y3
�FEBRUARY, 1930
15
friend Constantine's mission was a great success. He must have
said to His Majesty: This Rihani is a hermit, and sacred things
are more worthy of him than a title. Of a truth, the Kaaba curtain-piece is the most sacred and precious thing that ever comes
out of the Holy City, and is seldom presented to a Christian.
I was as happy too in my change of clothes. I put on the
white cotton smock with the long tapering sleeves, embroidered
in red around the collar and down the opening on the breast;
girded myself with the Meccan dagger, judmiyah (V); slipped
my bare feet into sandals; covered my head with a richly wrought
Indian sumadah and an ighal of gold thread, and went straightway to thank His Majesty. He opened his arms, when he saw
me in this guise, and exclaimed: "O, my dear one, O, my own
eye!" embracing me, pressing me to his heart. Needless to say
that I too was moved, so much so, that I felt something forming
in my eye; and I hastened to where I usually kept my handkerchief, but not finding even a pocket in my new garment, I dried
my tear with the end of my sleeve. His Majesty laughed and
said: "Verily thou art now of the Bedu."
We then sat down to a political discussion, which did not
last long. For the French Consul and some Jeddah worthies came
in to say salaam, and His Majesty, changing the subject, spoke
to us, for the benefit of the new beduin, methinks, about the Bedu
and their unwritten law of protection and hospitality.
***"Three have the right to khewvcah (brotherhood) and
protection; the temporary guest (2), the moving tent (3), and
the rafiq, or traveller's companion. When a temporary guest
comes into a town or a dirah, the first house or tent he passes by
claims him, having the first right to offer him hospitality—I say,
O my dear one, the first right. If the traveller goes to the next
door neighbor, the people in the first house consider it an offense
and ask the neighbor to give back the guest.—'He passed first
by our door, billah! and are we not Arabs, and have we not, of
the bounty of Allah, the wherewithal to receive a guest?' If they
f-
/
(1) A dagger is called in Al-Hijaz qudmiyah, a front-piece, because it is
worn in front. The q in Al-Hijaz and in Najd is pronounced j—judmiyah. In Al-Yaman it is called jambiyah, a side-piece, because it is
worn on the side.
(2) A passing traveller.
(S) He who enters the dirah seeking its protection, sets up his tonb or
booth of hair in its pasture land. By the tent or tonb is meant the
nomad himself, even though he has none.
�16
THE SYRIAN WORLD
do not make this protest, at least, they are looked upon with disdain. Some of them will even insist upon their right, clutching
at the guest and forcing him back to save their honor
He who
entertains a passing traveller, O brilliant one, has to offer him
protection for twelve hours after his departure, even if he has
to travel with him, or send someone to accompany him the distance of a day's travel
To ask for assistance of kinsmen against
a foe, has its limits. The right ceases beyond the fifth degree;
—that is, I have the right to ask my cousins only from the fifth
down—I say, from the fifth only
No, there is no difference
in this respect between Arabs and ashraf (sherifs=descendants
of the Prophet). But in case of a murder premeditated, the life
of a sherif is entitled to a double diah, that is two lives."
In adjudication all Arab rulers continue to observe certain
customs of the Bedu, because the Koranic law is not always accepted in the desert. Of the traditions of the Bedu, for instance, is
that any Arab can be and has to be judge, when he is called upon.
But when the difference is between two tribes, the case is heard
in the private majlis of the King.
His Majesty, relating of the trial, said: "Each party selects
twelve men to prove his case, the plaintiff selecting his from the
tribe of his opponent, and vice versa. Of the twelve men four affirm, four inform, and four adjudicate. The first four, O thou brilliant one, state the case; the second prove or disprove it; the third,
decide it. Says the affirmer: The case is thus and thus. Says the
informer. I saw or I heard thus and thus. Says the adjucator:
The decision is thus and thus."
\\
'
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How approximately come the Bedu in their litigations to the
judicial system of civilized nations. They are even more certain
of discovering the truth and achieving the highest justice. For
do not the plaintiff and the defendant choose their men, that is
their lawyers and witnesses and judges, each from the tribe of
his opponent? And do not the adjudicators or judges resemble
the jury in Europe?
When I mentioned this to His Majesty, he said: "Allah,
praised be he, did not signal out the Europeans for all the human { v[
virtues. We Arabs have a few. And thou, O my dear brilliant
one, art better informed of this. Not everything that comes from
Europe is free from fault or flaw—is perfect. The Europeans
may still be ignorant of certain things, the knowledge of which
we possess and can impart. Take medicine, for example, ThoU
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i
�GENERAL VIEW OF THE DOG RIVER
Let. ponls du fleuve du Chien
of which has been rebuilt or repaired by Seleucids, RoA panoramic
view showing the three bridges, the upper
P
mans and Arabs since as far back as 250 B. C
�HHHM&.-.
THE SOLITARY HOUSE AT THE DOG RIVER
to
This is a sort of a wayside inn that an enterprising returned emigrant built
at the farthest settled point on the Dog River towards the source.
THE DOG RIVER PARK
The clearing on the southern bank of the Dog River makes an ideal setting
for Kaif connoisseurs.
�SHOWEIR AND ITS HEIGHTS
<
This is one of the principal summer resorts in Lebanon. The town proper
is spread on the mountain side while the new development on the heights
appears in the left background.
A GENERAL VIEW OF BEIT SHABAB
This town was once the foremost industrial center in Lebanon and is situated at an elevation overlooking the canyon dividing Al-Kateh and Kisrawan.
�THE HUB OF EHDEN
FEB
hast!
May
pain;
from
The public square of Ehden, North Lebanon, as it appeared teeming with
humanity on the Sunday afternoon of The Syrian World editor's visit.
THE SPRING OF ST. SARQUIS
A partial view of the cafes clustered around the spring which is given the
name of 'the patron saint of Ehden. Standing under the branches of the
big tree to the extreme left, is Representative Kabalan Frangei, who was
our host.
tur«
wor
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�FEBRUARY, 19 SO
17
hast seen, O dear one, the best doctors; but they did not cure thee.
May Allah, through the medium of our doctor, rid thee of thy
pains. Thou wilt then say to them, "Recovery has come to me
from the vicinity of Mecca, from Allah and his Prophet."
\
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He then said: "It may be hallucination, O dear one—I say,
hallucination—imagination. Animals are also subject to it like
human beings. I will cite an example among camels. When a
certain one refuses for physical or temperamental reasons to
suckle her foal, we take him to another. But she too, for even
a better reason, withholds her milk. She will not suckle a strangfer. Now, what does the Arab do, the Arab of short-wit? He is
not always short-witted, O brilliant one. He blindfolds the beast
and then gags her, thus driving the wind inward and causing her
stomach to swell. Whereupon, with a sharp knife he performs a
slight operation, makes a few incisions in her genitals, deep
enough to be felt—I say, deep enough to be felt. The foal is
then brought near her and the bandages are removed. Instinctively, she turns her head to the region of pain, smells blood, sees
the foal, and is duped. She yields her udder with motherly tenderness. No, the Arabs are not slow-witted, O my dear one.
I They are also as quick with their eye and hand. Hast thou seen
khc boy that comes to the lagoon every day about sunset carrying
ia basket and a stick in his hand? I watch him often with amusement from this window."
|
I had indeed seen that boy the day before from closer vantage, from the opposite side of the lagoon, when he was knee-deep
in the water, prying about, peering through it. At small intervals he would stop, strike something at the bottom with his stick,
place his foot quickly upon it, and stoop to pick it up. He had
caught something, which he placed in his basket. Slowly wading
through the clear blue water, slowly with his keen eyes penetrating to the bottom, and every time the stick went down, some' thing was brought up. Not once did he miss, so trained was his
hand, so quick his stroke, so keen his eye. He was catching crabs.
His Majesty was so pleased that, like himself, I had also
observed this object of wonder. And he went on, from one subject to another, holding forth on the strange and interesting features of a country which he knew as good as the Holy Book.
***"No, Allah hath not deprived us of all the virtues, O
worthy one, nor hath he deprived us of all the fruits of his
bounty. There is a wadi near At-Taief, wadi Liyah by name in
�I—— —,
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18
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ii
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THE SYRIAN WORLD
which the pomegranate grows. Big pomegranates, some as big
as the head of a man, and with seeds that have very little of the
hard matter in them—full of the sweet juice. Excellent remedy
for the lungs. Some of the fastidious take it like a sherbet
squeezed into a glass. But a pomegranate should be eaten, not
drunk; for half its taste is in the pleasure of exerting the teeth
upon it. Our young men have pomegranate competitions, in
which a prize is given to him who eats the whole fruit first and
without dropping a single seed on the ground
Yes, yes; it is\
a competition. Young men everywhere, methinks, will have their
games
We have also a plant that grows in the late summer;
it has a white flower, on which the bees feed; and they produce
a honey unsurpassable in the whole world. I say so upon the
assurance of a distinguished traveller, the Khedive Abbas. For
when he came here a-pilgrimaging, he ate of our honey and
added to the two Testimonies (1), saying: 'And I testify that the
honey of Al-Hijaz is the best honey in the world.' As for our
pomegranates of wadi Liyah—'From wadi Liyah,' the hawkers
cry. 'Good for hediyah* (present)!—When I sent some to the
Sultan Abd'ul-Hamid, he exclaimed on beholding them: 'Praised \
be Allah and Peace upon his Prophet! These fruits are not only
the best of their kind in the world, but they come from the best
spot in the world.' Of a truth, O my son, we have a few good
things, and we are therewith content. Our pomegranates and \,
our honey, here be a proof that Allah, praised be he, hath not
forgotten us Arabs, the Arabs of Al-Hijaz."
That they might be forgotten one day is not morally conceivable since they have in Jeddah a form of piety and wisdom
the like of which I have not seen anywhere else in Arabia. It is
a club of seven members only, all sages;—a small circle of light,
without a line of darkness to define it;—a unique institution.
The founder is the Mayor of Jeddah, who is one of those
Oriental sages that are rare in the public life of Europe and America. He is a simple soul with an ingenious mind, who realizes
that even in India, where he spent many years, civilization has
a few things that Jeddah might well envy. But he will not concede that man in a desert waste can not order the world to him. '
\ v.'
He defines civilization as man's right relation between God and
Nature, and finds the right means to such, an end in a prayer
<v
(1) The two Testimonies of the Muslem are: I testify that there is no God
but Allah and that Muhammad is the Apostle of Allah.
wmmmmm
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FEBRUARY, 1930
19
rug and a hand-ball. He is the organizer and the moving spirit
of the Prayer Club of Jeddah.
i \
But it is more than a Prayer Club, for it combines its exercises so they include the body and the mind as well as the soul.
It might be better called the Koran-Athletic Club. Even then
the name is not inclusive. A triangle of practical wisdom, balancing the three purposes of life, without anything to hold it
together;—a unique conception;—a Club without a club house,
without a president, without by-laws, without dues. There is but
an understanding, an article of faith, and a pledge to attend the
daily meetings. The understanding is based on the article of
faith, which is the Mayor's definition of civilization, and the
article of faith is made a living principle at least an hour each day.
Bring your prayer rug and meet us on the sand outside the
city at sundown. There, on an elevation, beyond the citadel, I
joined these good people one day, and in spite of a deficiency,
an irregularity rather, in my Triangle, they took me into their
blessed circle. But I was beaten by their elder in throwing the
ball, and by their cadet in a poetic tilt. The meeting was always
started by standing in a line facing Mecca to say the sunset prayer;
and the member who led in prayers as imam would be the first
afterward to dctff his jubbah and start the ball game. They use
a cannon ball about the size of what we use in bowling, which
they hold in both hands, swinging it in a half-circle between the
legs and above the head, preliminary to the throw. He who
throws farthest scores. After the games, a few movements in
callisthenics are executed, and then the discussion, the intellectual
exercise, to complete the Triangle.
Having taken you, O worthy one, to the Club, allow me now
to introduce the members. Here is Hajji Zainal, the octogenarian who beat me at throwing the ball. He is brother to the Mayor
Abdullah Zainal, and is fond of quoting from the Persian poets,
Hafez and Sa'di and Jalal'ud-Din Roumi. The Zainals are of
Persian origin, and Hajji Zainal quotes in the original which
his brother translates. Here is one of his favorite quatrains from
Jalal'ud-Din Roumi the Sufi poet:
"When first my lips cajoled the flute, it moaned
i\.nd told the secret of the world's ill:—
It said: When I was severed from Love's Tree
I wrept, and all the world is weeping still."
�—
20
1
THE SYRIAN WORLD
The Collector of Customs, Sheikh Muhammad Tawil, is the
Beau Brummel of Jeddah. His jubbah, which he changes every
day, tells of a variety in his wardrobe that ranges from striped
cashmere to flowered silk. Under the jubbah is a waistcoat equally
radiant in design;—one of light green material, with green buttons of a lighter shade, I particularly remember;—and under
the waistcoat is a robe of pongee silk or of barred Damascus weave,
which comes down to a little above the ankle upon which peeps
the famous linen pantaloons, whose lace or open work graces a (
pair of patent leather pumps. His turban alone is like that of his
fellows,—a regular Hijaz turban, which is a bonnet of green
and red and yellow cloth woven together in mosaic fashion, and
around which is wound, not too heavy, a white sash. But this
Arab Beau Brummel is also a man of business, the most practical
and the most energetic member of the Hijaz Government. He
collects and he pays out with a conscience and an accuracy unexcelled in Arabia, except it be by the Parsis of Aden.
The Ghabel brothers, Sulaiman and Abd'ul-Qader, most sincerely flatter the Honorable Collector, but they do not always
succeed in imitating him. The lace upon their linen underwear
is always more evident, however, and their perfume announces
them before they approach. All Arabs love perfume; but the
Ghabel brothers are artists in the composition of essences. I have
always imagined East and West flowing from their robes, without any particular spice or flower intruding itself, without even
noticing in the swooning effusion a waft from a Paris bottle. But
they are nontheless extremely pious. If they pay five pounds
gold for a bottle of French perfume, they pay their homage
five times a day to Allah and the Prophet. Sheikh Sulaiman seems
to think that it is necessary to train oneself in mortal ease preliminary to an immortality of it.
But Sheikh Naser of Najd, who thirty years ago shook the
sand of the Nufoud from his sandals, remains a Wahhabi both
stern and serene. He yields not to the luxuries of the people
of Al-Hijaz, but he frowns not upon them. He has learned tolerance in his travels, and is a true Brother, disdaining not to pray,
as a Wahhabi of South Najd, with Muslems of other sects.
Opposite to Sheikh Naser in belief is the Persian Mulla Husein of Shiraz, he who is a master in mechanics and a disciple
of Jalal-ud-Din Roumi. He supplies the lux lights to Jeddah,
repairs its sewing machines, and airs his Sufism in the bazaars. But
,
I
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�FEBRUARY, 1930
I
21,
the Prayer Club is non-sectarian. Bring your prayer rug and meet
us on the sands. If you have a new book of verse, bring it also
with you. But Mulla Husein carries his book in his head; and
it is a rare joy to hear him intone in opulent Persian accents the
couplets of our Master Jalal'ud-Din.
I
"I am a piece of wood,
Cut from the Tree of Love,
And made into a flute:—
The flute forevermore pines for the grove."
±41
\ <•
Although I was but a passing traveller, a moving guest, I
too feel that I am a piece of wood cut from that blessed tree—
the tree of the Prayer Club of Jeddah—and made into a flute
And the flute forevermore pines for the grove.
Sang of a Homesick Man
.
By
NAJLA SABE
My heart's in the hills,
The Lebanon hills.
Where I first learned that beauty dwells;
And bliss sublime
In the sunniest clime
The peace of the world foretells.
How I love the pine
And cedar trees
That shadow the Lebanon plains;
And Mount Sannin
In her immaculate sheen
As a monarch of beauty, she reigns.
My eyes are dim
And my hair is gray,
Yet my joy has banished my ills,
For they promised, you see,
They'd bury me
With my heart on the Lebanon hills.
�as
22
THE SYRIAN WORLD
The Old Criminal
A PORTRAYAL OF LIFE THROUGH ITS
TRAGIC ELEMENT
By MARY ZIADAH
Translated from the Arabic by RAJA F. HOWRANI
Translator's Note—The following article is a translation, more or less
free, from an Arabic Monthly Review, Al-Muktataf, (February, 1928) under the title "Al-Mojrim-ul-Kadeem", The Old Criminal. The author of the
Arabic text, Mary Ziadah (pen name, Mey) is the leading woman-literarywriter in the Arabic-speaking world, and her style is among the best of
modern Arabic literature. Mey, however, is not original in this literary
piece. She has adapted it from a play written by a Gei-man poet—a certain.
Reinhardt?
This play, or better tragi-drama, centers around a historic figure, the
Ephesian Herostratus, who lived around the middle of the 4th century B. C.
The following account of Herostratus is given in Smith's "Dictionary of
Greek and Roman Biography and Mythology."
"Herostratus, an Ephesian, set fire to the temple of Artemis at Ephesus, which had been begun by Chersiphron, and completed by Demetrius
and Paeonius. It was burnt on the same night that Alexander the Great
was born, B. C. 356> whereupon it was remarked by Hegesias the Magnesian, that the conflagration was not to be wondered at, since the Goddess
was absent from Ephesus, and attending on the delivery of Olympias: an
observation, says Plutarch, frigid enough to have put out the fire. The
stroke of Genius in question, however, is ascribed by Cicero, whose taste
it does not seem to have shocked, to Timaeus of Tauromenium. Herostratus
was put to torture for his deed, and confessed that he had fired the temple
to immortalize himself. The Ephesians passed a decree condemning his
name to oblivion, but Theopompus embalmed him in his history, like a fly
in amber."
In the present article Herostratus is justified in his deed. The article
itself, I take it, is an artistic expression, every part of which when analyzed, admirably coincides with the theory of Aesthetic appertaining to literature (prose) as Art and especially to that tragic element which is the
solution for the problem of evil in Aesthetics. In spite of its so-called pathetic element—and pathos indeed is essential in a tragedy—this picture
of human destiny affords us the proper purgation of emotions not only
through pity and fear but also through admiration for the hero as portrayed
by the artist.
The writer is sensibly aware of the difficulty of the task which he has
undertaken. He duly confesses that the Arabic text at certain culminations
la immeasurably superior to what he can put into English. Every language
has its own 'genius' and translation becomes a hazardous matter to that
I*
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�FEBRUARY, 1930
23
genius. This is especially true in this case because of the very limited
knowledge the writer has of the philosophy of Art whether in Arabic or
any other language.
DOETS sometimes show mercy. It was Reinhardt whose heart
was touched by compassion, and who composed a dramatic
tragedy around this historical episode, whose hero was the un| lucky, ill-fated Herostratus.
Around the middle of the fourth century B. C, Greece was
at the zenith of her glory. Nay, even more—by virtue of her
attainments she creates in us that sense of greatness itself which
perturbs our souls whenever Greece and her glorious history are
recalled. If it be true that such an effort is produced in us after
so many centuries, how much more true in the Greeks themselves,
and it was they who made live their greatness and created it day
after day in the exuberance of pride and the love of competition
and excelling.
Apropos of this, history records Themistooles' reputed statement, "The wreath which crowns Miltiades drives sleep from
me," which is an indication of their competitive spirit.
Every unfolding of their supremacy they immortalized in
the form of a brilliant poem, and objectified through an artistic
medium. It was by this means that men learned to become heroes,
and heroes aspired to become gods.
Moreover, the land with its beautiful location and its clear
azure-blue sky shone with a radiance greater and brighter than
that of the sun—namely the radiance of life and exquisite beauty
created at the hands of the Greeks. But Athens among the Greeks
was the pinnacle of greatness and the climax of posterity, for it
was Athens of the Genius, of the Parthenon, of Wisdom, of Democracy, with Pericles at its summit.
And there, across the sea in Ephesus, arose another man, Herostratus by name, destined to perform the role of despair along
with happiness and defeat along with victory.
Instead of seeing in that criminal a crazy fool, the German
poet created in him another aspect of defeated greatness. Through
a person immortal in his defeat and despair he brings to us emotions indigenous to the human heart. For who of us has not, at
least once in his life, tasted the bitterness of defeat and the fruitlessness of hard work? "In this ultimate sense, most of human
life is tragic." (Parker). The poet sensed that remote crime, and
�THE SYRIAN WORLD
24
extracted from it the essence of life. Herein lies the greatness >
of the artist: his ability to see through the walks of the soul and
probe into the innermost of consciousness disclosing what others,
can not see. He then falls back to his special tools by the aid of I. L
which he shows us, through his own eyes, the secrets of life. We
then stamp our immediate approval interfused with a little astonishment, and with him we are moved to comprehend what he
has sensed. Indeed, Browning has sung the fame of such an artist
in
Truth is within ourselves; it takes no rise
From outward things, what'er you may believe.
There is an inmost center in us all,
Where truth abides in fullness; and around,
Wall upon wall, the gross flesh hems it in,
This perfect, clear perception—which is truth.
A baffling and perverting carnal mesh
Binds it, and makes all error; and to KNOW
Rather consists in opening out a way
Whence the imprisoned splendor may escape,
Than in effecting entry for a light
Supposed to be without.
—Browning, Robert, Paracelsus. L 726-37. \
Or Parker when he wrote: "The artist will try to reveal the j
hidden unities that so delight the mind to discover. He will aim \
to penetrate beneath the surface of experience observed by comman perception to its more obscure logic underneath. In this way
he will go beyond what the mere mechanism of imitation requires"... Or again, "Out of the infinite fullness of nature and
of life, the artist selects those elements that have a unique significance for him.
Music, when soft voices die,
Vibrates in the memory,
Odors, when sweet violets sicken;
Live within the sense they quicken;
Rose leaves, when the rose is dead;
Are heaped for the beloved's bed;
And so thy thoughts when thou art gone,
Love itself shall slumber on.
Observe how, out of the countless things which he knows,
the poet has chosen those which he feels akin to his faith in the
immortality of love."
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�FEBRUARY, 1930
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25
Herostratus in this tragi-drama possesses a poignant, artistic,
temperament, true in its aspiration and pain, nevertheless one
with its irregularities—perhaps weaknesses. Surely he deserves
compassion and mercy, for he is a hero in his reactions and aspirations; meagre in his work and production, he aspires to chisel the
magnificent statues and to create masterpieces of beauty, but succeeds only in being an insignificant apprentice who accomplishes
mediocre monuments and small idols of worship. How could
he endure this humiliation and feeling of impotency while he is
living in the shadow of the great temple Artemis?
George Moore in "Confessions of a Young Man" says: "How
terrible are the languors and yearning of impotency! how wearing! what an aching void they leave in the heart! And all this
I suffered until the burden of unachieved desire grew intolerable."
It was Paeonius who erected that riddle in marble, the temple
of Ephesus, the center of admiration and envy of both the Greek
and the Barbaric worlds. Foreigners, Athenians, Spartans and
multitudes of pilgrims nocked from every direction to that temple
for religious worships and aesthetic enjoyment. But he, Herostratus, while looking at the walls and high friezes of the temple,
is reminded of the immortal genius, of the old artist who has
embodied the last work of undying fame. As he recalls all this,
Herostratus becomes increasingly aware of his impotency.
Around the temple throbs the rich and varied life of the
people. Here is the day destined to dedicate Artemis. The people
raise their voices high unto heaven, unto their gods. Ships embark multitudes of worshipers. Processions of priests, Greek notables, and young men and women leave the temple with music
and songs—an exaltation of life that envisages the Greek world
in its fervor and happy religion and in its devotion to real beauty.
Amidst this exaltation Herostratus alone stands disappointed,
and weeping, waives the consolation of his beloved mother who
creeps out of her mean dwelling in a vain attempt to heal his
drooping spirit. Thus he answers her: "Remember! it was none
but you who, once, led me to this temple and with burning zeal
uttered in my ears: 'My son! let the love of fame envelop you.
Be a model of your father who shed his blood in the pursuit of
greatness and glory. Let your impelling motive be world-widefame'. I then knelt down before the altar of the temple and my
tender lips whispered fervently the prayer: 'Grant me fame, Ye
great gods'".
�*t m
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26
THE SYRIAN WORLD
His mother disappeared like a 'drunkard staggering toward
home', leaving her son in a state of mental destitution.
Then came Agasias, dealer of the statues of Artemis, rebuking him and calling him to resume his 'mean, unpleasant' task. He
heard him not, nor did he hear the voice of the Ionian maiden,
the pretty Cilisea, the descendant of Paeonius. For, although he
had reciprocated her love, his hunger for perfection made him J
cruel and fierce and locked his heart to every tender and sweet \,
sentiment. While young Cilisea, the incarnation of youth, who
knew nothing of life save love and its paths, who comprehended
not the significance of perseverance and sorrow, and whose main
concern was a "friendly dwelling with life itself," turned to him
and said: "Listen, Herostratus! but we are guilty if we succumb
to sorrow and grief in our bright moment. Let us avail ourselves
of the most in life while at the prime of youth and envy not
even the builder of the temple himself. He has passed away to
his destination, but we are the children of this life."
"No! No!" answered Herostratus, "We do not belong to
this life! nor are we living! because we did not excel. Life is
but victory and conquest, or it is death, yea more bitter than
death. The children of life are Phidias the ideal sculptor, Homer
the peet, and a host of outstanding 'men of genius'. They are
and will continue to be living, enjoying a beauty of godly youth
which does not wither, notwithstanding the wind that scatters
their ashes into the four corners of the earth. We might just as
well have been unborn—I wish we were."
Herostratus, the criminal, fully realizes the worth of the
Message that great men leave to posterity. Those who, owing
to their imaginative power, have created a disingenuous, complete
world, have realized it through their art, thus enriching the wealth
of the world by their creations which became a part of the real
world—be they philosophers, politicians, leaders, artists, or poets.
In fact, were it not for their intuition, decades and centuries would
have passed and the world have been less rich, less noble, and
less beautiful; nations, like animals, would have fallen into an
abyss of utter insignificance.
It is this message, which is the guarantee for the compensation of the genius and his radiancy, that Herostratus' tragedy lies.
He is the man who fully comprehended the significance of
that Message, yet failed. He had aspirations, but lacked technical skill—his art would not obey him.
i'
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FEBRUARY, 1930
I*>
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i
27
Now his chance lies before him. The City of Ephesus determined to replace the old wooden statue of Artemis by a marble
one with which to decorate the temple. Herostratus, because
he was a citizen and because he was a sculptor, was intrusted
with this task.
Like an electric shock, genius and intuition challenge Herostratus, "Blessed be Ye Artemis," he cried, "Ye who responded
to the prayer of the child who was reared at your feet—now is
the time that people should know him as a creator." He confined himself to his room, closing his eyes to Cilisea and to any
talk of love. He burned his midnight oil in imagination, working persistently and untediously, now measuring and then remeasuring, trying and erring, carving, building and destroying,
and rebuilding anew; disappointment turns out to be his product.
He could picture and visualize a great image, but alas! the hand
would not obey the inventive mind.
His people grew impatient with him. They announced a
competition between their Herostratus and the celebrated Athenian, Praxiteles. The latter arrived on board an Athenian ship,
and was greeted by multitudes of people who flocked to meet
him: processions of priests, elders, and young men, led by the
pretty Ionian maidens who were playing their guitars, singing
their songs of merriment and welcome, and posing their beauty—
and beauty is intensified before those who appreciate it—to the
new artist who might pass for a conqueror.
While proceeding toward the majestic temple, Praxiteles
appeared to be the carrier of Athens' greatness and its Genius.
There was hardly a measure of comparison between Herostratus
and his rival. The latter loved life sympathetically, free from
sorrow—life to him meant the enjoyment of the passing moment.
Work for him was play. He would neither give heed to, nor
would he crave for unsubstantial and hypothetical immortal
glory. Through his character (nature) he spanned the chasm
which lay between Herostratus and beloved Cilisea, and soon,
with her, a mutual understanding was reached of problems of
life and ecstasy of love.
Herostratus, the unsuspecting, became an enemy to life
through his art which disobeyed him, while Praxiteles, the happy
conqueror, created his goddesses from the very girls whom he
saw. To him girls and goddesses were one, and in the charming
looks of the former, divinity and humanity were combined, and
art and life became one.
�I ,.... I... * —
28
.BWIIUMLTWH....
THE SYRIAN WORLD
Beauty is the bridge which connects earth with heaven. In
Athens, inspired by an Athenian maiden, Praxiteles craved his
Aphrodite, and in Ephesus his Artemis shall be inspired by an
Ephesian beauty. Around him gathered the Ionian girls singing
and dancing, and among them he caught sight of Cilisea. Soon
his eyes glistened with inspiration; isn't this Artemis declaring
herself to the Artist? Her beautiful, yet fading, youth, and her
looks over-laden with love, Praxiteles shall reap and immortalize
in the beautiful marble. How wouldn't Cilisea love the Athenian
and be inclined toward him after her long experience of bitter
loneliness and misery? But how wouldn't the tragedy flame
in the soul of Herostratus, the defeated, both as a man and as
an artist?
For a second time, he was experiencing a new defeat. The
Athenian sculptor, having completed his admirable work which
emphasizes the Praxitelian conception, the human-divine conception, objectifying the beauty and the grace of the body of
Cilisea, exposed it to the onlookers, among them Herostratus,
who became an inculcation of fruitless effort. There he stood
lamenting the love of which he did not avail himself, and the
glory which passed from his hands. The demon of jealousy and
hatred overwhelmed him as he thought of that stranger who
robbed him of everything 'lightly'. Looking at the magnificent
statue, he felt the unrealization of his dreams and the futility
of his aspirations—yea, more than that, he felt an inferiority in
his personality. In view of all this, and under the stress of emotional disturbance, he picked up the chisel of his rival which lay
beside the statue, and went back home; and with one stroke he
smashed the incomplete statues and cut down the disobedient
marble, in which he tried his Art, and his luck, and his aspirations. And, coming out of his home, he caught sight of Cilisea
weeping for her lover who, having completed his monumental
work, was ready for departure to Athens, where a new glory
awaited him, and the Athenian maidens invited him for a new
love. Thus he addressed her: "With this chisel I have smashed
my statues and models; my failure is complete and to my rival is
due all the laurel crowns of victory. Come now to me, Cilisea,
you girl of the moment! Grant me the joy of the fleeting 'happy
festival of life', for which I cared not hitherto. Will you remain
true to him! he who left you without sorrow—unhesitatingly?"
"But I love him," answered Cilisea, "and I shall remain true
to him."
i.
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FEBRUARY, 1930
"Ye beautiful world!" cried Herostratus, "Are you created
to be in your entirety subservient to this man? Wouldn't you
grant me the crumbs which fall from his table, not even the withering flower that falls from his laurel crown? Do the gods so
unjustly distribute their gifts? And I, the fool, trust in their
justice and mercy?" Despair overwhelmed him and the tragedy
was inevitable. Fire and smoke pierced through the darkness
which enveloped the earth. The great temple was burning and
in front of it Herostratus was standing dishevelled, with eyes
fixed, holding a torch in his hand and crying like a madman in
,' the phantasy of his delirium.
He was incapable of creating anything, but he destroyed
/ everything. No temple, no statues, no columns, nor any immortal
remains do we have after this day.
Would they imprison him and condemn him to death, and
his name to oblivion? Yea! death is far better than life which
deceived him. If fate has thus decreed to him, he has demolished everything else: Cilisea, under the afflication of love (to
Praxiteles) threw herself into the sea; the temple is gone forever—in vain did Praxiteles come and useless was his art, and
his love, and his inspiration.
Similarly, the spirit of evil, of jealousy, of hatred, and of
repugnance had corrupted the enigmatic ancient world. But Herostratus is justified—as the German poet sees him—by his great
pain and sacrifice in loss and suffering.
It is but an Imitation of life—a true one representing defeated humanity and its subdued, though struggling, Genius.
"It is a picture of human destiny with all its significance," as
Aristotle expresses it.
I
Tears
Translated from the Arabic of Al-Khansa
by R. A.
py .
lin
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i
NICHOLSON
Tears, ere thy death, for many a one I shed,
But thine are all my tears since thou art dead.
To comforters I lend my ear apart,
While pain sits ever closer to my heart.
�30
THE SYRIAN WORLD
From the Dog River to the
Cedars
A CHRONOLOGICAL RECORD OF THE
EDITOR'S TRIP ABROAD
v
V
By
SALLOUM
A.
MOKARZEL
I EBANON claims many places of historical interest. The ruins
of its famous cities of old are among the wonders of the world.
They dot the coast of what was formerly old Phoenicia all the
way from Tyre and Sidon in the south to Byblos and Tripoli in
the north; while the majestic ruins of Baalbeck are reminiscent
of the glory that was once the great city of the central plain.
But all these are dead relics, representing a glory that has
passed and a civilization that exists only in memory. The pulse
of life does not throb in them, nor do they possess any inherent
virility that could defy time and insure their continuity. They
were destroyed when the civilization which they represented
came to its end. They existed so long as the race which reared
them was able to defend and preserve them. They were a flare
which illumined the horizon and diffused the light of culture
and knowledge while they lasted, but when they were consumed,
only the cinders remained, mute evidence that man's mightiest
physical achievements are subject to his own fate, that mortal
cannot build anything eternal, that only that which is native to
the soil, and is an integral part of mother nature, can lay claim
to any degree of perpetuity.
But there is in Lebanon two living witnesses to its hoary
civilization and ancient glory that have withstood the ravages of
time and defied and challenged the actions of elements. They
are records imperishable. They are an integral part of the history of man's progress on the road of culture and his ascent to
the heights of human power and achievement. Their virility is
inherent, making them self-perpetuating. In his reckoning of
his future by the study of his past, man will find these two living
memorials conspicuous milestones on his road toward progress.
Such is their quality that not only will they retain their distinc-
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tion, but grow in comparative importance as man realizes his
primitive beginnings for the proper evaluation of his gradual
advance toward his ultimate ends.
The living rocks at the mouth of the Dog River, and the
seemingly everlasting Cedars of Lebanon, are the two silent, yet
unimpeachable witnesses of this march of human progress since
earliest recorded history. The two huge piles of rocks forming
the gorge through which the waters of the river Lycos flow into
the Mediterranean are forbidding in their bareness, inhospitable
in their aspect, awing in their approach. But engraved in their
flanks are evidences of the greatest articulate expressions of man's
power,—and vanity. They bear inscriptions in hieroglyphics, in
cuneiforms, in Roman alphabetical characters, in Arabic, in English and in French. They tell the story of the great exploits of
world conquerors in pictures as well as in words. Assyrian, Egyptian, Greek, Roman, Arab and European have all left their mark
of passage on this immutable rock. Why was it that throughout
succeeding centuries the great of the world passed through this
place, and took pride in recording their deeds on its barren rocks,
for the edification and admiration of posterity? Can it be any
reason other than that this place is the pivot of the world, the
imperishable tome of history, the observation place of all generations to come? What an honor for a country to boast of being
the perpetual repository of such an historical treasure?
A little further north, in the same small, serrated territory,
are other living witnesses to a hoary age and to the steady march
of human progress. They are not as mute as the rocks, because
they have the faculty of growth, and for that reason are more
eloquent. Their virility was the subject of lyrical praise both
in the Bible and in pagan literature. Their hardihood is proverbial, and their quality of inherent youth is held forth as a
symbol. We need but mention the Cedars of Lebanon to evoke
admiration for a thing that is at once old and young, whose roots
are imbedded deep in the earth and branches reaching high toward
the heavens; trees that are as old as man's earliest recorded history; that have furnished beams for the Temple of Solomon
| as well as for the temples of pagan gods; that have served to
build the great navies of the Phoenicians and of the Egyptians;
that have stood at their vantage point, overlooking the sea and
the plain, reviewing the passage of some of the mightiest armies
and navies ever marshalled throughout history marching to
certain destruction, while they, the great Cedars, defied time and
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THE SYRIAN WORLD
the elements. These are the Cedars reverently called by the
natives of Lebanon the "Cedars of the Lord," because they proclaim His glory and His mark of eternity, and both through
pride and as a good augury have been chosen the emblem of
the young republic of Lebanon.
It is the privilege of the tourist to visit these two great, natural monuments of Lebanon in a single day, while at intermediate
points en route many other places of immense historical interest
may be passed.
We spent the night of August 2nd at Dhour or Heights of
Showeir, one of the principal summer resorts of Lebanon, situated
at an elevation of 1200 meters and at about an hour's drive
from Beirut. The resort may be said to be the growth of ten
years, during which the lonely, pine-covered hills were almost
magically transformed into a bustling little city where one would
scarcely find accommodations in its score of hotels, especially during week-ends, without advance reservations. Its attractions are
many and varied, chief among which is its dry climate, and the
bracing air of its pine forests which exhilarate intoxicating fragrance. At night it is a scintillating cluster of a myriad of lights,
pulsating with the strangeness of a highly cosmopolitan life, to
which the Egyptian not only contributes his presence and all
his natural gaity, but adds to that his musical and entertaining
talent. At the time of our visit two famous Egyptian singers
were giving recitals, coincident with the appearance of a theatrical company. Nor was the purely native touch lacking, for in
one of the principal open-air cafes hundreds of devotees of the
fine art of improvised poetry in the Arabic vernacular had gathered to hear one of the leading exponents in the country of this
rapidly waning art.
We made the rounds of all the principal hotels in quest of
accommodations, but without success. A courteous hotel-keeper,
a former emigrant who had returned to invest his acquired fortune in home industries, offered us his family quarters for the
night, but the offer was declined. Instead, we chose to put up
in a hastily arranged room on the ground floor opening on the
gardens, which corresponds to attic accommodations in America.
I suggested that we seek some secluded spot to spend the
evening; a place of quiet and repose where we would have thej
companionship of the pines, and the entertainment of the scintil-
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FEBRUARY, 1930
33
lating stars of the clear Lebanon nights. It would be well to
evade for a time the Broadway atmosphere of this lively Lebanon resort, especially that our time was limited, and we were
touching on the high spots of the country with little opportunity
for sharing the many natural advantages it affords the true vacationist.
A companion suggested a drive through the "Bois," so named
after the famous Bois de Bologne of Paris. And it proved an
enchanting place: miles of pine forests so thick in places that
they completely hid the sky, while here and there they permitted of some apertures for the shiny stars to peep through on the
roadway.
We had driven up from Beirut that afternoon, and in the
sweltering heat of the city we had failed to provide for the
change of altitude. How we wished then to be in a closed car,
or to have some sort of warm covering!
We finally halted at a cafe deep in the woods. Everything
was still and peaceful. Only a few small parties were in the
clearing among the pines engaged in quietly sipping their arak
and nibbling at their maza. The gentle murmur of running
water was all that could be heard. But seeing us approach, and
realizing we were strangers, the obliging proprietor hastened to
treat us to some lively music, and he began to play one screeching
American jazz record after another!
In the morning we had a fuller opportunity to appreciate
the unique advantage of location which gained for this resort
its deserved popularity. It is situated on a central ridge of the
Lebanon range, commanding at once a superb view of both land
and sea. Sannin stands at close proximity, and the picturesque
valleys to the East form a kaleidoscopic panorama of endless
variety. While to the West a succession of hills and valleys,
dotted with thriving villages, gently slope down to the vast expanse of the sea. Crowning the crests of most of the hills in this
section are massive churches or monasteries which project their
bulk forcibly into the landscape.
1
f
The fortnight I had spent in Lebanon so far had been confined to Beirut and its immediate vicinity. But now was to begin
my extensive trips to the outlying sections of Lebanon and Syria.
Our itinerary called for covering the stretch from the Dog River
to the Cedars in a single day. The Dog River is mid-way on the
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THE SYRIAN WORLD
Lebanon littoral being only eight miles from Beirut, and although
we did not carry out our program to the letter, we can truthfully
claim that we covered half the length of Lebanon in a single
afternoon.
The descent from the Heights of Showeir was begun early
on August 2nd through beautiful Bikfaya, to the once foremost
industrial town of the countrv, Beit Shabab. In times past the town
was an important center of pottery and textile manufacturing
and brass and iron foundries; the bell-casting industry is a monopoly of the NafFah family. Not so prosperous are its industries
at present, however. It is maintained, as many other towns in
Syria and Lebanon, by emigrants' remittances.
We breakfasted at the house of Ibrahim Rahhal Mokarzel,
the mukhtar, or mayor of Beit Shabab, who, although in his
early fifties, has retired from the active management of his
extensive business interests in South Africa, which he has left
to his sons, and has chosen to spend the rest of his days in the congenial surroundings of his homeland. He built himself a large
modern house on the highest crest in the town and surrounded
it with extensive vineyards and fruit orchards. The large court
commands a magnificent view of the countryside, and it was in
this court that the board was spread for breakfast. Life in Lebanon is almost totally in the open air during the summer.
Milhem, the son of Ibrahim, was then on his bi-annual visit
to the parental home. He was young and adventurous, and waxed
enthusiastic about joining us on the trip to the Cedars. When his
father could not dissuade him from his hasty decision, he decided
to come along too. And it was well that he did, for he proved a
vernacular poet of no mean talent, offering us no end of entertainment by his copious improvisations.
Being, furthermore, the mayor of his town, he had the privilege of carrying weapons, and he brought along his double-barreled hunting rifle. A quail or a rabbit might prove a delicious
addition to a meal, and he would use the privilege of his office
to our benefit. On the way he stopped for some cartridges, but
when, later in the day, he spotted a quarry and wanted to load,
he discovered that the storekeeper had given him cartridges of
a wrong calibre! For the three days that we were together, his
honor, the mayor, every time he looked at the gun which he
was toting as useless extra weight, forgot the dignity of his
office sufficiently to curse the idiotic storekeeper in some of the
most original expressions I ever heard.
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We took hasty leave of the Hayeck family in Beit Shabab,
and made swiftly for the neighboring town of Freike, there to
bid farewell to the family of the distinguished author Ameen
Rihani, now in the United States. Half an hour later we had
reached Antilyas by the sea, whence we turned northward in the
direction of Nahr El-Kalb, or the Dog Rfver.
Except to passing tourists, the great historical importance of
the inscriptions at the Dog River gorge seem to be little appreciated. The most modern of the inscriptions, that which is commemorative of French occupation, is the most legible and conspicuous. With some effort one can locate the Assyrian inscription which remains in a remarkable condition of preservation
-'
considering that it dates back to almost three thousand years.
But the rest of the great record of the marsh of human history
seems to be in a deplorable state of neglect. This spot should be
second in importance, if not equal to, the ruins of Baalbeck among
Lebanon's historical shrines, and one would think that the government would show its appreciation of the singular honor of
being the custodian of such invaluable relics, by taking some
action to protect them and make them more accessible to tourists
of limited time.
As it is, a modern road has been built about half a mile
through the gorge to a little clearing used for a popular cafe.
It fails even to reach the old Roman bridge, only a short distance
further inland (1).
It almost borders on the profane to speak in the same breath
of these sacred relics of the ages and of the modern trivialities
that are now made their close associates. Nahr El-Kalb is now
visited for the attraction it has been lent by an enterprising and
yet romantic Lebanese emigrant who has chosen to be an amateur
botanist and naturalist, and who is an addict of the sport.
Sab4 Rouhana, a former resident of Drumright, Okla., is
the proprietor of the so-called casino at Nahr El-Kalb. He returned to Lebanon after the war and was attracted to this historic place for its sport possibilities. He built himself a house
on leased land, and when not catering to picnickers he indulges
in the chase. He was proud in showing me his menagerie of a
/
(1) An article by Dr. Philip K. Hitti in description of the Dog River and
its inscriptions and strategic importance during the ages was published in a former issue of The Syrian World, a few copies of which
are still available.
�"-
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THE SYRIAN WORLD
corend, a hyena, a fox, a deer and a wolf. He even has a young
eagle in a cage, perhaps, like the Greek philosopher of old, to
ascertain personally his longevity. Whenever he cannot engage
in the hunt he finds diversion in fishing. We were his guests
until 3:30 that afternoon and we discovered that he had retained
a good deal of his American business acumen, for he charged us
Oklahoma prices.
The drive north along the seashore towns of Lebanon is
fascinating. At times the waves almost lap the road which runs
along the even level of the beach; at others the road is hewn
in the rock and almost perches over the breaking waves. Before
we reached the outskirts of Tripoli we came to the rock of Mesailaha, through which the road winds in sharp curves until it
reaches what formerly was an unnegotiable pass. Now they have
carved a tunnel through the high rock, overlooking the sea, and
the thrills of the passage are the delight of the adventurous.
We did not stop long at Jebail, ancient Byblos. But we tarried sufficiently to contemplate with reverence the abundant
waters of Nahr Ibrahim, to which the ancients gave the name of
Adonis. What memories the name invokes! For here were laid
the scenes of the most famous love episode in history—the tragic
love of Venus and Adonis. To the present day the waters of
the river turn red in the spring flood, because of the red earth
formation of the neighboring hills, and mythology ascribes the
phenomenon to the desire of the gods to commemorate annually
the flow of blood of Adonis when gored by the wild boar.
Futher north is the town of Batroun, known in times past for
its sponge fisheries. We stopped there to take some refreshments.
We were treated to the experience of having a drink of running
water—from a stationary barrel. Before dusk we reached the
outskirts of Tripoli, but instead of continuing to the city we
took the road leading to the mountain. We had an oppottunity
to admire the beautiful plain of Al-Koura, a duplicate in miniature of Al-Bika' plain, resplendent in its dark-green of olive
groves. Then began the steep ascent of the mountain in the
gathering dusk. We could feel the labors of the engine negotiating the steep climb. But night was merciful in having spread its
cloak over the countryside while we made the ascent. We reached
the town of Al-Hadath where we spent the night, and when we
rose in the morning to view the scene of the previous night's
climb, we thanked both the night and the able chauffeur in the
person of our courageous cousin, Milhem ibn Ibrahim.
)
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The morning of August 3rd found us again on the march on
the way to the Cedars. But we could not pass by Al-Diman without a halt. Fo Al-Diman is the summer residence of His Beatitude the Maronite Patriarch, the spiritual ruler, as well as the
political leader, of the Maronites. We were detained as his
guests for lunch, and only permitted to proceed after considerable
entreaties.
From the vantage point of Al-Diman we could behold the
imposing panorama of Wadi Kadisha, or the Sacred Valley.
From an elevation of seven hundred meters we saw as small
specks clinging to the sides of the valley, the old monasteries
that served for many centuries as the seats of the Maronite
Patriarchs, when they and their adherents stood in constant fear
of persecution and sought for refuge the most inaccessible spots
in the rugged mountain.
We were maintaining a furiously fast pace, as no sooner were
we permitted to leave the precincts of Al-Diman, in the early
afternoon of August 3rd, than we tore along the road leading to
the Cedars. We passed through Hasroun, birthplace of the most
famous of Oriental scholars, Assemani, who was at one time the
Librarian of the Vatican; thence to Bcharri, home of our famous
contemporary author, Kahlil Gibran, author of "The Prophet,"
the literary masterpiece which has been translated into more than
twenty languages; thence to the Cedars, our ultimate goal, where
we spent the night of Saturday and the forenoon of Sunday,
meeting experiences that make one live the life of a thousand
years or more back. Truly, after one's experience in traveling to
the Cedars, and beholding their majesty, one cannot fail to exclaim that they are Lebanon's crowning glory (1).
Sunday noon found us again at Bcharri, there to meet Archbishop Antoun Arida and the Board of Directors of the Nahr
Kadisha hydroelectric project, the enterprise which spells the
indomitable native spirit of enterprise and initiative, and then to
partake of the bounteous hospitality of the mayor, Sheikh Najib
Daher.
That afternoon found us in the neighboring town of Ehden,
famous as the birthplace of the Lebanese hero, Joseph Bey Karam, and as the town of the free and the home of the brave of
Lebanon. We waived formalities to first pay homage to the re(1) The visit to the Cedars of Lebanon will be described independently in
a eoming issue.
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38
THE SYRIAN WORLD
mains of the great patriot and hero, reposing in state in the principal church. To one familiar with the history of Lebanon in
the nineteenth century, the sight of the body of Joseph Bey Karam, lying as if in restful sleep after the lapse of more than
seventy years, cannot fail but inspire admiration for the great
leader whose patriotism, piety and courage upheld the Lebanese
tradition of sacrifice to the extreme in the cause of liberty.
Our entry into Ehden was by the southern route known as
Dawaleeb; otherwise the wheels. They are a succession of cafes
terraced one above the other and all thronged with merrymakers.
The roads also were congested for a mile or more from where we
first entered the precincts of the town until we reached the public
square. And the square, as well as its cafes, was also congested. Where do all these multitudes come from?
In the square we were received by the newly-elected representative of the Northern District, Kabalan Bey Frangie. He
insisted that we be his guests at the spring of Nahr Sarquis. There
prohibition is not in force, and the few hours we spent at the
cool, refreshing spring left no room for doubt as to the hospitality
of the people and their leader.
The abundant spring which takes its name from the neighboring monastery of St. Sarquis, gushes from the heart of a rock.
Last year, when Rev. Simon Akle, who was at one time a prior
of the monastery and is now in America, visited his home town,
he contributed several thousand dollars towards the creation of
a public park by the spring. The improvement was already noticeable.
| • -i u jfj
That night our whole party, composed of Ibrahim, Milhem
and Joseph Mokarzel, John Trabulsi of New York and myself,
were guests of Sheikh Joseph Estephan, member of the Representative Assembly, who had been in the United States the year
previous. His home town, Kfar Sghab, is midway between Ehden
and Bcharri, and he had anticipated our coming. This should be
sufficient explanation for the elaborate preparations. The two
cakes which the hostess had prepared could have aroused the
envy of the most expert New York chef. On the chocolate
coating, in beautiful Arabic script, were the words: "Long live
the Lebanese Emigrants" and "Long live the Mokarzels."
It was with a great effort that we were able to get leave of
our hosts to depart the next morning, crossing country by the
most roundabout ways, to reach the city of Tripoli and regain
our way to the northern cities of Tartus, Latakia and Aleppo.
FE<
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thrc
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�FEBRUARY, 1930
39
Maggie and Joe
A SHORT STORY
By
s.
re
ic >
i-
LABEEBEE
A. J.
HANNA
"Y^HERE did I hit her with the snowball?" asked the boy—
confidentially.
The girl looked at him, took his arm, and dragged him
through the snow and around the corner.
"It was some blow! Eh, sis?"
"Well, Joe," said the girl, hesitatingly, "you hit her on the
neck and the snow must have gone down inside her clothes."
"Serves her right. What do you think she'll do now, Maggie r
"Gosh, I don't know! She'll tell her mother."
"Yeh, girls always tell their mothers everything."
Maggie wasn't sure but what girls ought to tell their mothers everything, but kept still. She had her reasons for not wishing to appear dogmatic at this moment.
"Let's hurry on to the library! We must get that book! Poor
Aggie. You had no reason for hitting her that way!"
"Well, I did it just for fun!" and to the boy (and every boy)
this was final in any argument.
Maggie had no desire for an argument, but couldn't refrain
from exclaiming, "You're always having fun hurting someone!"
"Yeh!" and he turned to leave her.
"Oh!" and she caught his coat, "you're all right, only, you
must be careful. You're perfectly all right, but I don't want
you to get into trouble."
"What kind of trouble? Good grief! You girls!" and he
turned quickly.
"All right. It's all right. Only, come with me!" and Maggie
held on to Joe's coat for dear life. He didn't dare to leave her
for fear his coat would tear—and then! Why the dickens didn't
she hold his hand? He could easily wriggle away then. But
Maggie knew his strength and her weakness. She knew she could
best hold him by his coat with her left hand. She knew, as others
to their sorrow, that those fingers were strong from constant
practise on the violin, and she held him!
"Are you gonna let me go?"
�-=1*
40
THE SYRIAN WORLD
"No!"
"Well, I won't go, if you don't!"
"If I let you go, will you come?"
"All right."
They went on Down Brookline Street to the doors of the
library. Her left hand was ready in case he changed hs mind
J.m stopped Maggie looked at him menacingly
"Don't forget!" she warned.
"Oh, all right!"
taxi
6 11
b k
y
bspecial
renn^'in
' school
f*7°°*
°° ^ >'0U'J1 ^ PreP^ed for your
report
tomorrow."
Peciai
"But you said you'd help'"
miJ
'qf^f/T,? f ShTall~h' remembe^ self-reliance!"
Ir you don't help, I won't do it'"
That night, Maggie and Joe worked together. Toe was so
pleased with his oratorical attempt, as practised on hisristeTth*
wo
TEN YEARS LATER.
gaj
Margaret (she no longer allowed the name Masael
hSH
g
her hand on Joe's. It was growingg dark but he
hm
JI
2
made no attem t
to put on the light.
'
P
"Don't say that again, Joe'"
bUt
3 hUm di ger
Pd Slam her
said"tte!"
" "'"
" '
^Remember, Joe, she's your wife I"
W
<&* » she
ing hKS °',e mMher- She h- - b—s bring"Do you love Mae?"
"No."
She knew he lied.
"Even so, you must go back to her.
no woT'"11
y0U1 Hfe!
"
And liSten t0 h£r knocki
"g because I have
bbeMd e
Margaret arose and walked to the window
c?jtz
ca
sh
SI l
i 5
* - * -Ma £**£ S
w
;
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�___»^—
RLD
FEBRUARY, 1930
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41
"Joe!" she exclaimed suddenly.
He lifted his head.
"What is it?"
"Have you still your driving license?"
"Yes."
"Is it true that any one having a car may join an independent
taxi company, providing he paints it with the colors and stripes?"
"That's right!"
"Well, look here! Wouldn't my car make a good taxi?"
"It's too old."
"I've had it two years, but it's only gone fifteen thousand
miles! And I've taken good care of it."
"Perhaps. Well, what do you want to do?"
"I'll turn it into a cab and you can be my chauffeur!"
"That means I must get a chauffeur's license. I'm broke."
"I'll get it for you."
"All right. If you'll give me the car. Too much trouble
working for someone else."
"I won't give it to you, but I'll sell it. You can have a mortgage on the car."
"I don't care. You'll never get the money either way."
"How well I know it!"
He laughed.
"Well, you know, sis, if ever I can, you'll get your money.
Whether I sign or not, my word is just the same."
"Yes, I know—just as bad."
He laughed again.
She turned away from the window and sat down.
"You know, sis, there's a lot of expense to turn a car into a
cab. Paint job. Meter. Partition. Special license. Membership."
"How much all together?"
"Over seven hundred dollars."
"Good grief! That's terrible! You know I haven't been
;
working long."
"Well, it's up to you. I'm not forcing you!"
"All right. Only don't tell Uncle Abe. You know nobody
approves of my helping you."
"They're dumb!"
"Well, back to your wife you go!"
She gave him her car, and nobody knew.
�40
FE
THE SYRIAN WORLD
"No!"
"Well, I won't go, if you don't!"
"If I let you go, will you come?"
"All right."
They went on. Down Brookline Street to the doors of the
library. Her left hand was ready in case he changed his mind.
Jim stopped. Maggie looked at him menacingly.
"Don't forget!" she warned.
"Oh, all right!"
"We'll get your book and you'll be prepared for your special
report in school tomorrow."
"But you said you'd help!"
"Yes, of course I shall—but, remember, self-reliance!"
"If you don't help, I won't do it!"
That night, Maggie and Joe worked together. Joe was so
pleased with his oratorical attempt, as practised on his sister, that
he waxed enthusiastic, and the next day received a high compliment from his teacher.
taxi
miJ
wo
gal
TEN YEARS LATER.
Margaret (she no longer allowed the name Maggie) laid
her hand on Joe's. It was growing dark, but she made no attempt
to put on the light.
"Don't say that again, Joe!"
"My, but it was a hum dinger! I'd slam her again if she
said that!"
"Remember, Joe, she's your wife!"
"Yes, but I have only one mother. She has no business bringing her into our affairs!"
"Do you love Mae?"
"No."
She knew he lied.
"Even so, you must go back to her.
"Not on your life! And listen to her knocking because I have
no work!"
"Of course, it was wrong of you to marry so early in life,
but after all she's your wife and you've got to stick together."
Margaret arose and walked to the window. She looked out,
and at the curb beheld the car in which she had just brought her
brother home.
W
cal
sh
/
;
W(
ap
�FEBRUARY, 1930
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41
"Joe!" she exclaimed suddenly.
He lifted his head.
"What is it?"
"Have you still your driving license?"
"Yes."
"Is it true that any one having a car may join an independent
taxi company, providing he paints it with the colors and stripes?"
"That's right!"
"Well, look here! Wouldn't my car make a good taxi?"
"It's too old."
"I've had it two years, but it's only gone fifteen thousand
miles! And I've taken good care of it."
"Perhaps. Well, what do you want to do?"
"I'll turn it into a cab and you can be my chauffeur!"
"That means I must get a chauffeur's license. I'm broke."
"I'll get it for you."
"All right. If you'll give me the car. Too much trouble
working for someone else."
"I won't give it to you, but I'll sell it. You can have a mortgage on the car."
"I don't care. You'll never get the money either way."
"How well I know it!"
He laughed.
"Well, you know, sis, if ever I can, you'll get your money.
Whether I sign or not, my word is just the same."
"Yes, I know—just as bad."
He laughed again.
She turned away from the window and sat down.
"You know, sis, there's a lot of expense to turn a car into a
cab. Paint job. Meter. Partition. Special license. Membership."
"How much all together?"
"Over seven hundred dollars."
"Good grief! That's terrible! You know I haven't been
working long."
"Well, it's up to you. I'm not forcing you!"
"All right. Only don't tell Uncle Abe. You know nobody
approves of my helping you."
"They're dumb!"
"Well, back to your wife you go!"
She gave him her car, and nobody knew.
�*2
THE SYRIAN WORLD
TWENTY YEARS LATER.
"Say, ma, Aunt Maggie is coming in!" A young girl turned
away from the window into an untidy sitting room.
"Who did you say?" answered the older woman, stout yet
pinched looking.
"Aunt Margaret!*' and the girl laughed in derision.
"Well, Joe isn't home yet!" and the woman continued with
her cooking.
v
"Did papa want her for something?"
"Well! Guess she wants some more help, trying to keep us
broke!"
"Where's John?"
"Out, goodness knows where—just like his father!"
The door bell rang. Bertha ran to let her aunt in.
"Why, Aunt Maggie!"
"How are you, Bertha?" answered the woman frowning at
the "Maggie." "Is your mother in? I see. And where's Joe?"
"Oh, he isn't home yet. Mother says you must excuse the
appearance of the sitting room."
"That's all right."
"Mother says you'd better not ask for money for you always
keep us broke."
"Keeping you broke: Is that so? Where is your mother?"
"You just sit down. She'll be right in."
"How's your brother John?"
"Out."
"I should have liked to see him. I don't often get a chance
to come here—and you people never think to visit me."
"We're always busy."
When the mother finally came in it was to make one long
continuous excuse for keeping her sister-in-law waiting. Then
she went on to tell how hard times were and how badly in need
of money they were. After that she began to admire her visitor's
clothes and to inquire the price of each article. There had been
a time when Margaret had pleased herself to hurt the other by
telling the exact price of articles. Now, however, she had become
more careful and said little concerning expense. She had learned
to direct the talk into other channels, for envy did not please her
any longer—nor ever had to any great extent.
The young girl sat in the corner of the room, listening to all
that passed—and certainly agreed to all her mother said and did
�FEBRUARY, 1930
'(
j:
43
—and disapproved of her aunt.
It was some time after that Joe came in. He threw his hat
on the hatrack and saying, "Hello, Maggie!" dashed into the
kitchen.
fj j
When he came back, he sat down and stretched out his long
legs lazily.
"Oh," he said to his wife, "there's something burning in the
kitchen!"
She rushed in.
"You go in, Bertha, and help her." The girl went.
Margaret sat silent, looking straight at Joe. Her brother!
She didn't belong here, no matter the blood.
"Joe," she finally said, "I need money."
"I was just gonna ask you for some. John needs a new tire
on his roadster. He's got some snappy car!"
"How's your cab company going?"
"Oh, I've got about seven cabs—all going now, but the expense is terrible. I've got so many bills to pay."
"You usually have. Well, what am I to do? I've been giving you money for years."
"What can I do? Times are tough, you know."
"They usually are," she said, drily.
"Say, why don't you get a husband? Don't you think it's
about time?"
"Get a husband? For what?"
"Then you won't have any more worries and you'll have all
the money you want."
"That is an idea—and just like you. But, as I have always
said to you, I can't marry for money, and besides, I have had no
time to think of marriage with so many family aifairs occupying
my mind. On top of that, I'm too old now."
"No," but he looked at her. Margaret was old. True, her
hair hadn't turned nor had her face become wrinkled over much
. —but her eyes, when she looked at you, how old they were!
Of course, they had always been old eyes, but they were extremely
so now, especially since they didn't seem to laugh at you any
more. Queer how time had changed his sister. Was this the little
Maggie who had rushed him along to do his homework when he
was still at school? Was this the pretty Margaret who had given
up so much that he might be with his wife always? And she had
never complained. He would call her Margaret to please her.
�rtl
44
THE SYRIAN WORLD
"Margaret," he began. She looked up, surprised. "Why have
you done so much for me? I didn't deserve t."
"You are my brother," she said simply.
"My God!" he exclaimed. He hid his head in the palms of
his hands.
"Joe, for goodness' sake, don't!" She arose and came to
him, and placed her hands on his head.
"I didn't deserve it! I didn't deserve it! How can I ever
repay you!" he repeated over and over.
"You can't. I'll go on like this."
"You're alone and we've never given you a thought. Oh,
my God!"
Joe's wife appeared suddenly. "Come in, Joe," she called.
"How long do we have to wait for you?"
Margaret tightened her coat about her. She had kept it on.
She drew herself up to her greatest height, but her sister-in-law
ignored her. She knew she was dismissed.
Joe rose and quickly followed his wife.
Margaret let herself out, to walk home alone.
To My Father
(February 12, 1880—July 17, 1923)
By LABEEBEE A. J. HANNA
Nothing but the sky
So large, so firm, so fine —
And trees with tiny leaves, so new,
Open spaces —
And my thoughts turned to you.
Nothing but the sea
So green, so blue, so deep —
The waves, each movement ever new,
And the sand dunes —
And my thoughts turned to you.
Nothing but black walls
So hot, so firm, so sure,
My soul that tires and is through
And agony
And my thoughts turned to you.
I
/
�D
45
FEBRUARY, 1930
/e
EDITORIAL COMMENT
lo
jr
QO FAR the contest for a free
trip to Syria has produced
more enthusiasm than actual
results. There has been an addition this month to the number
of registered contestants, but
none has so far attained results
anywhere approaching the minimum goal. The fact, however,
that the contestants are enthused holds forth good promise. It is to be hoped that before
the date set for the closing of
the contest the leaders would
have far exceeded the mark.
We wish to again call attention to the important concession that gift subscriptions are
credited as direct subscriptions.
* Uur
Our recor
records show that scores of
M j sympathii
izers with the cause of
/ THE S^
SYRIAN WORLD have
made gift subscriptions ranging
from five up to twenty. This
fact indicates a commendable
disposition to help circulate the
magazine because of its patent
service to the Syrian cause.
Undoubtedly there are many
more who could be brought to
share this disposition, and a few
such would help swell the list
of any contestant materially.
Why not try for them? There
are any number of wealthy Syrians and Lebanese throughout
the United States who, once the
1
fact is made plain to them,
would welcome the opportunity
to make such a valuable gift, at
low cost, to their American and
Syrian
friends.
Contestants
should find it comparatively
easy to arouse the racial pride
of their wealthy friends to the
extent of availing themselves
of such a suggestion.
It is our ambition to ultimately have THE SYRIAN WORLD
reach every Syrian home in
America and the Free Trip
Contest we have inaugurated is
but one means to that end. No
doubt the prize is large and
seemingly out of proportion
with the limited means of a
small publication, but this only
goes to show the extent of our
determination.
And let it again be said that
in the publication of THE SYRIAN WORLD we are not simply
striving to exploit a popular
need. In truth, although such
a publication seems to be a need
indeed, we are struggling
against almost insuperable odds
for its bare maintenance. It is
rather our conviction that the
service is indispensable in its
ultimate benefits of arousing
among our race a consciousness
for the best that is in them,
that we are hoping for a grad-
�46
THE SYRIAN WORLD
ual awakening to the appreciation of the true value of the
publication. And on the strength
of that hope we shall continue
to strive, to the end that THE
SYRIAN WORLD and its benefit
will in time be adequately appreciated.
READERS of THE SYRIAN
WORLD will notice that our
material covers a broad latitude and is designed to give
the widest possible variety of
reading consistent with the nature of the magazine. History,
travel, literature, poetry, fiction, politics and general news
are to be found in almost every
number. Our contributors comprise practically every known
writer of standing in the United
States, and we are happy to
state that we are discovering a
good deal of new talent, some
of whom show distinct promise.We believe we are justified
in the pursuance of such a policy, inasmuch as THE SYRIAN
WORLD is the only publication
of its nature extant, and as
such it has to cater to all manner
of needs and tastes. As often
stated, it is in a class by itself,
creating its own standard, and
can by no valid reason be held
up to comparison with the general run of English periodicals.
These enjoy an extensive field
which permits of a high degree
of specialization.
s
As matters now stand, THE
even with its
cosmopolitan nature and its
general appeal, has good reason to complain of its limited
circulation.
SYRIAN WORLD,
would, nevertheless, welW]Ecome
our readers' opinions
r
on the general policies of THE
SYRIAN WORLD. Not that we
invite commendation and approval only, rather, we would
be most anxious for constructive
suggestions and advice on methods of betterment and improvement. We wish our readers to
fully and frankly give us the
benefit of their reactions, and
every practical suggestion making for improvement in the
magazine will be cheerfully
acted upon.
^HILE on the subject of
readers and their reactions,
may we not also invite their
appraisal of our various material? We would be gratified to
learn that they appreciate and
approve of this article or department, or condemn the other. Perhaps they might have
a little more information to add
to some particular subject under
discussion, which would be welcome for publication. Whether
the opinion be in praise or in
criticism, we feel confident that
all our contributors would welcome an expression of opinion
on the part of the readers.
/
A,
9
!
'•I
�FEBRUARY, 1930
47
Spirit of the Syrian Press
Under this caption we hope to present from time to time a microcosmic
picture of the Arabic press, not only in this country, but wherever Arabic
dailies and magazines reflect the opinions of responsible, thinking writers
who are treating the different problems that confront the Arabic-speaking
world from all conceivable angles. Needless to say, we will take no part in
the discussions reproduced, nor assume any responsibility. Our task will
simply consist in selecting, to the best of our knowledge and with utmost
sincerity, what we think is representative of the public opinion as expressed
in these editorials.
Editor.
RELIGIOUS INFLUENCE
IN THE EAST
Tho misinformed on true conditions among Eastern peoples and in
Eastern countries take it for granted
that public opinion, as represented
by the press, is the controlling power,
in the shaping of Eastern affairs.
This is an illusion which should be
corrected. The only influence in the
East that should be reckoned with
is that of the clergy. The whole
political structure seems to be still
raised on religious foundations.
Taking the Arabic-speaking countries, we find that the governments
of King Ibn Saoud, of Imam Yahya,
of King Faisal of Iraq, are all based
on religious influence and governed
along religious considerations. Even
the Constitution which the Syrians
had drafted for a republican form of
government in their country was
impregnated with the religious
spirit. While in Lebanon itself, and
in Egypt which is noted for its
modernism, and in Turkey which is
apparently adapting itself by a revolutionary process to Western
methods, the real influence governing the peoples in all walks of life
is paramountly religious.
For this reason we cannot escape
the conclusion that all our ills and
misfortunes, whether in the mother
country or abroad, can be traced to
religious beginnings and to the
harmful influence of the clergy. We
would even state unequivocally that
political and social leaderships
are but nominal figures which bow
in impotence to the great prestige
of religious influence.
Al-Hoda, N. Y.. Feb. 28, 1930.
CLOSING SCHOOLS IN LEBANON
The reform and economy program
of Premier Eddy of Lebanon seems
to be overreaching itself. The need
for a dictator in Lebanon should not
extend to the point where the most
vital department of government,
that of education, would be demoralized in the interest of false economy.
The judicial department could stand
a good deal of retrenchment, but to
curtail expenditures on education is
an unpardonable crime.
What Premier Eddy has done so
far indicates that he is pruning the
small twigs and sparing the big
branches. Only those whose salaries
are insignificant have so far fallen
�,
48
under the knife, while those drawing fat salaries seem to be safe
from molestation.
What can the result of such false
economy in the closing of native
schools mean other than that our
children will now have to flock to
foreign
educational
institutions
where, to say the least, they could
not have an equal opportunity to
learn the rudiments of true citizenship. They will learn to respect the
foreigner and despise the native
and become on that account willing
tools in the hands of the colonizers.
Meraat-Ul-Gharb N.Y.,Feb. 18, 1930
PALESTINIANS FOREIGNERS
IN THEIR COUNTRY
The status of Palestinian citizenship came up for discussion lately
in the British Parliament and drew
from the under secretary of the colonies the explanation that the regulations in force apply equally to
Jews and Arabs without discrimination. "Any Palestinian who has not
forsaken his Turkish citizenship,"
explained the British official, "will be
permitted to return to Palestine if he
is sound of mind and body. A twoyears' residence will entitle the applicant to citizenship."
How strange are the workings of
English policy in Palestine. A foreign element of various nationalities
and tongues are permitted to enter
the country without restrictions,
while the original inhabitants of the
country are denied the right of
entry except under hard and almost
prohibitive conditions!
Such is the policy that the reputed
"British Justice" is pursuing in
Palestine to fedeem a pledge made
by Lord Balfour during the war, a
policy Which recks with injustice
in that it places a race of strangers
THE SYRIAN WORLD
on a par with the original people of
the land.
The net result of these regulations
is that the Palestinian Arab may return to his homeland if he has retained his Turkish citizenship, subject to medical examination, while
if he has become a naturalized
American he is confronted with all
manner of restrictions. But the Jew,
the wanderer who supposedly owes
political allegiance to any number
of countries, may enter Palestine
and have the right to settle in it
without the slightest restriction if
he but passes the physical examination !
It would be in order to extend to
Great Britain condolences over the
passing of what was known as
"British Justice". But it is well to
recall a famous Arab maxim which
warns that: "No tyrant but will
reap at some time the just reward
of his injustice."
Al-Bayan N. Y., Jan. 30, 1930.
FRANCE AND LEBANON
A rumor gained circulation that
the Ehdenites of North Lebanon
opened negotiations with the inhabitants of Deir El-Kamar, of South
Lebanon, with the object of the two
factions joining hands in demanding
for the country direct administration under a French governor.
The rumor proved to be false. It
was discredited by the Ehdenites
both at home and abroad. If it had
any foundation of truth the Ehdenites of the United States would have
known of it because one of the
characteristics of these Lebanese is
that they will undertake no public
action before a general consultation
among themselves, whether they be
at home or abroad. Some of their
prominent leaders in America have
f
;
/
�FEBRUARY, 1930
assured us that the rumor was a
pure fabrication. We have reason to
believe that some trafickers in patriotism engineered the rumor for
possible later benefits to themselves.
We cannot too often state that
while Lebanon loves France it will
not renounce its independence. If
France will agree to be Lebanon's
aegis and defender, without exploiting it to the personal benefit of the
profiteering among its colonizers,
then she will be the queen of Lebanese hearts and Lebanon will be
to her a more impregnable stronghold than Gibraltar. This should be
sufficient to eliminate any greed on
the part of France and any fear on
the part of Lebanon. But if the
profiteering among the French and
Lebanese should combine to pervert
this policy of amity then the two
nations are bound to lose, and the
Lebanese in that case would be the
more to blame.
We want France as a friend and
not as a domineering mistress. We
want her in that capacity for our
own honor as well as for hers. For
this reason we find no recourse but
to declare a moral war for the purging of our relations with France
from any influence that might corrupt these lofty motives.
Al-Hoda, N. Y., Feb. 27, 1930.
FAISAL AND ZIONISM
/
In support of their contention of
having a right to Palestine, the Jews
produced a ten-year-old document in
the form of a letter written in 1919
by Emir Faisal, now King of Iraq,
to Prof. Frankfurter in which he
approves of the Jewish aspirations
for the creation of a national home
in Palestine and states that the
Arabs harbor no ill-feeling towards
th» Jwwi in the latter'* prosecution
49
of this claim, "because the leaders
among the Arabs are in complete
sympathy with Zionism."
This document was produced by
the Jews as evidence in support of
their case before the Shaw commission of inquiry and was reproduced
textually by the Boston Transcript.
As would be natural, there arose
a heated controversy among the
Arabs as to the authenticity and the
propriety of the said document.
There were some who claimed that
at the time of its writing Zionism
had not reached its present acute
stage, while others defended Faisal
on the ground that his hands were
forced by political motives which he
could not well disregard.
We are of the opinion that both
contentions are wrong. It seems to
be the object of both factions to
defend Emir Faisal, overlooking the
all-important consideration that the
missive itself is of no inherent value
and cannot be entered as material
evidence. When Faisal wrote the letter he was not representing the
country in any logical form, while
on the other hand Palestine cannot
be considered an article of barter
which the Emir could trade for some
personal benefit to please the
Zionists or conform to the dictates
of whatever diplomatic considerations prevailed at that time.
On the date of the letter, Emir
Faisal was in Paris negotiating for
an Arab throne which he could occupy and for the sake of which he
was willing to make many concessions, the least of which would be
the approval of Zionist claims.
Even if Faisal, who is now King
of Iraq, were to approve the Jews'
claim to Palestine, of what weight
would be his opinion when he is but
a stranger who can claim no legal
right to represent Palestine when
the country does not authorize him
�THE SYRIAN WORLD
50
the Lebanese constitution in such
to act in such a capacity?
It would seem to us that whether manner that it became a mockery.
Faisal be the author of the afore- He deprived the Assembly of all
mentioned letter or not, or whether power and saw to it that the powers
or not he wrote it under political vested in the High Commissioner, of
pressure, none of these considera- whom he was the personal repretions could be seriously considered sentative, were well guarded. In view
because the life of a nation cannot of these facts, we feel justified in
be bartered by the mere letter of a the belief that the regrets expressed
stranger, nor can it be affected by at the departure of this French ofthe wrecklessness of a political ficial were not genuinely sincere.
schemer who exhausted every means We also would add our expressions
at his command to achieve his poli- of elation in view of the announcement that the gentleman is not to
tical ambitions.
As-Sayeh, N. Y., Feb. 20, 1930. return.
Meraat-Ul-Gharb, N.Y.,Feb. 15, 1930.
A GLAD FAREWELL
The Syrian press reports that on
the occasion of the departure of M.
Solomiac for France, the President
of Lebanon, as well as the Premier
and many ministers and representatives bade him farewell on board
his ship and showed otherwise many
marks of esteem to the departing
French official.
The importance of the event is that
M. Solomiac was the "power behind
the throne" in the Lebanese government. He had held his office as special representative of the High Commissioner for four years during
which he performed his duties with
the utmost consciousness. He was
the bugaboo of the Representative
Assembly and took great pains in
safeguarding French influence and
French interests. Whenever covert
diplomatic suggestions failed to
have the proper effect he resorted
to overt acts of intimidation to make
the representatives think his way.
He often rose in the Assembly and
attempted to silence the resolute
and courageous members who opposed foreign interests in their defense of native interests.
M. Solomiac also helped frame
THE LESSER OF THE TWO EVILS
The two principal towns of Lebanon, Ehden in the north and Dair
El-Kamar in the south, are reported
to have entered into negotiations
on the advisability of asking for
direct French administration over
the country by the appointment of
a French governor who would supercede the present republican form
of government which has given rise
to many misgivings. This is said to
have been brought to a climax by
the application of the Eddy program which has wrought havoc in
the administrative regulation of the
country, depriving some of the principal centres of distinctive privileges
which they formerly enjoyed.
It is an incontestable fact that the
Lebanese have been driven to desperation by the successive administrative changes which have taken
place in their country since the
French occupation. The republic has
been more of a preparatory school
than a going concern. And while all
these changes were taking place the
high officials were fattening on their
salaries while the rest of the people
were in dire distress.
/
�FEBRUARY, 1930
Due to these disturbed conditions
many opinions have been advanced
for administrative changes in the
country. There were those Who advocated direct French administration, while others favored a dominion status or some sort of a condition which would place Lebanon on
the same basis as outright French
colonies. Still others clamored for
complete independence along the
same terms that our brother Syrians are demanding for their own
country.
Under present circumstances we
are of the opinion that the Lebanese
Republic should remain in its present form because it is the form of
government most suitable to the
needs of the country. The Lebanese
should seek neither a principality,
nor a monarchy, nor any other form
51
of government that savors of absolutism. Many other nations have
experimented with all sorts of government theories and discovered that
the republican principle is the best.
It is well for Lebanon to profit by
the experience of other nations.
We are not inclined to offer any
apology for present conditions in
Lebanon. The situation is of the
gravest whether from the political
or economic standpoint. But what
we would say is that when one is
confronted with two evils he chooses
the lesser one. Under the present
circumstances, the wiser course is
to let matters take their course under
the direction of the Eddy cabinet
until such time that we can see concrete results, otherwise the situation
will adjust itself at the proper time.
Ash-Shaab, N. Y., Feb. 19, 1930.
Political Developments in Syria
/
PALESTINE
Peace seems to have returned to
Palestine—peace in the sense that
no further riots have been reported
and that the activities of both the
Arabs and the Jews are confined to
propaganda and political manoeuvres. In the battle of words the
Arabs appear to be having the
upper hand in that the public opinion
of the world is being won over to
their favor, a fact admitted by the
Jews themselves.
The most concrete result of the
post-riot period is that a noticeable
change is observed in the attitude
of world Jewry towards Zionism.
The stand of Dr. Magnes, President
of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, has had the effect of dimming a good deal of the enthusiasm
characterizing the earlier stages of
the Zionist movement. Now the Jews
seem to be realizing that the Arab
element can be aroused to popular
action and that once such a condition prevails it becomes difficult to
deny a whole people an inherent
right.
It had been the hope of the Zionists to gradually populate Palestine
with their coreligionists, depending
for the success of this plan on Great
Britain's direct administration of the
country and the interpretation of the
Balfour declaration in a manner
favorable to their designs. Meanwhile their policy called for opposition to any form of representative
government because of the overwhelming Arab majority. Arab demands are naturally the direct op-
�THE SYRIAN WORLD
52
posite of any such plan.
Mufti of Jerusalem and reports that
At present both sides are anxiously when he asked him what Balfour had
awaiting the report of the Shaw in mind during the war when he
commission of inquiry which is ex- made promises to both Jews and
pected to be made public in the near Arabs, the Mufti replied: "He had
future. Recent dispatches from Lon- England in mind."
The proposal that an Arab commisdon stated that forecasts of the report suggest that it will be favorable sion go to London to further defend
to the Arabs. The Commission, it is the case of Palestine Arabs has not
further understood, will not confine yet been carried out.
its report to the causes of the riots
SYRIA
of last August but will deal extensively with the whole Palestinian
Conferences are still reported to
situation, offering many suggestions.
be taking place between High ComAccording to one account, the Commissioner Ponsot and his lieutenants
mission "considers the time not yet
ostensibly for the purpose of seeking
ripe for the Zionists to take control
a solution to the Syrian problem.
in Palestine." Furthermore, accordNot a word, however, has come auing to the same source, one of the
thoritatively from the High Commisrecommendations of the Commissioner as to his future plans. A
sion is likely to be that a wider inParis newspaper definitely announces
terpretation should be made of the
that M. Ponsot will soon return to
Balfour declaration on the establishFrance for further consideration of
ment of a national home for the
the Syrian question with the Foreign
Jews, and some consider that the
Office and perhaps for attending tb*
report may raise the whole question
coming session of the Mandates
of the future of the British mandate
Commission of the League of Nain Palestine.
tions.
In an article appearing in The
The latest rumor to gain circulaNew York Times, Emil Ludwig, the tion on a possible solution to tha
eminent German author who is mak- Syrian question is that High Coming a tour of the Near East, ex- missioner Ponsot has offered the
presses the belief that a parliament Nationalists what are supposed to be
in Palestine is inevitable and re- the maximum terms that France can
marks that "only by mutual under- give, which are reported by the
standing can the Arabs and the Damascus paper Al-Qabas to include
Jews live together in the country, the following concessions:
which both races possess by virtue
1—The Constituent Assembly, as
of tradition and by virtue of prom- at present constituted, to be given
ises given in recognition of their the status of a Representative Asconduct during the World War." No sembly with full powers to elect a
prudent Zionist, he continues, speaks permanent government which would
any longer of the Jewish State of enter into negotiations with the
Palestine, but all speak of a home French tending to the conclusion
in Palestine.
of a treaty.
The established right of the Jews
2—The State of the Alouites will
to Palestine which Mr. Ludwig seems be permitted to join the proposed
to concede to them is the very thing Syrian Republic on condition that
the Arabs deny.
the former retain a form of fiscal
Mr. Ludwig interviewed the Grand
~ ^
„ -.*•-**£*
autonomy similar to that now en-
/
�53
FEBRUARY, 1930
i
joyed by the districts of Alexahdretta and Antioch.
3—The city of Tripoli will be made
a free port to serve as a maritime
outlet for Syria, or perhaps it may
be definitely annexed to the State of
Syria.
4—France will waive its reservations concerning the six objectionable articles occurring in the first
draft of the Syrian constitution.
While this offer seems to be most
liberal on the face of it, there seems
to be special conditions which
Franee demands in the making of
the Treaty which the Nationalists
hesitate to concede. On the other
hand, the High Commissioner is said
to have warned the Nationalists
that in case his last offer is not
accepted he is ready to proclaim
Syria a monarchy and raise to the
throne the sherif Ali Haidar Pasha,
one of the lineal descendants of the
Prophet.
Meanwhile, sheikh Tajeddin remains in control and is apparently
as distant as ever from the Nationalist bloc. A great cry has been
raised against his application of the
strictest censorship to the press and
his causing the imprisonment of an
opposition editor and the fleeing of
several others from the country to
escape persecution.
The Paris correspondent of the
Beirut newspaper Al-Ahwal reported that Jaberi and Arslan, who
claim representation of the Syrian
nation in Europe, have entered into
an agreement with Italy for transferring to it the mandate over Syria
on condition that it place ex-Khedive
\
Abbas Helmi of Egypt on the Syrian
throne. The report was vehemently
denied by Emir Shakib Arslan, one
of the two concerned.
Rumors that Sultan Pasha Atrash,
leader of the Druze revolt, had been
warned by the government of Trans-
jordania to leave the country by the
end of winter, and that he intended
to seek refuge in Persia or sail for
Europe, have been authoritatively
denied. The self-exiled leader announces that he intends to remain
in Wadi Sirhan within the boundaries
of Nejd falling under the jurisdiction of King Ibn Saoud.
LEBANON
The Lebanese Cabinet is still engrossed in the task of enforcing the
economy program which Premier
Eddy insisted should be carried out
before he accepted administrative
responsibility. The pruning of sinecures is proceeding steadily and
material economies have been effected.
Naturally, objections are being
raised by the sufferers and their
sympathizers, but the Premier seems
to be enjoying the support and the
confidence of an overwhelming majority of the people. Where the application of the program caused the
the greatest objection was when it
cut deeply into the appropriations
for public schools. The Moslems being the largest beneficiaries under
the eld system, their losses were
naturally the most felt and they
were not unfailing in rising to protest. They claimed that discrimination was being applied owing to
religious considerations, but the
Premier refuted this accusation by
the citation of statistics and the
enumeration of flagrant cases where
teachers drawing pay for several
years were in some cases illiterates
and in others constant absentees.
What appeared for a time as a
serious move on the part of the
Ehdenites to voice their protest on
present conditions in Lebanon was
their reported negotiations with the
inhabitants of Dair El-Kamar tend-
�mat
THE SYRIAN WORLD
54
ing to the taking of action to demand
direct French administration in the
country. Bishop Augustine Bistani,
to whom the Dairanians submitted
the matter, counseled patience before
deciding on such a drastic step. The
Ehdenites later denied that they had
authorized any such move. The significance of the matter is that Ehden
and Dair El-Kamar are respectively
the most important Maronite towns
in north and in south Lebanon.
A committee of prominent citizens
, of Tripoli sent telegraphic protests
to the Lebanese Government and to
the High Commissioner on the Eddy
policy of curtailing educational facilities, accusing the Premier of improper motives and of desire to
kill the native language in an effort
to raise a generation of Lebanese
knowing only French. Legal action
was brought by the Premier against
the signers of the petition and when
they refused to appear in court by
reason of the Ramadan fast, they
were tried in their absence and sentenced to a short jail term.
About Syria and Syrians
PASSING OF BUSTANI,
GREAT ARABIC SCHOLAR
Sheikh Abdullah Bustani, concededly the greatest Arabic scholar of
the age, passed away in Beirut on
February 16 at the age of seventysix. His body was taken to Dair ElKamar for interment, while the
funeral services, held in the city of
Beirut, were attended with such
pomp and marks of reverence on the
part of the clergy, the government
and all classes of the people that
newspaper reports agree that no
other funeral of recent times approached it in ostentation.
The deceased scholar was famous
throughout
the
Arabic-speaking
world for his mastery of the language and for his gifts as a poet.
His works comprise numerous plays
in both poetry and prose. But his
greatest contribution to the language
is Al-Bustan, the new Arabic dictionary which has revolutionized the
method of word classification. It i3
published in two volumes by the
American Press of Beirut.
Perhaps the outstanding distinction of Sheikh Abdullah is his halfcentury of teaching advanced Arabic
in various colleges of Beirut, principally the Maronite College. Some
of his pupils are among the foremost Arabic scholars of the day.
The Syrian-Lebanese community
of New York is planning a memorial
meeting for the deceased scholar to
be held early in April. A committee
has been elected of which N. A. Mokarzel, editor of Al-Hoda, is chairman, Sheikh Abbas Shakra, secretary, and A. K. Hitti, treasurer.
The loss of Sheikh Abdullah Bustani is more keenly felt because it follows so closely on the death of Prof.
Jabr Dumit, who died on January 20,
and who held the chair of Arabic
literature in the American University
of Beirut for over half a century.
LEBANON NAT'L BANK
ELECTS VICE-PRESIDENT
William Catzeflis of New York
City has been elected a Vice-Pres-
1/
�FEBRUARY, 1930
ident of the Lebanon National Bank
of New York.
Mr. Catzeflis was general manager of the firm of Mallouk Brothers of New York for a period of 12
years. He is a college graduate and
thoroughly conversant with the English, French and Arabic languages.
His long business career and wide
popularity eminently fit him for his
new post.
55
city's prominent Syrian lawyers.
The entertainment was preceded by
short exercises in which the present
incumbent of the Presidency, Said
J. Akel, lauded the services of his
predecessor and his untiring activity in the intei^est of the organization. Mr. Ferris followed by a short
speech in which he outlined the purposes of the Federation and stressed
the intention of creating of the
splendid building of the Federation
a civic centre for the Syrian community at large.
PALESTINIAN WOMEN
THANK RIHANI
The women of Palestine broke
traditions to the extent of holding
public demonstrations and engaging
in many other activities in support
of the Arab cause which were unprecedented among women of the East,
especially Moslems. They also called
a convention for the public discussion of means to further their ends
and gave by their display of aggressiveness and determination great
courage to the workers for the Arab
cause.
The Syrian World has learned that
one of the first acts of this first
congress of Palestinian women was
to send a cable of thanks and appreciation to our eminent author and
lecturer, Ameen Rihani, for his effective defense of the cause of Palestine Arabs in America, reports of
which caused great rejoicing among
the Arabs of Palestine.
AS-SAYEH RESUMES
PUBLICATION
As-Sayeh, formerly one of New
York's Arabic dailies, which had
suspended publication temporarily,
has resumed publication as a weekly
magazine. The announced purpose
of this change is to reinvest the publication with its distinctive literary
character which it had largely disregarded while appearing as a daily.
As-Sayeh is the organ of Ar-Rabitah, the literary society of which
our famous author Kahlil Gibran is
president, and which counts among
its members such known literary
figures as Mischa Naimy, Nasib Arida, William Catzeflis, Nadra Haddad,
Richard Ayyoub and others.
POPULATION OF LEBANON:
FEDERATION HONORS
FORMER PRESIDENT
The American Syrian Federation
of New York held an entertainment
and dance on the evening of February 22 in honor of its former president Joseph W. Ferris, one of the
The census Bureau of the Lebanese
Republic announces that at the end
of 1929, the registered population
of the country was 840,650. These
figures comprise only Lebanese citizens and do not include foreign residents.
�56
THE SYRIAN WORLD
NEW FIND CONFIRMS
ORIGIN OF ALPHABET
CRISIS IN ELECTION OF
ORTHODOX PATRIARCH
Fourteen Sinaitic inscriptions on
stones dating from about 2000 B.
C, which are expected to establish
conclusively that Egyptian hieroglyphs furnished the basis for the
Phoenician alphabet, the ancestor of
our modern scripts, have just been
discovered on and near the plateau
of Serabit-el Khaden, in the Sinai
desert, by an expedition sponsored
jointly by Harvard University and
the Catholic University of America,
according to a dispatch to The New
York Times from Sinai dated March
13. The discoveries were made near
the site of the ancient turquoise
mines in Wadi-el-Maghara and in
the ruins of the Egyptian Temple of
Hathor, goddess of love and beauty,
on the plateau itself, which were first
explored by Sir Flinders in 1904 and
1905.
Among the Egyptian hieroglyphs
then photographed by the English
scholar were certain crudely executed
inscriptions which, although resembling hieroglyphs, defied translation
as Egyptian. It was not until 1918
that two English Egyptologists,
Professors Peete and Gardiner, announced these mysterious inscriptions were not Egyptian at all but
an adaptation of the picture-writing
of the Pharaohs into arbitrary signs
forming consonants of the Semitic
tongue.
On this basis Professor Gethe, a
German scholar, deciphered the majority of the inscriptions and illustrated their kinship with various
late Semitic alphabets. Thereupon
another German Egyptologist, Professor Grimme of Munster, made
the sensational announcement that
the names of Moses and the Egyptian Princess who rescued him from
the Nile appeared in the Petrie documents.
Ever since the death of the Patriarch of the Syrian Orthodox
Church, well over a year ago, futile
attempts have been made to choose
his successor. Several conclaves
have been convened but they invariably resulted in failure, at times
accompanied by physical violence
owing to the interference of laymen
in the deliberations of the clergy.
The latest news to reach the
United States from Syria indicates
that a convention of laymen was held
in Beirut at which it was decided to
call on the bishops to elect a Patriarch within a fortnight from Jan.
29, otherwise the laymen's convention will bring the matter formally
to the attention of the mandatory
power and to that of the native governments of the Syrian States, and
will further disclaim all representative authority of the bishops in
church matters.
This decision was precipitated by
a call issued by the Patriarch of
Constantinople to an ecumenical
congress to be held in Saloniki,
which is said to be the first of its
sweeping nature to be convened since
the division of the Eastern and Western Churches.
..
FAMOUS ORIENTALIST
DIES MOHAMMEDAN
The Syrian press reports the death
in Paris (date not given), at the
age of 68, of the famous French
Orientalist Etien Dene who had embraced Islam and performed the pilgrimage to Mecca. He was especially
noted for his paintings of North
African scenes.
His funeral took place at the
Mosque of Paris and was attended
by the Minister of Marine and many
I
in
�57
FEBRUARY, 1930
French officials and notables, as well
.B by many Moslem sultans of North
African countries visiting in Paris.
His body is to be sent to Algeria
for burial in a special grave lie had
prepared before his death.
LITERACY IN SYRIA
AND LEBANON
According to official figures made
public by the French Commissariat,
illiteracy in the different states of
Syria and Lebanon is as follows:
Country
LOCUSTS IN PALESTINE
A special cable dispatch to The
New York Times from Beershaba
dated February 27 states that Arabs
and Jews have drowned their differences and joined hands in fighting
He dread locust invasion which has
ppeared in the Jordan Valley. The
J
alestine Administration has appropriated $250,000 to combat the
menace and already more than 3000
men have been enrolled to carry on
the fight. The latest scientific devices
known are to be employed to check
the invasion, including flame throwers and poison.
In olden times the natives attempti to check locust invasions by beat.\g drums.
\
AUTOMOBILES IN SYRIA
According to the latest census,
automobiles in Syria at the close of
the year 1929 were as follows:
Lebanon
3,670
Syria
4,150
Alouite State ... 795
Jebel Druze
275
Some Lebanese newspapers complain that the number of automobiles
in Lebanon far exceeds the needs of
the country, inasmuch as its population is only eight hundred thousand souls. They remark that lack
of gainful occupations has driven
large numbers to exploit the automobile traffic.
Percentage of
Illiterates.
Lebanon
40 per cent.
Syria
77 per cent.
Jebel Druze
93 per cent.
Alouite State
85 per cent.
These figures include the whole
population of both sexes and all
classes and ages.
LEBANESE HIGHLY RESPECTED
IN URUGUAY REPUBLIC
The Arabic press of South America reports that the Lebanese colony
of Montevideo, Uruguay, has presented the government of that country with a portrait of General Otiva,
the liberator of Uruguay, woven in
threads of silver and gold and true
in every detail to nature. The woven
portrait, equalling in artistry the
finest European tapestries, was executed by native artists of Zouk in
Mt. Lebanon. The presentation was
made on the occasion of the hundredth anniversary of the independence of the Uruguayan Republic.
PEACE AMONG ARABS
Through the good offices of Great
Britain, King Faisal of Iraq and
King Ibn Saoud of Arabia met on
board a British sloop on February
24 and signed a treaty of peace and
amity. The countries of both kings
are contiguous on Syria and peace
among them should affect stabilization of conditions on Syria's
frontiers.
�THE SYRIAN WORLD
58
I
<***>«f,'**-*r-r*r<^
t
THE LEBANON NATIONAL BANK
3 19 FIFTH AVENUE,
COR. 32ND STREET
Legal Depository of
The United States — New York State — New York City
Member of
The Federal Reserve Bank — New York State Bankers
Association — American Bankers Association
*
*
4-^% INTEREST
We are pleased to announce that our Board of Directors has decided to raise the rate of interest on savings
accounts from 4% to 4J4%, computed every three
months, which raises the rate considerably above 4}4%
per annum.
On check accounts, interest will be paid at the rate of
2 ) for daily balances below $5,000, and 3% for daily
balances of $5,U00 and over.
l
The Lebanon National Bank inaugurates the return
of control to its original founders by this liberal policy
of sharing profits with its depositors. Out-of-Town accounts are solicited on the same basis. We shall be glad
to correspond with anyone, anywhere, interested in availing himself of our facilities and liberal terms.
BANKING BY MAIL is a conception of good business.
You can begin at once to enjoy the facilities of
our "Banking by Mail" department.
THE LEBANON NATIONAL BANK
"THE BANK OF FRIENDLY CO-OPERATION"
319
Corner
New York City
FIFTH AVE.,
32ND ST.,
» >>»>»»»»>>>>>>>>»>», »>>>>>>>>>»>>>>>>
>>>>»>»»
�
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
The Syrian World Newspapers
Description
An account of the resource
<h4>Biographical/Historical Note</h4>
<p>Salloum Mokarzel, a Lebanese American intellectual, founded<em> The Syrian World</em> in 1926. Salloum Mokarzel was the younger brother of Naoum Mokarzel, the publisher of the Arabic-language newspaper <em>Al-Hoda. </em>Together, the Mokarzel brothers ran Al-Hoda Publishing, and in 1909, they published <em>The Syrian Business Directory.</em> </p>
<p>Mokarzel created <em>The Syrian World</em> in order to document and celebrate the culture and history of "Syria." At the time, Syria referred to the modern-day countries of Lebanon, Syria, Jordan, Israel, and Palestine. The publication was primarily aimed towards second-generation children of immigrants, but Mokarzel hoped that it would also appeal to the general American public.</p>
<h4>Scope/Content Note</h4>
<p><em>The Syrian World</em> was published between 1926 and 1932 as a journal. In 1932, the format was changed from an academic journal style to a newspaper style, which continued until the periodical's end in 1935. After the death of his brother Naoum, Salloum took over the publication of <em>Al-Hoda.</em></p>
<p>The articles in <em>The Syrian World</em> cover a variety of topics spanning from the practical to the theoretical. Practical subjects include international and domestic travel, historical and contemporary Arabic and Arab-American art and literature, and the mental and physical health and hygiene of immigrants. More theoretical, philosophical, and ideological subjects include ideologies of race, the changing role of women, the formation of Syrian and Lebanese-American societies, and the political and psychological relationships between immigrants and their countries of origin.</p>
<p>All issues of <em>The Syrian World</em> are available, along with full indexes for the first four volumes. For volumes five and six, there are tables of contents at the start of the issues.</p>
Subject
The topic of the resource
Arabs--United States
Arabic periodicals
Newspapers
Arab American Newspapers
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
Salloum A. Mokarzel
Source
A related resource from which the described resource is derived
New York Public Library
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
Moise A. Khayrallah Center for Lebanese Diaspora Studies
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1926-1935
Relation
A related resource
<em><a href="http://lebanesestudies.omeka.chass.ncsu.edu/collections/show/41" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Syrian Business Directory</a></em>
<a href="http://lebanesestudies.omeka.chass.ncsu.edu/collections/show/44" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Mokarzel Family Papers</a>
<a href="http://hdl.handle.net/11299/175685" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Annotated Index to the Syrian World, 1926-1932</a> at the University of Minnesota Immigration History Research Center Archives
<a href="https://lebanesestudies.omeka.chass.ncsu.edu/collections/show/58" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><em>Al-Hoda Newspapers</em></a>
Language
A language of the resource
English
Contributor
An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource
Processed by Claire A. Kempa, 2015-2017. Collection Guide written by Claire A. Kempa, 2017.
Collection Guide updated by Laura Lethers, 2023 August.
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
The donor retains full ownership of any copyright and rights currently controlled. Nonexclusive right to authorize uses of these materials for non-commercial research, scholarly, or other educational purposes are granted to Khayrallah Center pursuant to U.S. Copyright Law. Usage of the materials for these purposes must be fully credited with the source. The user assumes full responsibility for any use of the materials.
These materials are digital copies of an original resource held by another institution. The KCLDS Archive often works with other institutions to make digital materials available online to the public. KCLDS is not able to grant permission to use or reproduce these materials. The KCLDS Archive strongly encourages users to contact the holding institution for permission to use or reproduce materials from their holdings.
Identifier
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NS 0002
Access Rights
Information about who can access the resource or an indication of its security status. Access Rights may include information regarding access or restrictions based on privacy, security, or other policies.
This digital material is provided here for non-commercial research, scholarly, or other educational purposes pursuant to U.S. Copyright Law.
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
TSW1930_02reducedWM
Title
A name given to the resource
The Syrian World Volume 04, Issue 06
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1930 February
Description
An account of the resource
Volume 4 Issue 06 of The Syrian World published February 1930. Dr. Fuad Shatara opens the issue with an appreciative account of Arab physician Ar-Razi. This article highlights the achievements of Arabs in medicine. Following a short poem about mortality by Dr. Salim Y. Alkazin, Ameen Rihani further details his travels through Arabia. This time Rihani covers his rare experiences while in Jeddah, and a particularly interesting conversation had with King Hussein. Najla Sabe's song, Raja F. Howrani's translated treatise "The Old Criminal," and R. A. Nicholson's poem "Tears" proceed another portion of Salloum Mokarzel's travels in Lebanon. In this issue he covers the distance from the Dog River to the Cedars. Finally Labeebee A. J. Hanna contributes an original short story that discusses a phase of Syrian life in America, followed by one of her poems titled "To My Father." This issue concludes with excerpts from the Arab press and more on political developments in Syria.
Subject
The topic of the resource
Arabic literature--History and criticism--Periodicals
Arabs--United States--Periodicals
Lebanese-Americans--United States--Periodicals
Language
A language of the resource
English
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
Salloum A. Mokarzel
Syrian-American Press
Source
A related resource from which the described resource is derived
New York Public Library
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
Moise A. Khayrallah Center for Lebanese Diaspora Studies
Coverage
The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant
104 Greenwich St., New York, NY
Format
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Text/pdf
Type
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Text
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
The donor retains full ownership of any copyright and rights currently controlled. Nonexclusive right to authorize uses of these materials for non-commercial research, scholarly, or other educational purposes are granted to Khayrallah Center pursuant to U.S. Copyright Law. Usage of the materials for these purposes must be fully credited with the source. The user assumes full responsibility for any use of the materials.
1930s
Ameen Rihani
Fuad Shatara
Labeebee A.J. Hanna
Lebanon
Medical
Music
Najla Sabe
New York
Poetry-English
R. A. Nicholson
Raja F. Howrani
Rivers
Salim Alkazin
Saudi Arabia
Travel
-
https://lebanesestudies.omeka.chass.ncsu.edu/files/original/0256c2568d3a7038ea1a276717c3084f.pdf
ba9f019488dfc35adf7c7252bcd775d9
PDF Text
Text
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VOL. IV. No. 7
MARCH, 1930.
PR
THE
SYRIAN WORLD
A
MONTHLY MAGAZINE IN ENGLISH DEALING
WITH SYRIAN AFFAIRS AND ARABIC LITERATURE
m
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MEETING THE MARONITE PATRIARCH
SALLOUM A. MOKARZEL
ij
THE OLD AND THE NEW IN ARABIA
AMEEN RIHANI
HAROUN AL-RASHID AND THE TWO LOVERS
(AN ARABIAN NIGHTS* STORY)
THROUGH SOUTHERN LEBANON
m
SALLOUM A. MOKARZEL
I
8
CAUSES OF PALESTINE RIOTS
1
THE COPY 50c
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THE
SYRIAN WORLD
Tublished monthly by
SALLOUM
A.
THE SYRIAN-AMERICAN PRESS
MOKARZEL,
Editor.
104 Greenwich St., New York, N. Y.
By subscription $5.00 a year.
Single copies 50c
Entered as second-class matter June 25, 1926, at the post office at New
York, N. Y., under the act of March 3, 1879.
MARCH, 1930,
VOL. IV. No. 7.
CONTENTS
PAGE
Meeting the Maronile Patriarch
SALLOUM
A.
7
MOKARZEL
The Old and the New in Arabia
19
AMEEN RIHANI
On Life (Poem)
27
J. D.
CARLYLE
Haroun Al-Rashid and the Two Lovers
28
(An Arabian Nights' Story)
On Giving and Taking
KAHLIL
32
GIBRAN
�CONTENTS (Continued)
PAGE
The Tzvo Answers (Poem)
DR. SALIM
33
Y. ALKAZIN
The Traveler (Poem)
3+
ALICE MCGEORGE
Through Southern Lebanon
35
SALLOUM A. MoiCARZEL
Advice to a Rash Youth (Poem)
LABEEBEE
43
A. J. HANNA
Editorial Comment
44
Causes of Palestine Riots
46
Political Developments in Syria
S3
About Syria and Syrians
56
GREAT SYRIAN WORLD
CONTEST
FOR
A FREE TRIP TO SYRIA AND RETURN
IS ANNOUNCED
ON PAGES 4, 5 AND 6 OF
THIS ISSUE
spec
Ma
�IN THIS ISSUE
E
•
«
L
ROVERS of travel will find
in this issue much material
to their liking. Mysterious
Arabia and romantic 'Lebanon
are here described in some of
their most interesting phases.
AMEEN RIHANI gives us a
further account of his experiences in Jeddah — how King
Hussein made his subjects live
up to the Koranic law and how
they proceeded to break it once
he turned his back. He also tells
how banking operations are conducted in the public square, the
President and Cashier leaving
their money unguarded, simply
covering it with a straw mat, to
attend to their noon prayers at
the mosque. The whole narrative abounds in the most interesting information. * * *
THE EDITOR describes in a
special article his visit to the
Maronite Patriarch at his summer residence. Some of the
truly wonderful natural scenes
in Northern Lebanon are worth
knowing about, and they are
fully described and illustrated.
The Patriarch's opinions on
home politics and on the religious future of his spiritual children in America are faithfully
recorded. * * * In another article describing his journey
through Southern Lebanon, the
editor recalls some amusing experiences and gives an account
of his observations in Mashgara, Jezzine, Kfarhouna, AlMukhtara, Beit Eddeen and
Deir El-Kamar. * * * KAHLIL GIBRAN is preeminent
in his originality of thought.
He is here quoted on the nature
and meaning of giving and taking. The beautiful decoration
appearing with his quotations is
of his own design. * * * DR.
SALIM Y. ALKAZIN, as
usual, contributes some of his
highly valued poetical compositions, as do Labeebee A. J.
Hanna and Alice McGeorge.
* * * A SHORT STORY, in
the nature of those of the Arabian Nights, is an original translation from the Arabic. Many
are the tales of love and tragedy that have not yet found
their way into English and
which THE SYRIAN WORLD
gives for the first time to its
readers. * * * A SUMMARY
of the official report of the
Shaw Commission of inquiry
into the causes of the bloody
riots of last August in Palestine is published in this issue,
as well as a full account of the
political developments of the
month in Palestine, Syria and
Lebanon.
JOIN
THE GREAT
SYRIAN WORLD
CONTEST
�Great Syrian
For a FREE TRIP to
The editor of THE SYRIAN WORLD having made a trip to Syria in
the summer of 1929, which he is now describing in a series of articles in
the magazine, came to realize not only the great educational and cultural
advantages of such a trip, but its unrivalled possibilities for pleasure and
recreation. In our enthusiasm for the benefits of such tours, we decided to
offer one as a prize to our readers. This is on a par with the most liberal
offers made by the biggest American publications, whose readers are hundreds of thousands and even millions. Needless to say that this is unprecedented in the history of Arabic journalism, whether in America or abroad.
THE SYRIAN WORLD, in making the great prize offer in spite of
the heavy sacrifice involved, considers that in so doing it is promoting the
cause of sympathetic understanding of the motherland. This is in keeping
with the main object behind the publication of the magazine. Whether the
winner be a boy or girl, American or Syrian, the purpose would have been
served by the actual contacts established with the great scenic beauties
and places of immense historical intei'est in our country of origin.
The proposition is unprecedented, the advantages great, the conditions most liberal. It is surely the opportunity of a lifetime for the ambitious.
ITINERARY OF TRIP
The free trip offered by THE SYRIAN WORLD takes the same route
followed by the editor in his recent trip to Syria. Passage will be Cabin
class on the luxurious steamer Providence, of the Fabre Line, sailing from
New York July 2nd. Stops on route and shore excursions will be made at
Ponta Delgada, Azores Islands; Lisbon, Portugal; Naples, Italy; Palermo,
Sicily, and Piraeus and Athens, Greece.
In Syria and Lebanon the winner may remain as long as he desires
and return on any of the Fabre Line steamers to New York, also Cabin
Class.
Sailing from New York will be under the direction and full assistance
of the firm of A. K. Hitti & Co., the well-known steamship ticket agents.
The Beirut Branch of the same firm will render the winner all necessary service and advice free. The editor, thanks to the contacts contracted
on his last trip, will also give the winner letters of introduction and recommendation to many influential friends who would render all necessary
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�World Contest
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TWO
IN
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MORE MONTHS
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�THE
SYRIAN WORLD
MARCH, 1930.
VOL. IV. No. 7.
Meeting the Maronite Patriarch
NJ
By
SAI.I.OUM
A.
MOKARZEL
"THE MARONITES are the largest single group in the population of Lebanon. They take their name from that of St.
Maron who lived in the fifth century and whose disciples sought
refuge in the fastness of Mt. Lebanon fleeing their flourishing
monasteries on the banks of the Orontes to escape religious persecution. For almost fifteen centuries they maintained themselves in Lebanon against great odds in defense of their rights
to independence and freedom of worship.
The Maronite clergy has always played a leading role in the
shaping of the destinies of this valiant people. From time immemorial the clergy were looked upon as not only the guardians of
the faith but as defenders of the political liberties of the nation
as well.
These traditions have obtained, in an unbroken succession,
ever since the Maronites became a homogenous entity. During the
almost continuous internecine feuds and wars with native and foreign enemies, and during the trying times following the crusades,
the Patriarch, as the ranking prelate in the Maronite hierarchy,
was the accredited representative of his nation in both political
and religious matters. Even the chaotic conditions resulting from
the World War could not shake these deeply entrenched traditions. Rather, the momentum which they had gathered during
fifteen hundred years seems to have carried them beyond their
natural bounds, so that the Maronite Patriarch was conceded
the highly complimentary distinction of representing all the
religious groups of Lebanon, Christians and non-Christians—Orthodox, Melchites, Druzes and Moslems alike—at the Versailles
�I
8
I
THE SYRIAN WORLD
peace conference. On that occasion he was given by common
agreement of all elements, who for once forgot their party differences for the sake of the common weal, the significant and
all-inclusive title of the "Lebanese Patriarch," instead of his restricted title of the "Maronite Patriarch."
Nor have the frequent readjustments in the political alignments and administrative changes in Lebanon during the postwar period apparently affected the prestige of the Maronite
Patriarch. Bekerkey is still a name to conjure with in matters
affecting the political destinies of the country. We read that the
President of the Republic, on the occasion of his reelection, inaugurated his new term of office by paying a visit of courtesy to
the seat of Maronite ecclesiastical authority. The French High
Commissioner must be persona grata with Bekerkey, and is bound
by tradition to call on the Patriarch to exchange expressions of
good-will between France and the Maronites. Admirals of
French fleets visiting Syrian waters are lacking of tact if they do
not pay the customary visit to Bekerkey, and when the Patriarch
elects to return the call he is given a salute of twenty-one guns,
like heads of states.
Bekerkey is the official seat of the Maronite Patriarch. It is
situated directly above the seaport of Jounieh at a short distance
north of Beirut, and in the heart of the almost exclusively Maronite district of Kesrawan. It serves as the residence of the
Patriarch during nine months of the year.
In this respect, Bekerkey has the logical and weightier claim
to be symbolic of Maronite ecclesiastical authority. It is so considered in the public mind.
But during the three months of summer the Patriarch takes
up his residence at Ad-Deeman, situated in North Lebanon at a
short distance from the famous Cedars and in the Heart of a
densely populated district that is exclusively Maronite. From
the viewpoint of tradition and historical associations, as well as
of geographical location, the summer seat should be more representative of Maronite prestige and ruggedness of character.
The buildings may be comparatively recent, having been undertaken by the present Patriarch some thirty years ago, but the
location itself is associated with the history of the Maronites
from their earliest settlement of the country. Forming a sort
of semi-circle around Ad-Deeman are the important towns of
Hadath, Hasroun, Becherri, and Ehden, which figure prominently in native lore, while in the other direction there is afforded
I
�*. ,
I
MARCH, 1930
Rising on the very brink of the precipice is the town of Hadsheet,
the windows and balconies of its houses overlooking Wadi Kadisha in a sheer drop of 2500 feet.
the most imposing view of Wadi Kadisha, so called because of
its many monasteries and hermitages where the disciples of St.
Maron first took up their abode. No more appropriate location
could be chosen for the seat of the Maronite authority and the
perpetuation of their traditions. I was fortunate in having had
the opportunity to interview the Maronite Patriarch in these
imposing surroundings, so rich in historical and romantic associations.
*
*
*
The morning of August 3 we left Al-Hadath in the direction
of Ad-Deeman. The summit of Al-Mizab, the highest peak in
Lebanon, rising to a height of 10333 feet, loomed surprisingly
near, while the winding valley of Kadisha offered an ever-changing panorama of wondrous scenery. Along the way we came
across a view that was not only arresting, but awe-inspiring to
the utmost degree. We stopped in our tracks for a considerable
time to marvel at the extraordinary setting.
Rising from the depths of the valley, which seemed fathomless from our high position, was a perpendicular cliff, crescentshaped and projecting into the yawning gorge. The cliff was of
solid rock with hardly a trace of vegetation along the sides, but
s^
=»
�10
THE SYRIAN WORLD
crowned by a plateau which abounded in mulberry groves, interspersed here and there with tall and stately poplars, indicating
the existence of abundant water.
But this was not the cause of our surprise. We could well
imagine that the vulcanic convulsions responsible for these earth
formations could cast them into any fantastic shape. Rather it
was what seemed to us either the desperation or the foolhardiness of man which gave the place its awe-inspiring aspect. For
rising directly from the edge of the precipice, in fact, an unbroken
coninuation of its steep sides, were a cluster of dwellings bordering the fringe like a crown, or like some battlements surmounting the walls of a huge natural fortress. One could see any number of windows opening directly on the valley, while in some
cases there were overhanging balconies balancing precariously over
the abyss. I was told that the sheer drop to the bottom of the
valley was somewhere around eight hundred meters, or more
than 2500 feet. I could also distinguish a church built in like
manner on the very edge of the gaping gorge. The founders of
the town must have had a special reason for adopting such a
building policy, and all succeeding generations lived up to blind
tradition ever since. I further learned from trustworthy sources
that an average of three or four fatal falls, mostly among children or workmen, take place every year. I could not be informed whether the town has a special graveyard at the bottom of the
valley for the unfortunate victims. The name of the place is
Hadsheet.
We arrived at Ad-Deeman at about ten A. M. and were met
in the outer court by the personal attendant of the Patriarch who
informed us that his Beatitude was then at his prayers, it being
his life-long custom to fast on Saturdays and consecrate the day
to devotion to the Virgin Mary. The attendant, Mansur Harb,
proved in many respects a good entertainer and well-informed
guide. He conducted us to an overhanging rock commanding a
superb view of the Sacred Valley, pointing out to us the monastery of Kanoubeen, in the lower reaches of the valley, and appearing like a white speck amidst the dark green of the forests and
mulberry groves and vineyards. This was the former seat of the
Maronite Patriarchs, who chose the location for its inaccessibility
and security. The monks, by the patient labor of centuries, succeeded in terracing the steep sides of the valley to save the soil
from being washed away by the floods, and were thus enabled
. ..,
:
-
..
;
-.;
-
�11
MARCH, 193D
The Sacred Valley in Northern Lebanon as viewed from the
heights of Ad-Deeman. The white spots on the terraced sides
to the right are the old monasteries.
m
to make the soil yield to them the bare necessities of a frugal
existence.
Wadi Kadisha is unquestionably the most majestic and imposing view of Lebanon. Setting aside its historical associations,
its proximity to the Cedars and the many thriving towns it supports on its massive shoulders, the natural view itself gives rise
to the greatest admiration and wonder. The earth formations at
some places are both majestic and phantastic. The opposite side
as you look from Ad-Deeman, for instance, gives the impression
that a great temple, with massive columns and arcades as if designed by a master architect, is wrought in the solid rocky ribs of
the mountain. The recesses distinguished by the deepening shadows indicate the existence of numerous caverns. Huge slabs of
rock protruding over the precipice give the impression of overhanging balconies.
The Valley is uniformly deep, but takes a winding course
which makes possible varying effects of light and shadow at all
hours of the day. One could spend hours and days admiring the
kaleidoscopic colors of its fascinating beauty, but the attendant
had many other places of immediate interest to point out, start-
',.'.
;
. ~:~~
�JL
12
THE SYRIAN WORLD
ing with the
solitary tree on
the projecting
rock immediate1y
below
where
we
stood, and under which
Archbishop Joseph Dibs, the
famous Oriental scholar,
spent many a
month working
on his "History
of Syria." He
was about to
relate more
about places
and things in
this little spot
s o abounding
in interesting
associat ions,
when
Bishop
Paul Akel, secretary to the
Patriarch arHis Beatitude Elias Petrus Howayeck,
rived to greet
us. He conducted us by the main entrance and through a
labyrinth of vaulted corridors to a large reception hall whose
windows on the one side opened in the direction of the Cedars,
and on the other on Wadi Kadisha. The furnishings were of the
simplest—windows with wooden shutters but no curtains; an
unpretentious divan with stationary masnads, or back rests, running along the four walls, and a solitary table in the center on
which were a few books. The walls were also bare except for a
few sacred pictures. The whole atmosphere of the place was thi
of such simplicity as to be severe in its quiet dignity. It was ii
strict keeping with the traditions of extreme austerity characteristic of the Maronite clergy from time immemorial. There is,
however, another reception hall on the upper floor of Ad-Dee-
^
w1*"**"
I
I Thi
�MARCH, 1930
13
I
The lowly, yet exalted throne of the Patriarch who in spite of
his eighty-six years insists on rising unaided.
man, furnished in a style befitting the dignity and prestige of
the nation which the Patriarch represents. This is used only on
the most formal occasions.
Soon the room began to fill with clergymen and laymen, residents and visitors. Archbishops Abdallah Khoury and Elias
Reesha soon entered, followed by many priests and seminars
and visiting priors of near and distant monasteries, while a group
of young people accompanied by a village priest paced nervously
one of the corridors. They had come from the farthest end of
Lebanon for a special dispensation to consummate a marriage
without the publication of banns. The priest came with them to
intercede and to plead. Youth was impatient!
It was now almost eleven and the Patriarch was still at his
devotions, but having been informed of our arrival he graciously
consented to grant us an interview before noon. Soon the measured fall of a cane on the stone-paved corridor was faintly heard
in the distance. As the sound drew nearer a hush fell on the
assembly in the room. The Patriarch was coming!
He presently entered. To one knowing his age he appeared
to be bearing well under the weight of his eighty-six years. The
large bright eyes gleaming from beneath the bushy eye-brows
showed vigor of spirit that defied the physical weight of age
�14
THE SYRIAN WORLD
indicated by the stooping shoulders. The Patriarch walked majestically, slowly. He proceeded to the corner of the room where
a large cushion was spread on the floor and squatted on it, Oriental
fashion, the rising sides of the high divan serving as his back
rest. The lowly cushion was the Maronite Patriarch's exalted
throne! I was told that he receives princes in this informal fashion.
He chooses to assume this position both for reasons of comfort
and of humility.
I had seen his Beatitude Elias Howyeck once before some
thirty years ago when he was elevated to the Patriarchate, but I
was in no position then to fully appraise either the man or the
dignity of his office. On the present occasion, however, three1
decadds of ^experience had their effect in bringing to me a fuller
appreciation of both the office and its incumbent.
The Patriarch was most solicitous for the well-being of the
Maronites of America. "Is it not strange," he remarked, "that
fully fifty per cent, of our people have now migrated to lands
across the seas! We ask the Almighty to grant them the grace
of persevering in the faith of their forefathers. It would be a
most grievous calamity if the precious legacy which has come
down to us through fifteen centuries should be lost in a generation."
A candid discussion of the spiritual conditions of the Maronites in America followed, the Patriarch displaying the keenest
interest in the subject. He readily agreed that the crying need
was for missionary priests capable of understanding the spirit of
the times and appreciating the evolutionary processes of the
changing conditions. Only those priests who have a thoroughly
modern education and are capable of true missionary zeal and
sacrifice should be permitted to come to America, and not those
who are still primitive or provincial or mercenary or exploitative.
Perhaps, it was suggested, a Maronite bishop in America might
succeed in coordinating and controlling the now loosely held
strands of authority. Would not Rome consider the special privileges and traditions of the Maronites and grant a request to
that effect? It was agreed that the plan was beset with many
obstacles, but that an effort was, nevertheless, worth attempting.
Then someone injected the question of politics, and it proved
like the proverbial snow-ball that gathered momentum the more
it rolled. From that moment on nothing else was discussed.
Owing to the great prestige of the Maronite Patriarch, his
opinion on matters political is anxiously sought and appropriately
i
!
�15
MARCH, 1930
The four Maronite prelates, keepers of the old Maronite faith
and traditions, are from left to right: Bishops Elias Reesha and
Abdullah Khouri, the Patriarch and Bishop Boulos Akel.
i
evaluated. Nor was his Beatitude averse to discussing the political and economic situation of the country. The temporal welfare of his people was of paramount concern to him after their
spiritual well-being. It affected him deeply, he said, to see the
people of Lebanon being driven to economic ruin through the
muddling tactics of politics. He who in spite of his advanced
age undertook the trip to Paris to safeguard the interests of his
people, can he suffer seeing them being systematically deprived
of the little they possess of economic resources through the greed
of some unscrupulous foreign interests? Would that he could
again undertake the journey to Paris to fight for the rights of his
beloved people! If this proves impossible there remains the
alternative of sending a delegation of dignitaries direct to Paris,
and over the heads of officials in Syria, to plead the cause of
saving the country from impending ruin.
Then the Patriarch quoted his favorite Latin motto to the
effect that right will assert itself and prevail in the end, no
matter how hard the trials.
It was now noon and the Patriarch made an effort to rise.
He supported himself with both hands on the edge of the divan
and was able to rise only in slow stages and with visibly painful
effort. I was surprised that those nearer him made no effort to
—^-——
�*
16
THE SYRIAN WORLD
Main entrance to Ad-Deeman, summer seat of the Maronite
Patriarch, overlooking Wadi Kadisha, or the Valley of the Saints.
assist him. They stood in their places motionless, speechless. The
situation was getting beyond my power of endurance. Could it
be that the code of manners here was so diametrically opposite
to that obtaining in civilized countries where the weak and the
aged are concerned? I took a step forward in the direction of the
old prelate intending to profer assistance, but a bishop intercepted, and in a quiet tone laden with despair confided to me:
"His Beatitude never countenances assistance from anyone and
insists on rising unaided."
Then it was that the situation became clear to me, and for
the few moments that I watched the laborious efforts of the aged
Patriarch struggling under the weight of his years, summoning
the strength of the spirit to overcome the weakness of the body,
the whole history of the valiant Maronite people, struggling for
centuries against the heaviest handicaps, flashed rapidly through
my mind. How symbolic was the incident! Here was the head
of a nation who may be deemed old judging by standards of age
among individuals, and here was his nation that may be deemed
equally old judging by standards of life among nations. The
chief, through sheer will power and strength of character, refuses
to admit weakness and insists on rising alone. Will his nation
act likewise? Can the action of the aged Patriarch be interpreted
as a good augury? Through fifteen centuries this nation has
i
�mmm^
MARCH, 1930
17
Rear view of Ad-Deeman, showing the new magnificent chafel
under construction.
fought enemies both of elements and of men. It has wrought
the miracle of transforming a barren mountain into a smiling
garden. Will it succeed in maintaining its traditions under
changing circumstances which call for the same fundamental
strength of character but only by resort to different tactics?
We stood for the Patriarch to pass. His gait was slow and
measured and the company that followed seemed a part of a
ceremonious religious procession. At a certain point at the intersection of the corridors the Patriarch halted. To us who were
strangers to the routine of this religious establishment every
movement, as well as every stop, seemed to be charged with an
element of mystery. Bishop Akel, who walked by my side, seemed to read my thoughts but apparently delighted in my mystification.
At a certain marble block in the pavement the Patriarch
raised his cane and tapped once, twice, three times. He repeated
the operation again and again and before the echoes of his tapping had stopped reverberating, through^ the.-vaulted corridors
he proceeded in the^directiohof-the^tfKhg^rrxtfri.'./ ,
Then the mystery was cleared.- The tappings were the equivalent of the dinner bell, and at their sound doors began to fly
open from all directions in the various corridors and a stream of
bishops, priests, and secretaries came flocking to swell the ranks
�18
THE SYRIAN WORLD
of the marchers. These and the scores of visitors falling in step
formed an imposing procession.
To call the great hall in which meals are served a dining
room would be a misnomer. It is rather a mess hall—a huge
vaulted room about a hundred feet or more in length having a
single center table reaching from one end to the other. The
Patriarch sits at the head of the table by the entrance, the bishops
taking their positions at the right and at the left, followed by
whomsoever guests are to be honored, after whom sit the priests
and the general visitors. At times there are two or even more
sittings.
After lunch the Patriarch and the bishops graciously consented^ to pose for a photograph. And when I asked for an autographed photograph of his Beatitude he conducted me to his
private1 room which caused me no end of surprise at its austere
simplicity. All the personal luxury that the powerful Patriarch
of the Maronites enjoys is a plain iron bed, two chairs and an
apology of a wardrobe. Perhaps the nearest thing to luxury in the
furnishing of his room was a prie-dieu.
Twice while I was in the Patriarch's room official papers were
brought to him to sign, and on both occasions I was able to observe
the same surprising charasteristic. No matter how long the document, he never affixed his signature to it until he had read it
through.
Then bishop Akel took us for a tour of inspection through
the building. Up the grand staircase we went to the main reception hall which was not yet completed but even then gave indications of great sumptuousness. A corridor led to the roof of an
extension building from which we could admire the new elaborate
chapel under construction. But from this vantage point a view
could be had of something greater than man could ever build
of the Sacred Valley, with its many natural temples, winding its
way in a majestic sweep to the very hill on which nestles the
famous grove of the Cedars of Lebanon, reverentially called the
Cedars of the Lord, toward which we set our course that same
afternoon.
�19
MARCH, 1930
The Old and the New in Arabia
By
AMEEN RIHANI
INCONSISTENCIES may meet in every man; and for every
Arab of note today there are two Kaabas, the Kaaba of religion
and the Kaaba of the world. He may turn his face towards the
East once or five times, between sunrise and sunset; but for the
rest of the day he turns towards the West, towards Europe. O
thou my Kaaba when I dress, and when I eat, and when I ride
in the automobile. But the new Kaaba is hedged about with
complications and expenditures, which cannot be conquered
without the help of either international treaties and financial
loans, or scientific expeditions and economic concessions. King
Husein tried both, and was still wavering when I saw him between
a foreign treaty and a national concession.
He sent to Syria for specialists, mining and agricultural, chemical and medical,—the alchemists of modern science,—who would
discover and dig up for him the wealth of Al-Hijaz; and they
were all Arab Moslems who could go anywhere, in the sacred
precincts and beyond, without let or hindrance. For a whole year
they roamed and nosed about; smelling oil here; seeing gold
there; giving to certain hills and spots such names as copper,
mica, iron; and asserting that there is even a diamond mine in the
vicinity of Mecca. But there was not in all Arabia a national syndicate to exploit this hidden wealth and save His Majesty from
the fangs of foreign corporations.
Soon, however, a syndicate, headed by a Syrian Muslem, was
formed for the special benefit of King Husein and Al-Hijaz.
Its resources, financial and technical, were adequate; its conditions for exploitation were incredibly liberal; and its Muslem
sentiment, which washed its motives of every tinge of selfishness, was unquestioned. It would give the Government of AlHijaz 40% of its net profits and an option of purchasing 25%
of the shares of the Companies formed. It also offered to build
for the Government two railroad lines, one from Jeddah to
Mecca, another from Yambo* to Al-'Ala, free of charge, as the
pious friends of the Syndicate put it. What the Syndicate proposed was to build the lines, turn them over with all their equip-
�20
THE SYRIAN WORLD
ments to the Hijaz Government, for its exclusive use, and collect the bill afterwards by instalments paid out of the 40% profit.
If there were no profits, more would be the gain to the Hijaz
Government who would have gotten two railroads free of charge.
But King Husein was still dreaming his pan-Arab dream,
which necessitated a treaty with Great Britain, whose conditions,
to be favorable to His Majesty, depended upon his granting the
concession to an English company closely connected, it was said,
with the Colonial Office. So, the offer of the pious Muslem Syndicate was rejected, and the Anglo-Arab treaty in the end met
with a like fate. What was left to the Hijaz, therefore, of the
fruits of the Scientific Expedition were the Military College and
the Agricultural School of Mecca. The two do not hang together
in a modern scheme of progress j but the Agricultural School is
of no use in a country that has no agriculture.
As for the Military College its success depended upon the
Bedu, who are the born enemies of order and discipline. They
know how to carry a rifle, putting it always to its right use, and
that is sufficient. If you would teach them anything else and
subject them to a rule, you have to pay them, instead of charging
a fee. King Husein paid something at the start; for he would
replace, at any cost, the regular army of Al-Hijaz which was
wiped out in the winter of 1919 by the Ikhwan, the Wahhabys
of Najd, in the battle of Tarabah.
In order to maintain the Military College, therefore, and
reestablish a regular Army, which was to redeem the pride and
glory of Al-Hijaz, King Husein came down with a heavy hand
upon the merchants of his Kingdom. How else could he arm
the Bedu and teach them to step in line? The merchants paid
and groaned at first in the bazaar; but His Majesty would make
them pay double for groaning. Willy nilly, they paid and did
their groaning afterwards at home. Some of them, however, who
had no homes, were offered the hospitality of the jail. Or they
were asked to Mecca, which is much worse. For there, King
Husein had a dungeon, many feet underground, which 'was as
prominent in the history of Al-Hijaz under his reign as was the
Bosphorus in the days of Abd'ul-Hamid. He was terrible in his
anger; and when any one by royal order was sent to Mecca,
there was nothing left for him but the dungeon and the mercy
of Allah. Guilty or innocent, they wrote their wills before leaving their homes, they who were ordered to Mecca.
A British squadron anchored one day in the waters of Jed-
�MARCH, 1930
21
dah and was the topic of conversation. "But the Hashemite squadron," said one of the citizens, who was deemed a wit by some,
a fool by others, "the Hashemite Squadron is greater. Otherwise, the battleships of the English would not have come to
make salaam." A few days later he was ordered to Mecca; and
when he arrived at the Holy City, he was taken directly to the
dungeon where he remained four months without a hearing and
without knowing what was his offence. He was then brought before His Majesty the Great Emancipator, who pinched his ear
and gave him a lecture to help him in the future to better speech
when the Hashemite Government and its Navy are mentioned.
I spoke with one of the distinguished citizens of Jeddah
about a bright boy he had, and asked him to send him, not to
Europe, but to Egypt or to Syria for an education. Reply: That
is my wish, but Saiyedna will not permit. There are others too in
Jeddah who would educate their children outside of the Hijaz,
in Syria or in Egypt—but Saiyedna (our Lord) will not permit.
I have already dwelled upon King Husein's profound respect
for tradition. Even more profound is his respect for the Koranic
law. Everything that is contrary to it in word and deed, in the
life of a Muslem; and everything that has aught in it with a
tendency to give the Muslem a freedom, which might take him
out of the law and the tradition; yea, everything with a germ of
knowledge in it, which might develop, even after two or three
generations, into a grub of infidelity, these are evils which the
wise legislator and the just ruler, if they be far-sighted, will
alwavs combat even before they come to light.
Above all things King Husein desired eternal happiness for
the Muslem people;—the happiness which Allah describes and
to which the Prophet points in the Holy Book;—the happiness
that does not depend upon music or dancing or wine or riches,
nor upon education in foreign schools. If, however, he tolerated
certain things, which do this "eternal happiness" no ill, as aeroplanes and armored cars, to use against the Ikhwan, or a condenser to use against the malaria of Al-Hijaz, he could not tolerate at all such things of knowledge as would confuse the mind
and corrupt the heart. He could not tolerate anything that has
the tendency of drawing the Arabs, even though a span, from
the straight path of their religion, which is their most precious
treasure in this world and the next.
His Majesty often said to me that the only education the
Arabs need is that which suits their life and the nature of their
�22
THE SYRIAN WORLD
land, "and enables them, within the bounds of religion—I say,
within the bounds of religion—to enjoy its perfections." There
are two public schools in Jeddah, where about two hundred boys
find these "perfections" in the three Rs, a little geography and
history, and a profusion of the Koran. At both of these schools,
which I visited, speeches were made by the "stars" of the class
welcoming the guest, their "brother Arab" who has come from
atar to help "our rising Mother" to achieve the perfections (the
King's phraseology was the style in those days); and one of the
boys, a hery little spirit, after the usual praise overture, impressed
upon me, m eloquent words and gestures, the need of my doing
so 'without fear or compromise". But there was an undue
amount of the alcohol of politics, for a boy of his age, in the
sherbet of his praise. He informed me that the Hijaz is indebted
to His Hashemite Majesty the Great Emancipator and to his
valiant sons for the freedom and independence it has regained
hut we want to see this freedom and this independence spread
all over the Arab Peninsula." And then, in the bold and fearless manner of his race, after asking me pointblank if I did not
think so, he proceeded to answer his own question. "You would
not have come from far-away America, the mother of freedom,
to Al-Hijaz, the first-born of Arab-freedom, if you did not
think so."
From the school we went to a more modern and more specialized public institution, the T. and T. (Telegraph and Telephone) Office, which is one of the modern Departments of the
Hijaz Government. It is called the Department of Communication, and the Chief has time to receive visitors and do the customary honors. Coffee and tea and soda water were served in
succession, other guests coming in at that particular moment to
share in the bounty of the Government, while the Chief was
dilating on the easy tenor of his Department's way. The operators are all Arabs, who use the Arab system j and their business
is simple, for they send every message by cable across to Port
Sudan—the only cable connecting the Peninsula on the West side
with the outside world.
Next to the Chief's private office is the Markaz, or Central,
the only place of its kind in the world, I think, which is not hallowed by the presence of the hallo-girl, nor her "allo" sister.
The operators are gentlemen in long skirts, who hide the receiver
under silk sumadahs crowned with silk ighals, and add a line to
their fine figures with a red or a green sash wound jauntily
�MARCH, 1930
23
around the waist.
Markaz! Central! and the affable young gentleman is ever
ready with marhaba (welcome). The perpetual smile is there
too—in his voice. 1 said, "ever ready" in haste; for he is at
times, especially in the afternoon, caught napping. His switch
board has twenty-five wires distributed to the Government Departments and the long-distance to Mecca and At-Taief, Markaz'—Mecca—His Majesty. And you hang up the receiver. In
half a minute, a minute at the most, your telephone rings and
Markaz calls you respectfully by your name. How did he knowI
He knows the voice of every one of his customers. Marhaba, riis
) Majesty will speak with you.—Or his Eminence the Supreme
jucw _or anyone you desire in the Government outside the
Kaaba! There, the telephone wires, unlike the wires of the electric, are not permitted.
On our way back from the T. and T. Office, as we were walking up the main street, I was attracted to a little square balustered
platform, jutting between the baker's shop and the grocers, on
which sat or rather knelt two men opposite each other. One of
them had a roll of bills in his hand; and before him on the
carpet were little stacks of silver of small denomination, while
in a movable case with shelves and pigeon-holes were stacks of
dollars of various kinds—Egyptian, Turkish, American, etc. One
of the men was counting his bills, the other was counting his
1
i
It was about noon when we passed, and 1 witnessed what was
more extraordinary than the open-air bank or the kneeling bankers The Mosque was across the way, and the muazzen was in
the minaret calling the Faithful to the noon devotion. So, when
the man finished counting his bills, he and his partner got up,
stepped down from the platform, covered it with a straw mat,
ind leaving their bank thus behind them, went to say noon-day
ra'r __0 Memory, be not unkind. Efface the vision of the
city bandits of the West who walk into a bank at high noon, and,
under the muzzle of a gun, make away with what they find
before them. Or shall I ever forget the straw mat guarding the
bank of Jeddah while its President and its Cashier were making their genuflections in the Mosque to Allah and the Prophet?
But the Justice of the Peace, whom 1 met the following day
at a dinner, was not surprised at all when I was relating enthusiastically about the matter. "There are no robberies in the City,
he said "Because we apply the shot* (The Koranic Law); and
�***
24
THE SYRIAN WORLD
there are but few people in the jail. The political offenders are
sent to Mecca; the robber, after his hand is cut off, is set free to
be an example and a warning; and only those who are guilty of
petty offenses do we imprison. The Arabs quarrel very much,
with reason or without reason,—they fight for nothing,—a word
said in anger, even a word which one fails to say sometimes,
causes a fight. In sooth, such a case once came before me. A
beduin quarreled with another and struck him because he did not
reply to his greeting. But the poor fellow, who failed to salaam,
was deaf. The Arab is often foolish in his pride, and his temper
is like fire."
His Honor, a burly but unconcentrated figure of a gentleman in stockingless feet and a heavy turban, was neither an Arab
nor a Sudanese, but a third or fourth generation one would say,
of both. For he was of a color hard to define:—burned ivory
under a wash coating comes nearest to it. Nevertheless, he had
the manners of a sherif brought up in Stamboul. I asked my
host afterwards if His Honor was a good judge. "He fills the
diwan" was the reply. He sprawled, to be sure, upon the diwan,
but he had the politeness to conceal his feet. Nor would he have
spoken of the law and the jail, had I not opened the subject. It
is one of the fine traits of the Arabs that they do not talk shop.
But Captain Yanni,whose official title is assistant Director of
the Aviation Department, is neither Arab nor Muslem, and is
therefore forgiven for airing his views ever and always on the
Air Force of King Husein. He had, moreover, a shop of ideas
which he would never close for the sake of Arabia. Captain Yanni
would have been a centre of trouble, of change, of activity, of
infidelity, of progress in Hijaz the Holy, if Hijaz the Holy was
not a wilderness. He was the one man in Jeddah who did not
hold down in the presence of the King. And he drank, and he
smoked, and he once had a Muhammedan mistress. Captain
Yanni is a bandit of the spirit: he has in him the blood of his
own bandit-ancestors, the modern Greeks, as well as that of a
saintly Syrian family. His maternal uncle was a bishop; his father
was a publisher, and he was in Hijaz the necessary evil of King
Husein.
The necessary good, if the Old Man knew well his business.
Yanni would supply the Hijaz Government with all the instruments of modern warfare,—the surplus or the second-hand stock
of one of the Allied Powers,—in perfect condition, at one-tenth
of the cost price!—Tanks at a -$1,000 each to mow down the
�Wahhabys; aeroplanes at $500 apiece to scatter the Idrisi forces
to the wind and banish the Idrisi House clean out of Arabia;
auto-busses at the price of a second-hand Ford for the comfort
and delectation of the pilgrims; and, ye Gods of the Acropolis!
this infernal Roumi, this Greco-Syrian revolutionary, would open
a cafe and a cinema in the very heart of Jeddah. A performer
of miracles, if the Old Man would only nod.
What he did once, for my benefit, was equal to a miracle.
The Condenser was out of order for a few days, and there was
no water in Jeddah but that of the wells, which was brackish and
lukewarm and scarce and dirty. Even the water that oozed out
of the earthen jar and gathered in the bowl that held it was of
the color of whey. I took it with lemon juice, in addition to the
quinine, to ward off the malaria. The Condenser water was clean
but not always perfectly desalted. Besides, it was always as lukewarm as the water from the wells. This was the calamity that
lasted twenty days. Never in my life did I have a greater desire,
a more oppressing desire, for a glass of ice water.
One day I heard a noise in the kitchen that resembled the
tinkle of ice in a pitcher of water in the hand of a negro boy at
the door! and I was transported to New York, elated for a trice,
and tormented for a long time after with the disillusion. I poetized before my friend about ice water, even about spring water,
even about the water of Ashokan in distant Manhattan. And
what happened: The following day at luncheon a glass of ice
water was placed before me. I could not believe my eyes. I could
not believe my hand. But the glass was ice cold and the vapor
was on my ringers. Praised be the Most High! No glass I have
ever raised to my lips gave me a more intoxicating delight.
Now, where in Jeddah did the ice water come fromr Yanni
is not a magician—I say—in the manner of His Majesty—he is
not a magician. But I will discover to you the trick and leave
you to judge of his ingenious and enterprising mind. A steamer
had anchored in the harbor, and Yanni had seen the two thermos
bottles I had in my bag. A moment later one of his Takrourmyrmidons, with a note and the said two bottles in his hand, was
seen hiring a sanbook at the port.
The King was still in Mecca that day. So in the evening,
our friends who came to dinner took their Scotch with water
instead of soda—ice water, thanks to Yanni—and took it in the
drawing room! But when His Majesty was in Jeddah, we had
to go into a closet and in the light of a candle do the bloody deed.
-
-
'
'
'
�i
THE SYRIAN WORLD
MA
He had us all cowed, the Old Hashemite. For in his days Jeddah was supposed to be dry, and the smuggling of liquor was
inevitable. Much of it was even smuggled into Mecca. One of
the King's Secretaries once lost his job, because, while packing
to return to the Holy City, a bottle dropped out of the bag in
the presence of the King. But as soon as His Majesty was out
of the city gate, Jeddah began its celebrations. The bottles came
out of the chests, the lute and the tambourine were uncovered,
and he who had a voice gave it the freedom of the night. The
King is gone to Mecca, Allah be praised!
But when he came back to town, the Jeddites put on sackcloth and ashes, and their city became a sanctuary submerged in
tea and soda-water and milk. The drinking in the closets by the
light of the candle, nevertheless, continued, and Pericles of the
cork helmet and the latest brand from Athens or London, came
withal to the King's majlis, and kowtowed and fawned and kissed
Majesty's hand. The bootlegging Greek! if the son of the
Prophet but knew.—In Jeddah once I met an accursed Roumi
who was what the Americans call a bootlegger, and I took him
by the throat and smote him thus.
Old Pericles, feeling a distant kinship to Yanni, often came
in the evening bringing a bottle with him; otherwise, the Army
officers would not Jet him join in a game of poker. A few came
to the Guest House for fellowship—and a drink—only; and one
of these had a few ideas as wild as Yanni's. He was the most
liberal turban in Jeddah, and he would always drink till his
liberalism began to reel. Sheikh Qasem, who speaks English,
Turkish and Arabic, was sent to Constantinople in the days of
the Young Turks to represent the Hijaz in Parliament. There
he met and befriended the translator of Homer into Arabic, the
Christian philosopher and poet Sulaiman Bustany; and every time
they had a discussion, Qasem would say to Sulaiman: "The only
way to reform the world is to make you Sheikh 'ul-Islam and be
myself the Pope of Rome." He would then quote, being an
orthodox boozer, from the English translation of Omar Khayyam:
noth
26
"Would we not shatter it to bits and then
Remould it nearer to the heart's desire?"
When Sheikh Qasem first told us the story, one of the Army
officers exclaimed: "Nothing can reform it but the sword."
The poet demurred: "You had the sword and you reformed
are i
ing
over
t
Mil
X
Shei
tinu
the
or r
till
—A
(l)
(2)
(3)
�mm—mm
"—
""'
27
MARCH, 1930
nothing."
The merchant interposed: "Our curse is the Bedu—the Bedu
are a problem which only Allah can solve."
Whereupon Captain Yanni, leaving the poker table and coming to the centre of the room: "Armed ignorance can only be
overcome by armed education."
"Excellent!" exclaimed the Army Officer. "The Hashemite
Military College was established for that purpose."
"Hashemism can reform nothing." The voice was that of
Sheikh Qasem, who calmly laid down his glass and calmly continued, "Zu Hasan (1) will remain robbers and cut throats till
the end of time;° the Bedu of Ruwais (2) can never be educated
or reformedj and the Buqoum (3) will lie and cheat and betray
till Allah wipe out the last of their seed. Pray upon the Prophet!
—And thou O Roumi, fill the glass."
(1) Zu Hasan are sherifs who live between Lith and Jeddah along the
coast and are pirates and highway robbers.
(2) The Bedu of Ruwais who are like Zu Hasan beyond Government control, operate in the north between Jeddah and Yambo'.
(3) The Buqoum is a tribe that lives in Tarabah and Khurmah on the border
line between Najd and the Hijaz; and among them are Sherifs who
have become Wahhabys. The King claimed them because they are of
Benu Luaiy, the sherifs of the Hijaz, and the Sultan of Najd claimed
them because they had become Wahhabys. But the question was settled at the battle of Tarabah (1919), in which the Army of the Hijaz,
12,000 led by the Ameer Abdalla'h, was wiped out completely by 6,000
of the forces of Ibn Sa'oud.
On Life
Translated from the Arabic by J. D.
CARLYLE
Like sheep, we're doom'd to travel o'er
The fated track to all assign'd,
These follow those that went before,
And leave the world to those behind.
As the flock seeks the pasturing shade,
Man presses to the future day,
While death, amidst the tufted glade,
Like the dun robber, waits his prey.
�THE SYRIAN WORLD
Haroun Al-Rashid and the Two
Lovers
AN ARABIAN NIGHTS' STORY
(Translated from the Arabic original)
[N the days of the illustrious Haroun Al-Rashid, there lived
in the city of Baghdad a great musician and singer by the name
of Mouabbad whose fame had spread throughout the land and
who sang not only in the court of Jaafar but in the court of the
caliph himself. Through the excellence of his art he had amassed
great wealth, so that in his affluence he consented to sing only for
the highest circles and for exceedingly large fees. Those of moderate or limited means could never aspire to the distinction of
having him sing for them.
As related by an Arab chronicler on the authority of Mouabbad, the latter found himself one day face to face with a strange
situation which demanded quick decision, inasmuch as it affected
his personal prestige on the one hand and the loss of a large
sum of money on the other. He was not slow in coming to the
decision, but his surprise was not in the personal benefit involved
as much as in the happy ending which his action brought about in
one of the strangest love incidents ever to happen in the city of
Baghdad, even at the pinnacle of its romantic career during the
merry and glorious reign of the caliph Haroun Al-Rashid.
Mouabbad relates his strange experience as follows:
"On the afternoon of a certain day, when I had chosen to
seclude myself in the privacy of my house, denying myself
to all callers, my servant came to report that an insistent young
man was at the gate seeking a private audience with me. The servant had strict orders not to admit anyone, and it seemed to me
strange in the extreme that in the face of my explicit orders he
should disturb me with such a request. But his excuse was that
the determination and insistence of this particular caller were
such that he could not deny him at least the transmission of a
message. And I could trust the intelligence of my servant to feel
confident that he must have exhausted all possible means before
he chose to bring the request to me.
�MARCH, 1930
29
"Realizing the situation, my curiosity was aroused and I had
the caller admitted. He proved to be a youth of handsome features and stately bearing, but who seemed to suppress under a
serene countenance emotioas of the deepest pain. He greeted me
politely, and almost without any preliminaries laid before me a
bag of three hundred gold pieces, saying:
" 'In consideration of this sum please sing for me the following couplets:
" 'My eye has brought deep torture to my heart,
But it shall pay in floods of bitter tears.
No! Never with my secret will I part,
Until I die, or she to me appears.' "
Said Mouabbad:
"I sensed in the poetical selection that some love tragedy
had befallen the youth, but rather than disappoint him by
refusing to sing them, I thought that by complying with his
request I might soften his sorrow and I forthwith tuned my oud
and sang the verses in a soft and plaintive tone which 1 improvised to fit the meaning of the verses. Imagine then my surprise
when the youth fell unconscious, so that it was with great effort
that my servant and I could revive him by'sprinkling his face
with rose water and rubbing his hands.
"The youth showed his extreme gratefulness by bending over
my hands and feet and covering them with kisses, but so great
was his longing that he implored me with copious tears to repeat
the song just once more. This I refused to cio, telling him bluntly
that I feared for his life if I were to again tap the source of his
pent-up emotions by a repetition of the song which had so affected
him. But again he was insistent and exclaimed, 'Oh! of what
value is my life any more! Would that I could only meet my
death amidst such sweet melodies!'
"Yielding to his solicitations, I again sang the verses even in
a more touching manner, and as on the previous occasion, he
again swooned and fell unconscious, and it was with much more
effort that my servant and I could revive him this second time.
But once he came to, I laid the bag of gold in his lap saying:
T have had sufficient trials for the day. Please take back your
gold, may Allah have pity on you, and depart in peace.'
"The youth, however, would not listen to my counsels and
importunities. Rather, in his desperation, he countered by saying: 'Master, not only this sum, but another of equal amount
�30
THE SYRIAN WORLD
will I give you if you but sing me the verses just another turn.'
And again he fell at my feet weeping as if he had lost all control of his will.
"I will admit that the double sum which the youth offered me
tempted my weakness, and I consented to his request only on
condition that he accept my hospitality and partake of some food
that he might be able to withstand the coming ordeal. To this he
proved agreeable and in this manner I was able to extract from
him an account of the experience which brought on him his present state of misery.
" 'About a year ago,' he began, 'I sought the banks of a brook
in a picnicking party with some members of my tribe. There we
encountered a company of young women, apparently of a strange
tribe, disporting themselves in the water, and among them was
a maiden the like of whom I had never beheld, and never expect
to behold. She had the beauty of the rising sun, except that I
would compare the sun to her, she being the more beautiful in
my eyes. Her eyes were overpowering magnates, irresistible in
their attraction. One felt in her presence that life was of no
value to be laid at her feet. I became her helpless slave the
moment I first laid my eyes on her.
'That night I returned to the encampment in a state of bewilderment. I was ill with an illness which the doctors of the
tribe could not diagnose, but an illness, nevertheless, that was
: devastating my frame and reducing me gradually to a mere skeleton of skin and bones. The women of the tribe alternated in
keeping vigil over me as I was expected to pass away any moment.
'One of my cousins, suspecting the cause of my illness, implored me one day to confide in her my secret. By that time I
had grown so weak and despondent that I thought I had better
die with the secret of my heart on my lips, and with burning
words I told my cousin the story of my love.
'Now this cousin smiled at me sympathetically and said: 'Why
grieve you thus when you know not whether your love is unrequited or not? Perhaps the damsel entertains for you the same
love that you bear for her. Take courage, then, and let me assist
you in discovering a means of communicating with your beloved.'
'Saying which she explained to me that the tribe of this
damsel was in the habit of passing by our district twice every
year, in the spring and in the fall, and since they had now gone
south they were due on their return journey within a few short
months. She also promised to keep watch for the return of the
A*
�"
mm
">
MARCH, 1930
31
tribe and to do all possible to put me in communication with the
captivator of my heart.
'Under the gentle ministrations of this sympathetic and understanding cousin I began to take courage and become stronger,
and in due course of time the tribe returned, and my cousin and
I sought the banks of the same stream, and to my great delight
saw there my own beloved damsel.
'I felt as if I could fly to be by her side, but modesty restrained me, and I had my cousin recite to her the following
verse:
'She shot a dart that found the heart and left
Without attempting once to heal the wound.'
'Upon hearing which the damsel replied by the following
quotation:
'Our case is even worse than you suspect,
Abide your time, for succor may be near.'
,
Continued the youth: 'Hearing this, I refrained from any
further exchange of quotations and waited until the damsel and
her company departed, I following them until I discovered her
tent. After which we used to meet under the mantle of night
and exchange the sweetest conversation. But this bliss was of
short duration, because her folks soon became aware of our trysts
and caused her to be kept under the strictest surveillance and
seclusion, even refusing to consider my offer of marriage for the
well-known reason among the Arabs of preventing any marriage
between persons whose love relations become publicly known.
And here I am a helpless prey to my love, while I know that the
love is returned and only the moral code of the Arabs prevents
the consummation of our happiness.'
Said Mouabbad: "Having heard the story of the youth, I
felt no further reluctance in singing him the verses and he departed apparently relieved. But it was now my turn to be troubled,
and I forthwith sought the court of Grand Vizier Jaafar and
asked permission to sing him the very verses which the youth had
suggested in the same tune I had composed for them. And Jaafar was exceedingly pleased, and asked me how 1 had come by
this beautiful selection. This was the very occasion I was seeking
and I recounted to him the whole story of the youth and his
predicament. Whereupon Jaafar commanded me to fetch him,
and I did, and he had us all accompany him to the presence of
MM
�M
THE SYRIAN WORLD
32
the great caliph Haroun Al-Rashid who, upon hearing the song
and the story of the youth wrote to his agent in Al-Hijaz, where
the tribe of the damsel was then encamped, ordering them to
his presence. And at his command the two lovers were united in
marriage regardless of all considerations of moral codes or traditions, he even supplying the bride with the necessary dowry and
bestowing upon the couple many valuable gifts."
On Giving and Taking
By
KAHLIL GIBRAN
k,
We are all beggars at the gate of the temple, and each one
of us receives his share of the bounty of the King when he enters
the temple, and when he goes out.
But we are all jealous of one another, which is another way
of belittling the King.
You cannot consume beyond your appetite. The other half
of the loaf belongs to the other person, and there should remain
a little bread for the chance guest.
I stopped my guest on the threshold and said, "Nay, wipe
not your feet as you enter, but as you go out."
Generosity is not in giving me that which I need more than
you do, but it is in giving me that which you need more than I do.
You are indeed charitable when you give, and while giving,
turn your face away so that you may not see the shyness of the
receiver.
The difference between the richest man and the poorest is
but a day of hunger and an hour of thirst.
v
�>
1
33
MARCH, 1930
The Two Answers
By
alf
DR. SALIM
Y.
ALKAZIN
A MIDST a loving few the Prophet sat,
Inhaling deep the balmy breath of night,
Musing, pondering long; his eyes tracing
Upon the domed page of heaven the signs—
The mystic signs of fate—the awful lines
Of light and flame—and what between the lines
He read, I cannot tell.
He listened long,
He gazed and gazed. Perchance Gabriel's face
He saw among the stars and heard his voice.
Or more, perchance the airy legions he
Perceived with faces turned towards the Throne
And heard their song.
A sigh the silence broke—
How deep the sigh! How awful was the spell
It broke! Then one by one upon the ears—
The anxious ears, and longing, thirsting hearts—
Like drops of dew upon the parched land
His words now fell:
"All, all that dwell in heaven
Above, and all that crowd this earth below
And all that fill the space between extol
And praise Allah! At night the gates of heaven
Are open wide—extol and praise Allah!"
The name of God the spell of silence broke.
Then one, a stranger lately come, a new
Convert unto the faith, advanced and said:
"O Prophet of Allah, my heart has gone
To thee. I love thee well—dost thou in turn love me?"
"Thy heart will tell thee, friend. It knows, for hearts
Are witnesses." The Prophet spake and turned
His back upon him and he vanished in
The night.
"What made him go?" the whisper ran,
�34
THE SYRIAN WORLD
"The question put: the answer given: and what
Is there:.... Yet hold, how strange that answer was!"
Then one, "I love thee, too; my heart has gone
To thee, O Prophet of Allah. Hast thou
A place, though small, within thy heart for me?"
"My friend, there is a silent, secret road—
A bridge from heart to heart. I've answered thee."
The Traveler
By
ALICE MCGEORGE
I saw a pleasant winding roadway,
Trees lapping overhead,
'Twas splotched with sunshine, knit with shadow
I wondered where it led.
It slyly whispered, "Follow, follow,"
There's romance just ahead;
Adventure lurks, and pleasures beckon.
"I come," I softlv said.
A river winding down the valley,
Trees arching overhead,
The eddying current dimpled brightly,
I wondered where it led.
It boldly shouted, "Follow, follow,"
Then breathless on it sped,
No time to loiter, or to reckon,
"The rapids," I cried in dread.
�MARCH, 1930
!
35
Through Southern Lebanon
A CHRONOLOGICAL RECORD OF THE
EDITOR'S TRIP ABROAD
VI
By
'
SALLOUM
A.
MOKARZEL
f"YWING to its central location, Zahle was my starting point for
many flying excursions in all directions of Syria and Lebanon.
It is situated mid-way between Beirut and Damascus, while tht
famous city of Baalbek, in the northern end of the Beka' plain,
is at less than an hour's drive. The southern end of the plain is
equally as convenient to reach from Zahle. So taking advantage
of the ready convenience, we bid farewell early one morning to
the host of friends along the Bardouni and sped along an even
road in the direction of Mt. Hermon.
My destination for that day was Mashgara, the native town
of my better half, whose folks I had heard so much about but
never met. For over twenty years I was having it dinned in my
ears that Mashgara was the most beautiful town in the world—
a terrestial paradise, and attributed the statement to the natural
pride of every native in his own home town. And if that native
happens to be of the fair sex, and above that your wife, there
remains no ground for fair objection, and submission or acquiescence becomes inevitable.
Now, however, I was afforded the opportunity of visiting
the town for the first time in my life, without the benefit of wife.
I could judge it by its appearance, free from any interference,
and whatever merits there be to the case I could take at their
face.
At a point near Kabb Elias we left the level road and began
a gentle ascent up the mountain which permitted of a wider
perspective of the enchanting beauty of Al-Beka' plain the
higher we rose. This section of Lebanon is but sparsely settled,
and one could admire on one side the rugged, natural beauty of
the mountain, and on the other the symmetrical and designed
beauty of the plain. The scene continues thus until one comes
�36
THE SYRIAN WORLD
abreast of Mt. Hermon, when the western Lebanon range is
broken in the higher reaches and permits of a sharp turn from
south to west through a narrow pass. It is then that one comes
into the thickly populated section of Al-Beka', passing in rapid
succession through such important towns as Saghbin and Aitaneet,
until one reaches the metropolis of the district, Mashgara. The
reason for this condition is that water abounds on the western
slopes and is scarce elsewhere. Mashgara, owing to its abundant
water supply permitting of the development of a tanning industry, fared better than any other town in Lebanon during the
.war, because of the need of the Turkish army for leather.
We passed a point midway between Aitaneet and Mashgara
which I cannot pass here without comment. Rising on a prominent hill was a beautiful mausoleum of Carrara marble, which I
was told was especially imported from Italy. A wide path was
cut from the main highway to the mausoleum enclosure, and
such pains were taken to beautify the place that shade trees were
planted on both sides of the path, giving it the appearance of a
miniature Taj Mahal!
The legend of this beautiful sanctuary of the dead in its
manifestly odd surroundings is that a certain citizen of Aitaneet
migrated to America and prospered. He returned and impoverished himself by heavy investment in property. Again he returned to America and accumulated a second fortune, but this
time he acquired for himself a rich wife and conceived the idea
of the mausoleum to perpetuate his memory. Such carefully laid
plans did he have, and such pains did he take in the execution
of every detail, that he even planted vines and a variety of fruit
trees for the accommodation of the visiting pilgrims to his grave.
He wished them to eat and drink and be merry and ask mercy
for his soul! The surprising development is that even before
his demise he saw both the trees he planted and the plans he laid
come to fruition. One of his entesprising young townsmen, aided
by his pretty and coquettish wife, opened a cafe alongside the
mausoleum which became immediately popular with the lovers
of Kaif!
The automobile road to Mashgara was in the early stages
of construction at the time of our visit in year of Our Lord 1929.
This would sound strange for a progressive district metropolis,
but in justice to the otherwise laudable enterprise of the Mashgaranians it must be recalled that Mashgara before the war was under direct Turkish rule as a part of Syria, and not annexed to auto-
�MARCH, 1930
37
Mashgara, whose lower quarter stretches into the valley of the
river Litani in a beautiful setting.
nomous Lebanon as it is now. And a royal road to Mashgara
in its rugged mountainous setting takes time to build.
At the town boundary we came to a bifurcation in the road
which exemplifies the enterprising spirit of the people of Mashgara. One branch led to the heart of the town and that was the
public highway, while another branch led to the upper quarter
which is populated predominantly by the Trabulsi family. The
Trabulsis built this private road out of their own funds. The
town owes them also many other public improvements, principal
among which is the contemplated project for generating hydroelectric power in the falls of the Litani intended to provide the
town with electricity.
At the end of the private road, which, by the way, is of considerable length, we came to the house of Suleiman Trabulsi,
leading citizen of Mashgara and for several decades its sheikh
or magistrate. His benign face and outstretched arms bespoke
his open hospitality. And that not because I was his brother-inlaw, as he was known for this generous quality throughout the
length and breadth of the land.
Then came Sophia, sister of Helena my wife, blessed be
the souls of both! She made me feel the first touch of feminine
�38
THE SYRIAN WORLD
lips since I left home. And she was so motherly prodigal in the
display of her affection! She kissed me first for, her sister, then
for each of her children and grandchildren in America. \o\v of
her children alone in America there are seven, and of grandchild
dren an equal number. Under her volley of kisses I felt that
she must have taken account also of her children at home of
whom there are no less than four, and added a liberal quantity
for good measure. I promised to distribute some to her loved
ones upon my return. What sterling qualities this grand old
woman of Mashgara has! Her voice rang with such sincerity
when she told me that she considered me like Nesib, her oldest
son, who, by the way, is about my own age.
The Trabulsi house hugs tightly the side of a steep mountain which rises abruptly to the rear. From the heavy stone railing of the flat roof a magnificent view is had of the opposite
mountain and of the rolling hills marking the opening of the
valley. The town below seems piled one house above the other
in serrated formation. The incline is so steep that no lower story
of any house seems to need but three walls, the fourth being
the solid side of the mountain.
But amidst this profusion of rustic scenery there was brought
a touch of ultra modernity that was all but amazing. Wonderful
America, how far thy influence has traveled!
Within the enclosure of the Trabulsi property, made by
planing several terraces, was a tennis court! A modern apartment was built on a corner of the immense flat roof of the house
that is all but a New York penthouse! The furniture is in period
style and the windows have wire screens! A bath room is available with running hot and cold water! And to further carry out
the effect, you have the luxury of a day bed! Yes, you are cramped for space in Lebanon!
Elias, a son of Suleiman, is a dealer in antiques in New
York. He paid a visit to the parental home a few years ago, and
this modern creation in an antique setting was the result.
That night almost half of Mashgara gathered at the Trabulsis to congratulate them on meeting with their brother-in-law.
We chose to hold the reception on the roof bathed by the silvery
rays of the moon and in close,proximity to the twinkling stars.
John Trabulsi was also there. He too is of New York where
he has an exclusive Fifth Avenue apartment and loves the comfort of American city life. He had been to Paris but left it with
�MARCH, 1930
39
the impression that it was still very much wanting in comparison
to American cities. To Mashgara, his beloved hometown, he
wanted to bring all the possible modern conveniences and amenities that would make it worth living in.
John would have the streets, if such there are, swepUgnd
sprinkled in summer as a sanitary measure. If the public revenue
of the town is only eight hundred liras it should be increased
by further taxation. The roads should be kept in good repair
and cheap electricity provided. Joseph Mokarzel, the progressive publisher of Ad-Dabbour, approved of John's suggestions
in toto. But the rest of the people were groaning under their
taxes as they are, and felt that if a few rich citizens of the town
in America could stand an increase in taxation, they could not.
John finally had to satisfy his civic zeal by liberally sponsoring
the hydroelectric project.
The following day we decided to visit Jazzine and continue
on our trip through Southern Lebanon. A military road had been
opened the year previous between Mashgara and Jazzine over
the twin mountains called At-Towmat, which it was proposed
we should take. The fact that the road was very steep most
of the way, and had been badly washed out in places by the
heavy rainfall of the previous winter, gave us ground for many
exciting experiences. We were.in two automobiles and, contrary
to most similar accounts we read, it was our car and not the other,
fellow's which went awry. At every climb it would simply
refuse to move, and we would have to scramble out and take
the shorUcut and meet it at the next turn. Even when we had
reached the summit and began the descent, we rode only in short
hauls, preferring to walk than to trust our lives to a balky car
and a cranky driver.
We had climbed in and climbed out so often that I became
careless of my movements. And therein was the cause of another
calamity. It so happened that while leaving the car at one time
in disgust, I was caught on the seat of my trousers by the sharp
point of the door, and the rip that resulted was in proportion
to my disgust. What added to my discomfiture was the ringing
laughs of the ladies riding in the other car,—Trabulsis all, by
the way,—Rasheedi of New York, Olga of Zahle and Angele
of Mashgara.—And I could not possibly retort. I only appealed
to their sense of decency to turn their faces the other way, slipping meanwhile behind a boulder for a few minutes. What a
relief to have an extra pair of trousers! Let the comedians poke
�THE SYRIAN WORLD
40
m -. •
-«*U •;
I . !
/:
View of Jazzine from the north, showing the high 'perpendicular
cliff and the numerous large, modern hotels.
all the fun they want at those buying two-pants suits and burning a hole in the coat."The hole there is better than elsewhere!
The engagement of that car was the poorest bargain John
ever made. He was carried so far by his desire to patronize
a townsman that he had dismissed for his sake a chauffeur
of a neighboring town who had served him long and well on
many other journeys.
At Jazzine we were the guests of Dr. and Mrs. Habib Nassif who lived up to the highest traditions of Lebanese hospitality.
I had heard much of the beauty of Jazzine from its many sons
in America, and on this visit I discovered that they were not
exaggerating. Especially is the view of its famous cliff and falls
imposing. The sheer drop is even higher than that of Niagara,
but the volume of water, especially in summer, is unconsequential.
We took refreshments on the balcony of a hotel built by Mgr.
Paul Rizk directly at the edge of the precipice. Jazzine has
become within the past few years one of Lebanon's most popular
summer resorts, and its many hotels are among the largest and
the best appointed in the country.
A suggestion was made that we go to Kfarhouna, a town near
Jazzine, to witness the celebration of the feast day of the local
patron saint. The reason advanced was that this fete attracted
annually enormous crowds from all the countryside. Obviously,
the proposition was an attractive one, because it afforded us a
w
�MARCH, 1930
i
/
i
!
41
unique opportunity to see a typical native celebration of these
feast days on an elaborate scale.
Kfarhouna lies in a depression amidst several low hills. We
reached it at dusk when the festivities were at their height. In
the principal square were several thousand people of all ages
bent on merry-making. Here was a group drinking and listening
to an oud player; there was another drinking and listening to
a quawwal or singer ; still another group was drinking between
their dabke dances, and finally any number of groups just sitting
and drinking. I observed several parties who had brought phonographs in the conviction that the instrument would obey them
in giving their choice selections more than the temperamental
human artist. But nowhere was there any rowdyism or objectionable drunkenness. The only surprising feature was that the
church was deserted!
I tried to extract from an old resident of the town an account
of how the feast originated and he obligingly informed me that
Our Lady of Kfarhouna had miraculous qualities. He could not
recall just what miracles were wrought through her intercession,
but the first intimation of her powers was when she revealed herself in an apparition to a notable of the town .and directed him
to dig for water at a certain spot and there would gush forth a
spring which would bring great blessing to the town. When the
notable doubted, she appeared to him again, and this time he did
dig at the spot indicated and struck water. The water effected
many cures and believers began to flock to the town in increasing
numbers as the years went by. And this in spite of the fact that
the spring dried up shortly after its appearance.
Incidentally, I learned that the said notable was a large
property owner. All honor to him, for his dream has actually
come true, and his having obeyed the command to dig has brought
a never-drying stream of prosperity to his town.
From Jazzine and Kfarhouna we proceeded to visit other
interesting places in Southern Lebanon. Passing through an intensively cultivated country we reached the town of Al-Mukhtara, seat of the powerful Druze family of Janblatt. There Sitt
Nazira rules in her beautiful ancestral palace, but not in the
manner of the feudal system of yore. She is not only one of the
most enlightened, but one of the most progressive women of
the country. Her initiative in inaugurating industrial progress
is truly admirable. She generates electricity from the abundant
water supply of the palace which once went to waste and uses the
... ... .......
�-
42
THE SYRIAN WORLD
The approach of Belt Eddeen from the south is over a road that
skirts a steep precipice appearing in the right foreground
The palace is in the center background
power to operate a flour mill, an olive press and a carpentry shop,
besides lighting the palace and part of the town. I had an interview with her which lasted almost two hours, in which she discussed unreservedly the widest range of subjects, from the economic rehabilitation of the country to the status of the Druze
women both at home and abroad. A fuller account of this interview will be given separately.
At a short distance to the north we came to Beit Eddeen, the
one-time capital of Lebanon during the long and glorious reign
of Emir Bashir Shehab. Unquestionably the Emir's palace is
the finest example of Eastern architectural and decorative art
in Lebanon. It can be truly called a palace both in its proportions and in its fine design and arrangements. It is still in the
finest state of preservation.
Then the road led on a straight line north to historic Dair ElKamar which also claims the distinction of having once been the
capital of Lebanon. Through the massive door of the old Saraya one reaches the inner court where in the war of 1860 a
thousand Christians were trapped by the treachery of the Turks
and slaughtered in cold blood. You are shown the balcony from
which the bodies of the victims were thrown to an outer yard
which still serves as their resting place and is called the martyrs'
graveyard.
�MARCH,
1930
43
But for the good road.s in this district we could not have
visited so many interesting places in less than a day. As it was,
we had ample time to visit the famous springs of Al-Barouk and
Ain Zhalta and reach the heights of Dhour Kl-Baidar, on the
Beirut-Damascus road, before the sun had stolen from Sannin
its golden crown and hid behind the placid waters of the Mediterranean.
Advice to a Rash Youth
By
I
LAIJEEBEE
A. J.
HANNA
I would not sail on what I knew—
Straight to the open sea:
I'd try to learn a little more
To go on some mad spree!
1
A little knowledge does not give
A license — or a wing!
I'd want to know the notes and rhythm
Before I tried to sing!
I would not travel with a young fool
To show that I could lead3
I'd rather follow an able guide—
No others do I need.
I would not shout to the heavens
When a stormy wind blows by;
I'd rather sing on a summer's day
My voice would reach the sky!
:
�THE SYRIAN WORLD
44
EDITORIAL COMMENT
^E TRUST that the change
in format, introduced with
this issue of THE SYRIAN
WORLD, will please our readers.
Hitherto the quality of paper
used was bulky but light,
whereas the present paper is
smooth and heavy. This permits of printing the illustrations
in conjunction with the text, insuring their appearance nearer
the points intended to illustrate.
Obviously this was impracticable with the former arrangement when the illustrations
were printed separately and inserted where convenient.
While this change will affect the apparent thickness of
the magazine, it will not actually cause any reduction in
the amount of Reading matter.
The number of pages remains
the same, and whenever the
necessity arises additions could
always be made.
*
*
Vj7E would be anxious to bring
THE SYRIAN WORLD up to
the highest standard obtaining
among American periodicals.
Nothing would please us more
than to be able to double and
triple its size, to print it in colors, to have the material especially illustrated, and otherwise
introduce such typographical
improvements that would materially enhance- its attractiveness. We know that some of
our critics take pleasure in
pointing out our shortcomings
particularly along that line.
They see the appeal in the
great American magazines and
establish the comparison without consideration of capital invested, staff engaged and revenue from advertisements and
from a circulation running into
the millions. While we who
cannot use even the plural for
thousand in counting our subscribers, who do violence to the
editorial "we" in reference to
staff and who even have to contend with the still prevalent
Syrian notion that a subscription is synonymous with a gift,
we are expected to attain the
high standards of American
publications on such meager resources! Our critics do not even
stop to consider that if we were
to pay for contributions there
would not be left the shade of
a possibility of publishing a
single issue.
We have exhausted all
available methods for increasing circulation, our last and
most ambitious effort being the
prize offer of a free round trip
to Syria. We would be loath
�-
45
MARCH, 1930
to admit that the Syrian business instinct asserts itself even
in matters cultural to the extent of buying quantity instead
of quality—of wanting size and
appearance in a publication regardless of the cause it is meant
to serve. But the contrary remains to be proven.
for the kind of service we have
pledged ourselves to promote.
*P
*l*
*P
ALTHOUGH six installments of the account of the
editor's trip abroad have so far
been published, the subjects
have been confined almost exclusively to Lebanon. With the
coming installment, however,
A GAIN we would emphasize we hope to bring the account of
that THE SYRIAN WORLD is our travels in Lebanon to an
under no subsidy and that it end and proceed to other parts
receives no financial assistance of Syria, following our itinerof whatever nature or from ary in chronological sequence,
whatever source. It was under- traveling from Tripoli through
taken for the service of an ideal the Alouite State to Aleppo,
and the only obligation it feels Hama, Horns and Damascus.
is to that company of voluntary Jebel Druze will follow with a
contributors who have given of full account of the many intertheir best towards the promo- esting experiences met with in
tion of this service. They are that section of Syria lying on
the thinking element who feel the fringe of the desert and
the value of the principles still abounding with the elewhich THE SYRIAN WORLD ad- ments of romance and mystery.
In order, however, to further
vocates and have generously
rallied to its support. If their expedite the account, interviews
efforts and ours meet with such with religious and political
little response, then something leaders will be dealt with sepamust be radically wrong either rately, following the manner
with us or with the Syrian pub- of describing the meeting with
lic for which the publication is the Maronite Patriarch appearintended. We would like to ing in this issue. This would
learn where the fault really lies mean the publication of two
and what could be done to- articles dealing in some form
wards its correction. We pledge or other with the editor's exourselves to give full publicity periences in Syria in each of
to all opinions of whatever the coming numbers. The apshade or tenure. Let us see if preciation of these descriptive
we can get together on some and highly informative acconstructive effort and ascer- counts shown by our readers
tain if there is really any need justifies the action taken.
�THE SYRIAN WORLD
Causes of Palestine Riots
SUMMARY OF THE REPORT OF THE SHAW COMMISSION OF INQUIRY ON THE RESULT OF ITS INVESTIGATION INTO THE
CAUSES OF THE PALESTINE DISTURBANCES OF AUG.,
1929.
_ Editor's Note:—The long-expected report of the Shaw commission of inquiry was made public in London on March 31.
Forecasts of the findings of the Commission cabled earlier in the
month represented the report as favoring the Arabs. It does favor
them to the extent of absolving them from the charge of premeditation in the August riots, as well as of any hostile design
against the British mandate. The Grand Mufti, however, is subject to mild censure for having failed to exercise the prestige of
his office to ward off the danger. At the same time, the Jewish
Palestine Executive is given to understand plainly that it is not
entitled to share in the function of government, while the several
constructive recommendations of the commission would clarify
the political situation in Palestine, regulate immigration, curb
the press and maintain a strong military garrison capable of coping with further outbreaks. The dissenting member of the commission, Harry Snell, a Laborite, lays a greater share of blame
for the riot at the door of the Grand Mufti and is otherwise
more partial to the Jewish cause. The following summary of
this historical document was cabled from London on the day of
publication by the Jewish Telegraphic Agency and published in
the New York Times of April 1.
Summarizing its findings as to the cause of last August's outbreak,
the Shaw Commission declares that the fundamental cause "without which!
in out opinion, the disturbances would either not have occurred or would
have been little more than a local riot, is the Arab feeling of animosity
and hostility toward the Jews, consequent upon the disappointment of their
political and national aspirations and fear for their economic future.
"The feeling as it exists today is based on the two-fold fear of the
Ar^bs that by Jewish immigration and land purchases they may be deprived of their livelihood and in time pass under the political domination
of the Jews. In our opinion the immediate causes of the outbreak were, first
a long series of incidents connected with the Wailing Wall which began
on the Day of Atonement in September, 1928, and ended with the Moslem
�MARCH, 1930
I
47
demonstration of August 16, 1929.
"These must be regarded as a who'e, but the incident among them
which in our view contributed most to the outbreak was the Jewish demons
stration at the Wailing Wall on August 15.
"Next in importance we put the activities of the Society for the Protection of the Moslem Holy Places and in a lesser degree of tha Pro-Wailing
Wall Committee; secondly, the exciting and intemperate articles which
appeared in some Arabic papers, in one Hebrew daily paper and in the
Jewish weekly published in English; thirdly, the propaganda among the
less educated Arab people, of a character calculated to incite them; fourthly,
the enlargement of the Jewish agency; fifthly, on the inadequacy of the
military forces and reliable police available; sixthly, the belief due largely
to a feeling of uncertainty as to the policy that the decisions of the Palestine Government could be influenced by political considerations."
The commission's report, devotes considerable space to recommendations for the future. In this regard it says, "We attach the highest importance to our recommendation that his Majesty's Government should
consider the advisabiHty of issuing a clear statement of policy, the value
of which would be greatly enhanced if it dealt with the points which we
set out in the second stipulation of the following clause:
"Our recommendations regarding immigration and land questions are
largely based on the assumption that in their definition of a policy the
government will clearly state that the rights and position of non-Jewish
communities in Palestine are to be fully^safeguarded."
In defining this policy the report says, "It is our view that the issuance
of a clear statement of the policy which the government intends to pursue
in Palestine is essential to good government. We therefore recommend that
the government consider the advisability of issuing such a statement with
the least possible delay.
"It is important that the government make clear that they intend
to give full effect to that policy with all the resources at their command.
Whatever form the statement of policy may take, its value would be
greatly enhanced if it contained a definition in clear and positive terms of
the meaning which the government attaches to passages in the mandate
providing for the safeguarding of the rights of non-Jewish communities in
the country and if it laid down for the guidance of the Palestine Government directions more explicit than any yet given as to the conduct of
the policy of such vital issues of land and immigration."
The commission's recommendation on immigration declares that "any
uncertainty as to the line of policy to be pursued in the vital matter of immigration is bound to be reflected in the conduct of the Palestine Government
in the attitude and temper of the Arab people and those representing Jewish interests. We recommend, therefore, that the government issue at an
early date a clear and definite declaration of the policy which they intend
to be pursued regarding the regulation and control of future Jewish immigration to Palestine, and in framing that declaration they should have
regard to our conclusions on the subject of immigration.
"The administrative machinery for the regulation of immigration
should be reviewed with the object of preventing a repetition of the excessive immigration of 192.3-26. Consideration should be given to the pos-
�48
THE SYRIAN WORLD
sibility of devising some more suitable method of regulating the disposal
of immigration certificates under the labor schedule. Until such time as
some form of representative government is established in Palestine, machinery should be, if possible, devised whereby non-Jewish interests in
Palestine could be consulted upon matters which, had there been a legislative council, would have been referred to a special immigration committee, of which mention is made in a statement of policy contained in the
White Paper of 1922."
Discussing the land problem the report recommends that "a scientific
inquiry should be taken by experts into the prospects of introducing improved methods of cultivation in Palestine. The land policy could then be
regulated in the light of the facts ascertained by these scientific investigations. It is of vital importance that in any scheme of land development,
adopted as a result of the expert inquiry regard should be had to the certain and natural increase in the present rural population,
mentioned elsewhere. The Palestine Government should consider the posthe present tendency toward the eviction of peasant cultivators from the
land should be checked by the adoption of one of the alternative methods
mentioned elsewhere. The Palestine Government should consider the popssibility of reviving the agricultural bank or providing by other means for
the needs of the poorer cultivators who require credit facilities to enable
them to improve their present methods of farming."
On constitutional developments the commission declared: "We do not
wish to make any formal recommendation on this question. We would,
however, urge that when the question of the constitutional development
of Palestine again comes under review regard be had to our conclusion in
another chapter of this report that the absence of any measure of selfgovernment is greatly aggravating the difficulties of local administration."
Discussing the Wailing Wall, the commission declared: "In December last,
while we were still in Palestine, we communicated to you a recommendation that the government take steps to secure the early appointment under
Article XIV of the mandate of an ad hoc commission to determine rights
and claims in connection with the Wailing Wall. The early determination
of the rights and claims connected with the Wailing Wall is a measure
essential to the peace and good government of Palestine. We consider,
therefore, that the constitution of a commission and its departure for that
country should be expedited by every possible means."
Referring to fhe activities of religious societies, the report says: "Since
the disturbances in Palestine legislation dealing with offenses against the
State, including sedition, has been repealed and replaced by an ordinance
based on English criminal law. In the circumstances we feel that it is
unnecessary for us to make any recommendation under this head."
On the matter of the incitement of the press, the report recommends
that "steps should be taken to insure that the attention of the senior officers
of the Palestine Government in the future be called to any article appearing in the Palestine press which is of an inflammatory character and likely
to excite the feelings of the people. The Palestine Government should
examine the press law now in force with a view to making provision, if
such provision does not exist now, which would enable them to obtain convictions from the courts in any case in which it is proved that articles
�MARCH y 1930
49
tending to a breach of the peace hod been published in a newspaper in
palps tin6.,J
Regarding incitement, the report urges that steps be at one etaken
to remedy admitted defects in the intelligence service of Palestine. An
adequate and efficient intelligence service is essential to enable the government to check the activities of persons who endeavor to stir up racial feelings."
.
On the functions of the Zionist Organization and the Palestine Zionist
Executive the report recommends that "the government should reaffirm the
statement made in 1922 that the special position assigned to the Zionist
Organization by the mandate does not entitle it to share in any degree
in the government of Palestine. We recommend for the consideration of
the government that they should examine the possibility of laying down
some precise definition of the meaning of Article IV of the Palestine mandate."
,
. .,
Recommendations for defense and security are that "the question of the
most suitable form of garrison for Palestine should be referred to the
appropriate advisers of the government. Until that question has been
decided and thereafter until racial feeling has shown some marked improvement, no reduction should be made in the present garrison of two
battalions of infantry. An independent inquiry should be made by an experienced police officer from some other dependency into the organization
of the Palestine Police Department. You have already accepted and acted
on this recommendation. The Palestine Government should be instructed
to inquire into and report upon the possibility of forming a reserve of
special constables."
While praising the conduct of the British Police in Palestine during
the period of the disturbances, the report admits in discussing defense and
security that the policy of reducing the garrison in Palestine and Transjordania was carried too far.
"The Palestine Police, regarded collectively, were not to be relied upon
after fire had been opened or for purposes of fighting at close quarters,"
it says." "The Transjordanian frontier force behaved with exemplary
loyalty, but the intelligence service in Palestine proved inadequate."
The outbreak was not, nor was it intended to be, declares the report,
a revolt against British authority. Referring to the Zionist complaints
against the Grand Mufti of Jerusalem, the report declares that the motive
of his alleged desire to make secure his own position as president of the
Supreme Moslem Council, which formed part of the case put forward
against the Mufti, had not been established.
"The Mufti, so far as we can see, had no reason to suppose that his
tenure of office was in any danger," says the report, "and in playing the
part that he took in the formation of societies for the defense of Moslem
holy places and in fostering the activities of such societies the Mufti was
influenced by the two-fold desire to annoy the Jews and to mobilize Moslem opinion on the issue of the Wailing Wall.
"He had not intended utilizing this political campaign as a means of
inciting to disorders. Inasmuch as the movement which he partly created
became through the force of circumstances, a not unimportant factor in
the events which led to the outbreak, the Mufti, like many others who
�-———————______—
50
THE SYRIAN WORLD
directly or indirectly played upon public feelings in Palestine, must accept
a share in the responsibility for the disturbances."
The report says that there is no evidence that the Mufti issued any
requests to the Moslems of Palestine to come to Jerusalem on August 23
and that no connection has been established between the Mufti and the
work of those who were either known or thought to have been engaged in
agitation and incitement. After the disturbances had broken out, the report
points out, the Mufti cooperated with the government in its effort both to
restore peace and to prevent an extension of the disorders.
Referring to the Zionist complaints against the Palestine Arab executive, the report concludes that the charges of premeditation and organization of the disturbances are not proved against the Palestine Arab executive, and "if made in relation to the actual events of August 23 and the
following days are negatived by the known facts. The charge of deliberate
incitement to disorder has not been substantiated against the Palestine
Arab executive as a body, but we have little doubt that some of the constituents who have been elected to the executive carried out among the
more ignorant Arab people a campaign of propaganda calculated to incite
them. It is probable, though except in one case there is no proof, that individual members of the Arab executive further exacerbated racial feeling
after the disturbances had begun. For their failure to make an attempt
during the week preceding the disturbances to control their followers, to
declare publicly and emphatically that they were on the side of law and
order, neither the Mufti nor the Palestine Arab executive can be acquitted
of blame."
No blame can be properly attached to H. C. Luke, Acting High Commissioner of Palestine during the riots says the report referring to the
Zionist complaints against the government on the ground that he did not
obtain reinforcements from neighboring countries before August 23.
"Looking back on the question in the full light of our present knowledge, it is our view that it would have been a reasonable precaution if Mr.
Luke had mobilized the troops within his jurisdiction at some convenient
place in Palestine some time during the days which immediately preceded
the disturbances, but for reasons which we have explained elsewhere we
do not think that any serious criticism can be properly levied against Mr.
Luke for his failure to adopt this course.
"We endorse Mr. Luke's action in declining to arm a considerable number of Jewish people, whose services were offered on the 17t)h. We are satisfied that in taking his decision that forty-one Jewish constables should
be disarmed, Mr. Luke was following the highest military advice available
to him and using his own unbiased judgment as to the line of action which
was best calculated to serve the interests of the people with whose wellbeing he was charged.
Many exciting and intemperate articles were published in the Palestine
press between October, 1928, and August, 1920. We consider that the
power of the Palestine Government to suspend the press should have been
invoked against the papers which published some of these articles.
"We cannot attach any blame to any police officer for the failure to
prevent the Jewish demonstration at the Wailing Wall on August 15.- It is
our view that those who were present during the discussions with the
�MARCH, 1930
51
leaders of the Jewish youth failed to make clear to Major Saunders that
the Jewish leaders declined to accept one of the conditions which Mr. Luke
attached to his decision that the procession should be allowed to go to
the Wailing Wall on the 22nd.- Any attempt to have prevented by force
the Moslem demonstration on August 16 would have been dangerous and
ill-advised.
"Rumors current in Palestine immediately before were the natural consequence of the two demonstrations of the 15th and 16th."
Turning to the complaint that the Palestine Government had consistently shown a lack of sympathy toward the Jewish National Home and
that its policy had been one of weakness the report says that this ' is in
large measure due to the difficulties inherent in the mandate and the failure
to appreciate the dual nature of the policy which the government has to
administer. It is our view that the government did discharge to the best
of its ability the difficult task of maintaining a neutral and impartial attitude between two peoples whose leaders had shown little capacity for
compromise."
.
On the subject of immigration the report admits that Jewish enterprise and Jewish immigration were not in excess of the absorbtive capacity
of the country and "have conferred material benefits upon Palestine, in
which the Arab people share. We consider, however, that the claims and
demands, which from the Zionist side had been advanced, regarding the
future of Jewish immigration into Palestine, had been such as to arouse
among the Arabs apprehension that they will in time be deprived of their
livelihood and pass under the political domination of the Jews.
"We further consider that Sir John Campbell was right When he
reported that the crises of 1927-28 were due 'to the fact that immigrants
came into Palestine in excess of the economic absorbing power of the country' There is incontestable evidence that in the matter of immigration
there has been a serious departure by the Jewish authorities from the
doctrine accepted by the Zionist Organization in 11)22 that immigration
should be regulated by the economic capacity of Palestine to absorb new
arrivals.
-„ . ,
In conjunction with other and more immediate causes for the disturbances, the feeling of Arab apprehension caused by Jewish immigration
was a factor which contributed to the outbreak.
The land problem comes in for considerable attention. On this matter
the report savs: "Soon after the institution of civil government in Palestine,
the administration became anxious lest the interest of the tenants and cultivators be prejudiced by the sale of large estates. The land transfer ordinances of 1920 and 1921 were passed with the object of protecting the
interest of cultivators and preventing their expropriation from the soil.
These ordinances failed to achieve their objects and were replaced by the
cultivators' protective ordinance of 1929.
"Between 1921 and 1929 there were large sales of land, in consequence
of which numbers of Arabs were evicted without provision of other land
for their occupation. In some cases, the Arabs who were dispossessed received cash compensation, and no criticism can be levied against the Jewish land companies in respect to these transactions. Those companies were
acting with the government's knowledge
�52
THE SYRIAN WORLD i
"The cultivator's protective ordinance of 1929, while giving compensa- I
tion for the disturbance, does nothing to check the tendency toward dispossession of the cultivators from their holdings. The mere provision of compensation in money may even encourage that tendency. The position is now
acute. There is no alternative land to which the evicted persons can be
removed. In consequence a landless and discontented class is being created.
Such a class is a potential danger to the country.
Source of Discontent Seen.
"Unless some solution can be found to deal with this situation the
question will remain a constant source of present discontent and a potential cause of future disturbance. Palestine cannot support a larger agricultural population than it at present carries unless the methods of farming
undergo radical changes. With more intensive cultivation, should this prove
to be possible, room might be found for a number of newcomers in certain
districts."
The constitutional grievances of the Arabs also come in for some attention in the report, Which says on this subject: "It is a matter of regret
that the Arab leaders did not accept the offer of a legislative council that
was made to them in 1922. Today the Arab people of- Palestine are united
in a demand for a measure of self-government. This unity of purpose may
weaken, but it is liable to be revised in full force by any large issue which
involves racial interests. It is our belief that the feeling of resentment
among the Palestine Arabs consequent upon their disappointment at their
continued failure to obtain any measure of self-government is greatly aggravating the difficulties of local administration."
The difficulties inherent in the Palestine mandate in the Balfour Declaration, the report declares, are factors of supreme importance in a consideration of the Palestine problem. "The issue of a clear definition of
policy backed by a statement that it is the firm intention of the government to supplement that policy to the full would be of the greatest assistance in securing good government of the country."
Labor Member's Reservations.
Harry Snell the Laborite member, differs from the other members in
attributing to the Grand Mufti a greater share in the responsibility for
the disturbances than is attributed to him in the report. He is of the opinion
that the Mufti "must bear the blame for his failure to make any effort to
control the character of the agitation conducted in the name of the religion
of which, in Palestine, he is the head."
Although he agrees that the Arab Executive was not of necessity
responsible as a body for the words or acts of its individuals or followers,
Mr. Snell finds it difficult to believe "that the actions of the individual
members of the Executive were unknown to that body, or indeed that these
individuals were acting in a purely personal capacity."
In regard to the campaign of incitement Mr. Snell is unable to agree
with the conclusions in the report acquitting the Moslem religious authorities of all but the slightest blame for the innovations introduced in the
neighborhood of the Wailing Wall. It is his opinion that the innovations
"were dictated less by the needs of the Moslem religion and the rights of
property than by a studied desire to provoke and wound the religious susceptibilities of the Jewish people."
«
The
�MARCH, 1930
53
Political Developments in Syria
four declaration. Judging by the
tenor of the commission's findings,
The Shaw Commission's report on
this interpretation could not be oththe causes of the Palestine disturb- erwise than a disavowal by Britain
ances of last August was published of any intention to help the Jews
in London on March 31, and if it establish a national home in Palescaused a certain degree of elation tine against the interest of the
among the Arabs, it aroused pro- Arabs. In fact, considerable sentiportionately twice as much bitter- ment seems to be developing lately
ness among the Jews. A summary
in favor of establishing cantons in
of the report is published elsewhere
Palestine similar to the Swiss sysin this issue of The Syrian World. tem of government. This would perAs a result of the commission's mit of local or district governments
findings, Premier MacDonald made bound together only by national
a statement in the House of Com- obligations. Where the Jews premons on April 3 reaffirming Great dominate, such as in the district of
Britain's resolve to continue to ad- Jaffa, they would be given the right
minister Palestine under the terms of autonomous government, in which
of the League of Nations' mandate.
case they would assert themselves
In this declaration of policy the Pre- within limited bounds. This would
mier received the hearty support of tend to relieve the tension created
both former Premier Baldwin for the by the desire of the Jews to lay
Conservatives and David Lloyd- claim to the government of the
George for the Liberals. This is whole country when their total numtaken to prove conclusively that ber does not exceed 150,000 as comGreat Britain's colonial policy can- pared to an Arab population of
not undergo any material change
something like 750,000.
under no matter what form of govThe native press of Palestine and
ernment. Those under British rule,
Syria
continues to publish frequent
in fact under the domination of any
reports
of attempts by the Jews to
European power, should by now
smuggle arms and ammunition into
realize the fact.
Press dispatches from Palestine Palestine. The Arab boycott of the
state that publication of the Shaw Jews is reported to be still in full
Commission's report in Jerusalem force, and although no fresh outbreaks have been reported, thanks
was received with a large amount
to the vigilance of the authorities,
of placidity, because both Arabs and
Jews had taken the forecasts se- passions seem to be restrained with
riously so that the publication of difficulty.
A Palestine Commission, headed
the official text caused little surby
the Grand Mufti of Jerusalem,
prise. The Jews, however, were the
the
one who is censured by the Shaw
ones to feel the disappointment more
commission
for having neglected to
keenly because of the commission's
recommendation of a more lucid in- use the prestige of his office to preterpretation by Britain of the Bal- vent the bloody riots of last August,
PALESTINE
�i MARt
THE SYRIAN WORLD
54
is now in London in the interest of
furthering the claims of Palestinian
Arabs. Upon the publication of the
commission's report, members of
the Palestinian delegation were reported to have expressed satisfaction with its findings and recommendations.
Lord Balfour, author of the famous Balfour Declaration pledging
England to help the Jews in the
establishment of a national home in
Palestine, died in London on March
18.
SYRIA
An important development in the
Syrian political situation was the
meeting in the week of March 16,
of the Constituent Assembly at
Damascus for the purpose of discussing the deplorable condition to
which the affairs of the country
have been reduced as a result of
the continued policy of procrastination by the French High Commissioner. What lends the meeting more
significance is the fact that the Assembly was dissolved by the High
Commissioner on the promise to
study its demands and find a mutually satisfactory solution. To have
convened without the approval of
the High Commissioner indicates
the degree of desperation to which
the members of the Assembly have
been driven. Their action constitutes
an open defiance of the authority
of the mandatory power.
The meeting was said to have been
attended not only by the legally
elected members but by many delegates of the Syrian Nationalist
Party from all parts of the country.
The deliberations continued for several days, resulting in the preparation of a memorandum to be presented to the High Commissioner as
embodying the final and concrete de-
:: :-
:
mands of the Syrian nation. The
signers are said to have emphasized
at the outset that the Constituent
Assembly remains the only legal
body empowered to represent the
people, inasmuch as it derives its
powers from the people themselves
through popular election. Furthermore, the Assembly consented to
the act of suspension only on the
understanding that by so doing it
would give the mandatory authorities time to consider the national
demands and promote the policy of
understanding. Now that over a year
has elapsed since the cessation of
its functions, during which time no
progress seems to have been made
toward effecting a satisfaetoi-y solution, the Assembly feels it is obliged
to resume its duties to save the
country from threatened economic
ruin.
The Syrian Nationalists further
insist that a copy of their tentative
draft of a constitution be submitted
to the League of Nations for consideration. By this they hope to forcibly call attention of the Powers to
the justice of their demands.
One of the main grievances of the
Nationalists, as set forth in the
petition, is the continuation in power of the Tajeddeen government.
They contend that this provisional
government was only set up to supervise the elections to the Constituent Assembly. It has continued
in power ever since and has grossly
abused its privileges by granting
national concessions to foreign interests. In this the Nationalists
claim the government is acting illegally because it cannot claim a
de jure status and they demand the
revocation of all grants and concessions so undertaken.
A Nationalist editor has been
sentenced to a year in prison for
having accused a minister of the
I
�MARCH, 1930
ever, was an argument which developed between him and the President of the Assembly, a Moslem,
over a point of parliamentary procedure. The next day a resolution
concurred in by 27 members was introduced demanding a vote of confidence in the Cabinet without debate. The signers of the petition,
sympathizers of the President of
the Assembly, being overwhelmingly
in the majority, carried the day with
steam-roller tactics. Premier Eddy
immediately handed in his resignation.
Reports state that consequent
upon these developments, the President of the Republic visited the
French High Commissioner to confer with him on the situation. The
Premiership was said to have been
refused by both the defeated Premier Eddy and former Premier
Bishara Khoury, as well as by many
others who would not expose themselves to the intrigues of a politiLEBANON
cal machine. Finally August Adeeb
The Eddy cabinet met the fate undertook to form a cabinet and
of its predecessors and was defeated succeeded in winning a vote of conm a stormy session of the Repre- fidence. His choice for Minister of
sentative Assembly on March 20 by Education was Gibran Twainy, who
an adverse vote of 27, the twelve is expected to placate the Moslem
other members present having re- element in the matter of the application of educational reforms. The
frained from voting.
This is all the more regrettable Eddy reform and economy program,
because of the high hopes placed on on which so much hope had been
the application of the ambitious re- placed, seems to have been thrown
form program of the Premier who into the discard.
The new Premier is a man of
seemed to be making considerable
progress in effecting needed econo- wide administrative experience. A
mies. He met his nemesis,, as it Lebanese by birth, he entered the
would appear, in the attempt to do employ of the Egyptian governaway with sinecures and abolish ment and rose to the highest post to
inefficient schools. The unfortunate which a foreigner is eligible in the
part is that most of these schools Ministry of Finance. Through purely
were for the Moslems who interpret- patriotic motives, he returned to his
ed the Premier's action as prompted native land at the conclusion of the
World War and was appointed delby religious bias.
The immediate cause of the crisis egate to the conference on the adwhich terminated in his defeat, how- justment of the Ottoman debts.
Tajeddeen government of profiteering by the granting of concessions.
A movement that threatens to assume serious proportions is the demand of the Aleppians for secession
from the central government of
Damascus. Six copies of a petition
whose authors claim the backing of
the overwhelming majority of the
Aleppians were being circulated
for signatures prior to presentation
to the High Commissioner when
the authorities took peremptory action to stop the movement as being
of a seditious nature. The grievances
of the Aleppians are that they are
not properly represented in the government, that they pay three-quarters of Syria's taxes and receive no
benefit in return, and that all poblic
improvements are being confined to
Damascus. The petitioners demand
separation from the State of Syria
as a measure of safeguarding their
interests.
i
55
�'
56
'
THE SYRIAN WORLD
About Syria and Syrians
RIHANI ON A LECTURE
TOUR OF THE COUNTRY
INCREASING APPROPRIATIONS
FOR BYBLOS EXCAVATIONS
Our noted traveler and author,
Ameen Rihani, is at present on the
Pacific coast fulfilling lecture engagements with universities, clubs
and societies. In the week of March
10 he gave a series of three lectures
at the University of Illinois on various political and historical topics.
The week following he lectured in
Kansas City and crossed west to
Portland, Oregon, thence proceeding to San Francisco and Los Angeles. Newspaper clippings reaching us from these various sections
through the courtesy of our readers
concur in describing the high degree
of enthusiasm with which Mr. Rihani's addresses are met at every
stage of his journey.
A bill asking for an appropriation
of £S35,000 for excavation work at
Jubail, ancient Byblos, for 1930 was
reported to the Lebanese Representative Assembly and is expected to
be favorably acted upon.
The author of the bill proposes
that about 75 per cent, of the appropriation go to the purchase of
land known to have been the site
of ancient cemeteries, the balance
being devoted to actual excavation
work. This section of Mt. Lebanon
is admittedly very rich in ancient
relics, as Byblos was once a
flourishing kingdom and the seat
of the Phoenicians' most advanced
civilization. In the excavation work
of 1929, relics of immense historical value were recovered and placed
on exhibition at the National Museum of Beirut, which is now one
of the principal places in the itinerary of tourists visiting the country.
The many specimens of exquisite
workmanship in jewelry and pottery executed by the early Phoenicians nearly four thousand years
ago are cause for the greatest
admiration.
SILVER JUBILEE FOR
A MARONITE PRIEST
The congregation of Our Lady of
the Cedars Maronite church in Boston will give a banquet on April
27 in celebration of the twentyfifth anniversary of the ordination
of their pastor, Rev. Stephen Douaihy, to the priesthood.
Father Douaihy has had a most
interesting career. Educated at the
Maronite College in Rome, he became private secretary to the Patriarch upon his return to Lebanon,
and accompanied the prelate to Paris
at the conclusion of the World War
on his political mission.
Father Douaihy came to the
United States in 1920 and was pastor of the Maronite congregation of
Scranton, Pa„ until 1929, when he
was transferred to Boston.
SYRIAN AND LEBANESE
STUDENTS IN FRANCE
An official of the French Ministry
of Education is quoted by a Syrian
paper as saying that the total number of registered Syrian and Lebanese students now in French schools
and universities is 208, of whom 156
are in the city of Paris.
An analysis of the courses of
study taken up by these students
t
MAR
�MARCH, 1930
shows a marked trend towards practical sciences, indicating an awakening to the pressing needs of the
country. While at one time the
studies were almost wholly literary
or artistic, there are now 57 students taking up courses in commerce and industry and 16 studyin%
scientific agriculture. Of medical
and pharmaceutical students there
are 39.
SYRIAN BOY WINS
HIGH SCHOLASTIC RECORD
A reader of The Syrian World
sends us a clipping of a New Bern,
N. C. paper which we are glad to
copy while extending the boy the
heartiest congratulations. Said the
American paper:
"Probably one of the best records,
in the history of American schools,
has been made by Joseph Salem, of
New Bern, North Carolina.
"Joe was born in Mt. Lebanon,
Syria, and came to America with
his parents, when he was nine years
old. At that time 'he could not
speak one word of the English
language, not even "Good morning."
Yet he completed eleven years of
school work in eight years and five
months; always stood at the head
of his class, and not once did he
have to take an examination, being
always exempted because of his
high daily average. For this unusual
record and high standing, a scholarship from the University of North
Carolina was granted him last June.
"Besides being a good student, he
is a gifted linguist, speaking three
languages fluently: English, French
and Syrian.
"Among the offices held by him
during his high-school days were
the following, Member of the National Honor Society; secretary of
the Hi-Y Club; secretary and treas-
57
urer of his freshman class; vice
president of his sophomore class;
treasurer of his junior class; assistant manager and assistant editor
of the Bruin school paper all four
years, and besides being interested
in these activities he worked continuously to help pay for his education."
EXILED DRUZE REBELS
IN DIRE STRAITS
Reient reports from Palestine
state that a son of Sultan Pasha Atrash, leader of the Druze revolt
against the French in Syria during
1925-27, arrived in Haifa and declared in an interview that the condition of the rebels under his father had become well nigh unbearable. Their number is now reduced
to eight hundred souls, counting
men, women and children. They occupy a section of Wadi Sirhan within the boundaries of Nejd, under the
protection of King Ibn Saoud. But
they have run out of provisions and
are reduced to eating the green
leaves of trees. They are in great
need of medical supplies owing to
the prevalence of disease.
HYDROELECTRIC PROJECT
ON THE ORONTES
A concession for the generation
of electricity from the waters of the
river Orontes (Al-Asi) has been
granted to a French company which
immediately started operations and
has now completed the digging of
the canal to a point midway between Horns and Hama, where it
intends to erect its plant. The canal
is six kilometers long, four meters
wide and two meters deep. The waterfall will be from a height of fifty
meters, and it is calculated that
four thousand h. p. could be gener-
�56
THE SYRIAN WORLD
About Syria and Syrians
RIHANI ON A LECTURE
TOUR OF THE COUNTRY
INCREASING APPROPRIATIONS
FOR BYBLOS EXCAVATIONS
Our noted traveler and author,
Ameen Rihani, is at present on the
Pacific coast fulfilling lecture engagements with universities, clubs
and societies. In the week of March
10 he gave a series of three lectures
at the University of Illinois on various political and historical topics.
The week following he lectured in
Kansas City and crossed west to
Portland, Oregon, thence proceeding to San Francisco and Los Angeles. Newspaper clippings reaching us from these various sections
through the courtesy of our readers
concur in describing the high degree
of enthusiasm with which Mr. Rihani's addresses are met at every
stage of his journey.
A bill asking for an appropriation
of £S35,000 for excavation work at
Jubail, ancient Byblos, for 1930 was
reported to the Lebanese Representative Assembly and is expected to
be favorably acted upon.
The author of the bill proposes
that about 75 per cent, of the appropriation go to the purchase of
land known to have been the site
of ancient cemeteries, the balance
being devoted to actual excavation
work. This section of Mt. Lebanon
is admittedly very rich in ancient
relics, as Byblos was once a
flourishing kingdom and the seat
of the Phoenicians' most advanced
civilization. In the excavation work
of 1929, relics of immense historical value were recovered and placed
on exhibition at the National Museum of Beirut, which is now one
of the principal places in the itinerary of tourists visiting the country.
The many specimens of exquisite
workmanship in jewelry and pottery executed by the early Phoenicians nearly four thousand years
ago are cause for the greatest
admiration.
SILVER JUBILEE FOR
A MARONITE PRIEST
The congregation of Our Lady of
the Cedars Maronite church in Boston will give a banquet on April
27 in celebration of the twentyfifth anniversary of the ordination
of their pastor, Rev. Stephen Douaihy, to the priesthood.
Father Douaihy has had a most
interesting career. Educated at the
Maronite College in Rome, he became private secretary to the Patriarch upon his return to Lebanon,
and accompanied the prelate to Paris
at the conclusion of the World War
on his political mission.
Father Douaihy came to the
United States in 1920 and was pastor of the Maronite congregation of
Scranton, Pa., until 1929, when he
was transferred to Boston.
SYRIAN AND LEBANESE
STUDENTS IN FRANCE
An official of the French Ministry
of Education is quoted by a Syrian
paper as saying that the total number of registered Syrian and Lebanese students now in French schools
and universities is 208, of whom 156
are in the city of Paris.
An analysis of the courses of
study taken up by these students
�MARCH, 1930
shows a marked trend towards practical sciences, indicating an awakening to the pressing needs of the
country. While at one time the
studies were almo.st wholly literary
or artistic, there are now 57 students taking up courses in commerce and industry and 16 studyin%
scientific agriculture. Of medical
and pharmaceutical students there
are 39.
SYRIAN BOY WINS
HIGH SCHOLASTIC RECORD
57
uier of his freshman class; vice
president of his sophomore class;
treasurer of his junior class; assistant manager and assistant editor
of the Bruin school paper all four
years, and besides being interested
in these activities he worked continuously to help pay for his education."
EXILED DRUZE REBELS
IN DIRE STRAITS
Reient reports from Palestine
state that a son of Sultan Pasha AtA reader of The Syrian World rash, leader of the Druze revolt
sends us a clipping of a New Bern, against the French in Syria during
N. C. paper which we are glad to 1925-27, arrived in Haifa and decopy while extending the boy the clared in an interview that the conheartiest congratulations. Said the dition of the rebels under his father had become well nigh unbearAmerican paper:
"Probably one of the best records, able. Their number is now reduced
in the history of American schools, to eight hundred souls, counting
has been made by Joseph Salem, of men, women and children. They occupy a section of Wadi Sirhan withNew Bern, North Carolina.
"Joe was born in Mt. Lebanon, in the boundaries of Nejd, under the
Syria, and came to America with protection of King Ibn Saoud. But
his parents, when he was nine years they have run out of provisions and
old. At that time he could not are reduced to eating the green
speak one word of the English leaves of trees. They are in great
language, not even "Good morning." need of medical supplies owing to
Yet he completed eleven years of the prevalence of disease.
school work in eight years and five
months; always stood at the head HYDROELECTRIC PROJECT
of his class, and not once did he
ON THE ORONTES
have to take an examination, being
A concession for the generation
always exempted because of his
of
electricity from the waters of the
high daily average. For this unusual
river
Orontes (Al-Asi) has been
record and high standing, a scholargranted
to a French company which
ship from the University of North
Carolina was granted him last June. immediately started operations and
"Besides being a good student, he has now completed the digging of
is a gifted linguist, speaking three the canal to a point midway belanguages fluently: English, French tween Horns and Hama, where it
intends to erect its plant. The canal
and Syrian.
"Among the offices held by him is six kilometers long, four meters
during his high-school days were wide and two meters deep. The wathe following, Member of the Na- terfall will be from a height of fifty
tional Honor Society; secretary of meters, and it is calculated that
the Hi-Y Club; secretary and treas- four thousand h. p. could be gener-
�58
ated with present facilities. Horns
and Hama are promised electric service by July, 1931, under the terms
of the franchise, but may get it in
the current year if the work is
maintained at its present rate of
progress.
LOSS OF TREASURE
DRIVES SYRIAN MAD
Losing money on stock speculation is not the only reason for insanity or suicide. Here is a novel
reason for driving a Syrian laborer
out of his mind.
While engaged in removing red
dirth in the vicinity of Aleppo, a
laborer noticed a black box which
he thought contained ammunition
left by the Germans and Turks in
their hasty flight from Syria. He
called the gendarmes who, upon
opening the box, found it to contain
forty thousand pounds in gold. The
laborer fainted at the sight of the
glistening yellow metal, and later
lost his reason completely.
SYRIAN PAPER HELPS
FRENCH FLOOD SUFFERERS
Al-Hoda, the Syrian daily of New
York, invited contributions for the
sufferers of the disastrous floods of
Southern France, opening the subscription list itself with a substantial sum. The lists published by AlHoda show that the response to its
appeals from its Syrian and Lebanese readers is both generous and
country-wide. The funds collected
were turned over to the French consul General in New York.
LOCUSTS IN SYRIA
The authorities in Palestine are
making considerable progress in
checking the locust invasion, but
the country is not yet free from
danger.
In Syria the locusts have invaded
THE SYRIAN WORLD
certain districts of Houran and
reached some outlying sections of
the Damascus territory, but have
not reached the G'houta proper.
Aleppo has so far escaped the danger, but the vanguaru of the locust
hordes have made their appearance
at a point sixty miles to the east
of Homs.
OTTOMAN PRINCE
A TAXI DRIVER
A reporter of a Damascus newspaper in Beirut hailed a taxi and
thought that he had seen the driver
sometime, somewhere. When the
driver's Arabic proved unintelligible the reporter addressed him in
Turkish, and it was then that he recognized him as Hassan, the grandson of the Tin-kish Sultan Abdul
Aziz and nephew of the Sultan Abdul Majid. The driver made no attempt to hide his identity, explaining that he was driven to this occupation as the only one open to
him for earning a living.
Shades of Russian nobility in
Paris and other cities of Europe!
SETTLING THE BEDU
There is in the government of
Syria a special department for the
regulation of the affairs of the bedu,
or the nomad Arabs in the country.
This department had laid a program
for the gradual settling of the nomads and the direction of their interests and energies to agriculture.
It is now announced that it plans
the enforcement of this program by
the erection this year of one thousand houses in the district of Deir
Ezzour, which will be turned over
to the Arabs on easy terms as an
inducement for them to settle permanently on the land. They will also
be taught modern methods of agriculture.
�
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
The Syrian World Newspapers
Description
An account of the resource
<h4>Biographical/Historical Note</h4>
<p>Salloum Mokarzel, a Lebanese American intellectual, founded<em> The Syrian World</em> in 1926. Salloum Mokarzel was the younger brother of Naoum Mokarzel, the publisher of the Arabic-language newspaper <em>Al-Hoda. </em>Together, the Mokarzel brothers ran Al-Hoda Publishing, and in 1909, they published <em>The Syrian Business Directory.</em> </p>
<p>Mokarzel created <em>The Syrian World</em> in order to document and celebrate the culture and history of "Syria." At the time, Syria referred to the modern-day countries of Lebanon, Syria, Jordan, Israel, and Palestine. The publication was primarily aimed towards second-generation children of immigrants, but Mokarzel hoped that it would also appeal to the general American public.</p>
<h4>Scope/Content Note</h4>
<p><em>The Syrian World</em> was published between 1926 and 1932 as a journal. In 1932, the format was changed from an academic journal style to a newspaper style, which continued until the periodical's end in 1935. After the death of his brother Naoum, Salloum took over the publication of <em>Al-Hoda.</em></p>
<p>The articles in <em>The Syrian World</em> cover a variety of topics spanning from the practical to the theoretical. Practical subjects include international and domestic travel, historical and contemporary Arabic and Arab-American art and literature, and the mental and physical health and hygiene of immigrants. More theoretical, philosophical, and ideological subjects include ideologies of race, the changing role of women, the formation of Syrian and Lebanese-American societies, and the political and psychological relationships between immigrants and their countries of origin.</p>
<p>All issues of <em>The Syrian World</em> are available, along with full indexes for the first four volumes. For volumes five and six, there are tables of contents at the start of the issues.</p>
Subject
The topic of the resource
Arabs--United States
Arabic periodicals
Newspapers
Arab American Newspapers
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
Salloum A. Mokarzel
Source
A related resource from which the described resource is derived
New York Public Library
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
Moise A. Khayrallah Center for Lebanese Diaspora Studies
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1926-1935
Relation
A related resource
<em><a href="http://lebanesestudies.omeka.chass.ncsu.edu/collections/show/41" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Syrian Business Directory</a></em>
<a href="http://lebanesestudies.omeka.chass.ncsu.edu/collections/show/44" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Mokarzel Family Papers</a>
<a href="http://hdl.handle.net/11299/175685" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Annotated Index to the Syrian World, 1926-1932</a> at the University of Minnesota Immigration History Research Center Archives
<a href="https://lebanesestudies.omeka.chass.ncsu.edu/collections/show/58" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><em>Al-Hoda Newspapers</em></a>
Language
A language of the resource
English
Contributor
An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource
Processed by Claire A. Kempa, 2015-2017. Collection Guide written by Claire A. Kempa, 2017.
Collection Guide updated by Laura Lethers, 2023 August.
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
The donor retains full ownership of any copyright and rights currently controlled. Nonexclusive right to authorize uses of these materials for non-commercial research, scholarly, or other educational purposes are granted to Khayrallah Center pursuant to U.S. Copyright Law. Usage of the materials for these purposes must be fully credited with the source. The user assumes full responsibility for any use of the materials.
These materials are digital copies of an original resource held by another institution. The KCLDS Archive often works with other institutions to make digital materials available online to the public. KCLDS is not able to grant permission to use or reproduce these materials. The KCLDS Archive strongly encourages users to contact the holding institution for permission to use or reproduce materials from their holdings.
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
NS 0002
Access Rights
Information about who can access the resource or an indication of its security status. Access Rights may include information regarding access or restrictions based on privacy, security, or other policies.
This digital material is provided here for non-commercial research, scholarly, or other educational purposes pursuant to U.S. Copyright Law.
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
TSW1930_03reducedWM
Title
A name given to the resource
The Syrian World Volume 04, Issue 07
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1930 March
Description
An account of the resource
Volume 4 Issue 07 of The Syrian World published March 1930. Editor Salloum Mokarzel opens the issue with a special article on his visit to the Maronite Patriarch at his summer residence, discussing his opinions on home politics and the religious future of his spiritual children in America. Ameen Rihani then presents a further account of his experiences in Jeddah including interesting discussions with King Hussein, specifically dealing with Koranic Law, and unorthodox banking operations. Followed by a poem by J.D. Carlyle and An Arabian Nights' Story, Kahlil Gibran showcases his thoughts on the meaning of giving and taking, surrounded by his own illustrations. Dr. Salim Y. Alkazin is next, contributing his another one of his poems titled "The Two Answers," followed by another work of poetry by Alice McGeorge. Salloum Mokarzel is featured yet again in this issue with more describing his trip, this time through Southern Lebanon, specifically to Mashgara, Jezzine, Kfarhouna, Al-Mukhtara, Beit Eddeen, and Deir El-Kamar. The issue ends with a poem by Labeebee A. J. Hanna titled "Advice to Rash Youth" in which she discusses the trouble with making quick decisions. The issue is once again closed with excerpts from the Arab press, information on the Causes of Palestine Riots, and more on political developments in Syria.
Subject
The topic of the resource
Arabic literature--History and criticism--Periodicals
Arabs--United States--Periodicals
Lebanese-Americans--United States--Periodicals
Language
A language of the resource
English
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
Salloum A. Mokarzel
Syrian-American Press
Source
A related resource from which the described resource is derived
New York Public Library
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
Moise A. Khayrallah Center for Lebanese Diaspora Studies
Coverage
The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant
104 Greenwich St., New York, NY
Format
The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource
Text/pdf
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
Text
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
The donor retains full ownership of any copyright and rights currently controlled. Nonexclusive right to authorize uses of these materials for non-commercial research, scholarly, or other educational purposes are granted to Khayrallah Center pursuant to U.S. Copyright Law. Usage of the materials for these purposes must be fully credited with the source. The user assumes full responsibility for any use of the materials.
1930s
Alice McGeorge
Ameen Rihani
Kahlil Gibran
Labeebee A.J. Hanna
Lebanon
Maronite Church
New York
Poetry-English
Salim Alkazin
Saudi Arabia
-
https://lebanesestudies.omeka.chass.ncsu.edu/files/original/f5c6cf948fad6af1e6899ccdd9cfb765.pdf
10684ee56d764f6ebfed785476eae0d6
PDF Text
Text
��
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Ameen Rihani: Arabic Letters
Subject
The topic of the resource
Rihani, Ameen Fares, 1876-1940
American literature--Arab American authors
Description
An account of the resource
The Ameen Fares Rihani collection contains the personal correspondence, English and Arabic manuscripts, papers, notebooks, articles, press clippings, and other documents of Ameen Fares Rihani (1876-1940), a formative and influential Arab-American author, poet, political activist, and intellectual who dedicated his life to promoting and advocating for Arab culture and history across the world.
This collection contains 271 letters, written in Arabic, addressed to Ameen Fares Rihani from friends, family, political leaders, and others. The letters were written between 1899-1941.
Source
A related resource from which the described resource is derived
Ameen Rihani Organization
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
Moise A. Khayrallah Center for Lebanese Diaspora Studies
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1899-1940
Contributor
An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource
Ameen Rihani Organization
Format
The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource
Text/PDF
Language
A language of the resource
Arabic
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
Text
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
Donor retains full ownership of any and all copyright currently controlled in agreement with Khayrallah Center. Nonexclusive right to authorize all uses of these materials for non-commercial research, scholarly, or other educational purposes are granted to Khayrallah Center pursuant to Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike (CC BY-NC-SA).
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
Rihani2018AR55_05_002
Alternative Title
An alternative name for the resource. The distinction between titles and alternative titles is application-specific.
رسائل امين الريحاني العربية
Title
A name given to the resource
Letter from Ameen Rihani to King Abdulaziz Ibn Saud, 1922 April
Description
An account of the resource
نسخة من رسالة امين الريحاني الى الملك عبد العزيز ان سعود في مطلع نيسان 1922. فيها يطلب الريحاني من الملك عبد العزيز الموافقة على زيارته، الريحاني، والتشرق بمقابلته قادما من البحرين ذلك في الاسبوع الثاني او الثالث من شهر رمضان.
A photocopy of a letter from Ameen Rihani to King Abdulaziz Ibn Saud, dated April 1922. Rihani asks Ibn Saud his permission to visit him in Riyadh, after concluding a visit to Bahrain, expecting him, Rihani, during the second or third week of Ramadan.
Subject
The topic of the resource
Rihani, Ameen Fares, 1876-1940
Ibn Saʻūd,--King of Saudi Arabia,--1880-1953
Correspondence
Letter writing, Arabic
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
نيسان 1922
1922-04
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
امين الريحاني
Ameen F. Rihani
Coverage
The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant
Bahrain
Language
A language of the resource
Arabic
Source
A related resource from which the described resource is derived
Ameen Rihani Organization
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
Text
Format
The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource
Text/pdf
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
Moise A. Khayrallah Center for Lebanese Diaspora Studies
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
Donor retains full ownership of any and all copyright currently controlled in agreement with Khayrallah Center. Nonexclusive right to authorize all uses of these materials for non-commercial research, scholarly, or other educational purposes are granted to Khayrallah Center pursuant to Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike (CC BY-NC-SA).
1920's
Bahrain
Ibn Saud
King Abdulaziz
Saudi Arabia
ابن سعود
البحرين
السعودية
الملك عبد العزيز
امين الريحاني
زيارة
-
https://lebanesestudies.omeka.chass.ncsu.edu/files/original/193973d34b5f282b9cc1f031cf7ebd0b.pdf
dc4382329df0bb524c59b0f26a183929
PDF Text
Text
�
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Ameen Rihani: Arabic Letters
Subject
The topic of the resource
Rihani, Ameen Fares, 1876-1940
American literature--Arab American authors
Description
An account of the resource
The Ameen Fares Rihani collection contains the personal correspondence, English and Arabic manuscripts, papers, notebooks, articles, press clippings, and other documents of Ameen Fares Rihani (1876-1940), a formative and influential Arab-American author, poet, political activist, and intellectual who dedicated his life to promoting and advocating for Arab culture and history across the world.
This collection contains 271 letters, written in Arabic, addressed to Ameen Fares Rihani from friends, family, political leaders, and others. The letters were written between 1899-1941.
Source
A related resource from which the described resource is derived
Ameen Rihani Organization
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
Moise A. Khayrallah Center for Lebanese Diaspora Studies
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1899-1940
Contributor
An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource
Ameen Rihani Organization
Format
The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource
Text/PDF
Language
A language of the resource
Arabic
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
Text
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
Donor retains full ownership of any and all copyright currently controlled in agreement with Khayrallah Center. Nonexclusive right to authorize all uses of these materials for non-commercial research, scholarly, or other educational purposes are granted to Khayrallah Center pursuant to Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike (CC BY-NC-SA).
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
Rihani2018AR55_05_004
Alternative Title
An alternative name for the resource. The distinction between titles and alternative titles is application-specific.
رسائل امين الريحاني العربية
Title
A name given to the resource
Letter from Ameen Rihani to King Abdulaziz Ibn Saud, 1923 September 18
Description
An account of the resource
رسالة امين الريحاني الى الملك عبد العزيز ابن سعود في 18 ايلول 1923 (7 صفر 1342). يبعث فيها الريحاني بتحياته وتمنياته للملك عبد العزيز ويبلغه باستلام شجرة آل سعود ويعده باكمال "العمل" الذي بدأ فيه - قد يقصد هنا كتابه تاريخ نجد والسيرة الذاتية للملك عبد العزيز ابن سعود.
A letter from Ameen Rihani to King Abdulaziz Ibn Saud, dated September 18, 1923 (Sufar 7, 1432). Rihani sends his greetings and best wishes for Ibn Saud, and informs him that he, Rihani, received the Ibn Saud family tree, and promises him, the King, to finish the "work" which he started - probably Rihani meant the book of the history of Najid and biography of Ibn Saud.
Subject
The topic of the resource
Rihani, Ameen Fares, 1876-1940
Ibn Saʻūd,--King of Saudi Arabia,--1880-1953
Correspondence
Letter writing, Arabic
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
ايلول 1923
1923-09-18
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
امين الريحاني
Ameen F. Rihani
Coverage
The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant
Freike, Lebanon
Language
A language of the resource
Arabic
Source
A related resource from which the described resource is derived
Ameen Rihani Organization
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
Text
Format
The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource
Text/pdf
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
Moise A. Khayrallah Center for Lebanese Diaspora Studies
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
Donor retains full ownership of any and all copyright currently controlled in agreement with Khayrallah Center. Nonexclusive right to authorize all uses of these materials for non-commercial research, scholarly, or other educational purposes are granted to Khayrallah Center pursuant to Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike (CC BY-NC-SA).
1920's
Biography
Book: The Modern History of Najid
Freike
Ibn Saud
King Abdulaziz
Lebanon
Saudi Arabia
ابن سعود
السعودية
السيرة الذاتية
الفريكة
الملك عبد العزيز
امين الريحاني
كتاب: تاريخ نجد الحديث
لبنان
-
https://lebanesestudies.omeka.chass.ncsu.edu/files/original/f1f448783db8724624f4c18f98d6068f.pdf
accb58a86af02245785f233e6e2e2032
PDF Text
Text
�
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Ameen Rihani: Arabic Letters
Subject
The topic of the resource
Rihani, Ameen Fares, 1876-1940
American literature--Arab American authors
Description
An account of the resource
The Ameen Fares Rihani collection contains the personal correspondence, English and Arabic manuscripts, papers, notebooks, articles, press clippings, and other documents of Ameen Fares Rihani (1876-1940), a formative and influential Arab-American author, poet, political activist, and intellectual who dedicated his life to promoting and advocating for Arab culture and history across the world.
This collection contains 271 letters, written in Arabic, addressed to Ameen Fares Rihani from friends, family, political leaders, and others. The letters were written between 1899-1941.
Source
A related resource from which the described resource is derived
Ameen Rihani Organization
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
Moise A. Khayrallah Center for Lebanese Diaspora Studies
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1899-1940
Contributor
An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource
Ameen Rihani Organization
Format
The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource
Text/PDF
Language
A language of the resource
Arabic
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
Text
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
Donor retains full ownership of any and all copyright currently controlled in agreement with Khayrallah Center. Nonexclusive right to authorize all uses of these materials for non-commercial research, scholarly, or other educational purposes are granted to Khayrallah Center pursuant to Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike (CC BY-NC-SA).
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
Rihani2018AR55_05_005
Alternative Title
An alternative name for the resource. The distinction between titles and alternative titles is application-specific.
رسائل امين الريحاني العربية
Title
A name given to the resource
Letter from Ameen Rihani to King Abdulaziz Ibn Saud, 1924 December 2
Description
An account of the resource
رسالة امين الريحاني الى الملك عبد العزيز ابن سعود في 2 كانون الاول 1924 (5 جمادى الاول 1343). يطلب فيها الريحاني مقابلة الملك عبد العزيز وينتظر الجواب على طلبه هذا في جدة.
A letter from Ameen Rihani to King Abdulaziz Ibn Saud, dated December 2, 1924 (Jumada alAwal 5, 1343). Rihani requests to see King Abdulaziz, and awaits reply in Jeddah.
Subject
The topic of the resource
Rihani, Ameen Fares, 1876-1940
Ibn Saʻūd,--King of Saudi Arabia,--1880-1953
Correspondence
Letter writing, Arabic
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
كانون الاول 1924
1924-12-02
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
امين الريحاني
Ameen F. Rihani
Coverage
The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant
Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
Language
A language of the resource
Arabic
Source
A related resource from which the described resource is derived
Ameen Rihani Organization
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
Text
Format
The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource
Text/pdf
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
Moise A. Khayrallah Center for Lebanese Diaspora Studies
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
Donor retains full ownership of any and all copyright currently controlled in agreement with Khayrallah Center. Nonexclusive right to authorize all uses of these materials for non-commercial research, scholarly, or other educational purposes are granted to Khayrallah Center pursuant to Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike (CC BY-NC-SA).
1920's
Ibn Saud
Jeddah
King Abdulaziz
Saudi Arabia
Visit
ابن سعود
السعودية
الملك عبد العزيز
امين الريحاني
جدة
زيارة
-
https://lebanesestudies.omeka.chass.ncsu.edu/files/original/f1c20126daca6d6accf6a7221da2ad67.pdf
cdf6222f9a681315c45bd8375efb7028
PDF Text
Text
�
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Ameen Rihani: Arabic Letters
Subject
The topic of the resource
Rihani, Ameen Fares, 1876-1940
American literature--Arab American authors
Description
An account of the resource
The Ameen Fares Rihani collection contains the personal correspondence, English and Arabic manuscripts, papers, notebooks, articles, press clippings, and other documents of Ameen Fares Rihani (1876-1940), a formative and influential Arab-American author, poet, political activist, and intellectual who dedicated his life to promoting and advocating for Arab culture and history across the world.
This collection contains 271 letters, written in Arabic, addressed to Ameen Fares Rihani from friends, family, political leaders, and others. The letters were written between 1899-1941.
Source
A related resource from which the described resource is derived
Ameen Rihani Organization
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
Moise A. Khayrallah Center for Lebanese Diaspora Studies
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1899-1940
Contributor
An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource
Ameen Rihani Organization
Format
The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource
Text/PDF
Language
A language of the resource
Arabic
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
Text
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
Donor retains full ownership of any and all copyright currently controlled in agreement with Khayrallah Center. Nonexclusive right to authorize all uses of these materials for non-commercial research, scholarly, or other educational purposes are granted to Khayrallah Center pursuant to Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike (CC BY-NC-SA).
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
Rihani2018AR55_05_006
Alternative Title
An alternative name for the resource. The distinction between titles and alternative titles is application-specific.
رسائل امين الريحاني العربية
Title
A name given to the resource
Letter from Ameen Rihani to King Abdulaziz Ibn Saud, 1924 December 9
Description
An account of the resource
رسالة امين الريحاني الى الملك عبد العزيز ابن سعود في 9 كانون الاول 1924 (12 جمادى الاول 1343). يشكر فيها الريحاني الملك ابن سعود رده على رسالته السابقة (اعلاه) ويطلب منه ايضا الترحيب به، الريحاني، وبصديقه التاجر السوري في جدة حسين العويني وهما يحملان امرا هاما لجلالته للاطلاع عليه، غير ان الريحاني لم يستطع "الافصاح التام" عنه كتابة.
A letter from Ameen Rihani to King Abdulaziz Ibn Saud, dated December 9, 1924 (Jumada alAwal 12, 1343). Rihani thanks King Ibn Saud for replying to his letter, and asks the King to accept him and his Syrian merchant friend from Jeddah, Hussein alAweeni, as they carry to the King an important issue
however Rihani did not want to describe that issue in writing.
Subject
The topic of the resource
Rihani, Ameen Fares, 1876-1940
Ibn Saʻūd,--King of Saudi Arabia,--1880-1953
Correspondence
Letter writing, Arabic
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
كانون الاول 1924
1924-12-09
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
امين الريحاني
Ameen F. Rihani
Coverage
The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant
Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
Language
A language of the resource
Arabic
Source
A related resource from which the described resource is derived
Ameen Rihani Organization
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
Text
Format
The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource
Text/pdf
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
Moise A. Khayrallah Center for Lebanese Diaspora Studies
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
Donor retains full ownership of any and all copyright currently controlled in agreement with Khayrallah Center. Nonexclusive right to authorize all uses of these materials for non-commercial research, scholarly, or other educational purposes are granted to Khayrallah Center pursuant to Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike (CC BY-NC-SA).
1920's
Hussein alAweeni
Ibn Saud
Islam
Jeddah
King Abdulaziz
Saudi Arabia
Visit
ابن سعود
الاسلام
السعودية
الملك عبد العزيز
امين الريحاني
جدة
حسين العويني
زيارة
-
https://lebanesestudies.omeka.chass.ncsu.edu/files/original/267a57bd01007bb0d2152d80134b2d56.pdf
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PDF Text
Text
�
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Ameen Rihani: Arabic Letters
Subject
The topic of the resource
Rihani, Ameen Fares, 1876-1940
American literature--Arab American authors
Description
An account of the resource
The Ameen Fares Rihani collection contains the personal correspondence, English and Arabic manuscripts, papers, notebooks, articles, press clippings, and other documents of Ameen Fares Rihani (1876-1940), a formative and influential Arab-American author, poet, political activist, and intellectual who dedicated his life to promoting and advocating for Arab culture and history across the world.
This collection contains 271 letters, written in Arabic, addressed to Ameen Fares Rihani from friends, family, political leaders, and others. The letters were written between 1899-1941.
Source
A related resource from which the described resource is derived
Ameen Rihani Organization
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
Moise A. Khayrallah Center for Lebanese Diaspora Studies
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1899-1940
Contributor
An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource
Ameen Rihani Organization
Format
The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource
Text/PDF
Language
A language of the resource
Arabic
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
Text
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
Donor retains full ownership of any and all copyright currently controlled in agreement with Khayrallah Center. Nonexclusive right to authorize all uses of these materials for non-commercial research, scholarly, or other educational purposes are granted to Khayrallah Center pursuant to Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike (CC BY-NC-SA).
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
Rihani2018AR55_05_007
Alternative Title
An alternative name for the resource. The distinction between titles and alternative titles is application-specific.
رسائل امين الريحاني العربية
Title
A name given to the resource
Letter from Ameen Rihani to King Abdulaziz Ibn Saud, 1924 December 17
Description
An account of the resource
رسالة امين الريحاني الى الملك عبد العزيز ابن سعود في 17 كانون الاول 1924 (20 جمادى الاول 1343). لم يتسلم الريحاني رد الملك عبد العزيز على رسالته السابقة، لذا يطلب الريحاني منه في هذه الرسالة مرة اخرى مقابلته قبل الاقدام على "عمل حربي خطير" حيث يرغب الريحاني باطلاع ابن سعود على امور و"حوادث خطيرة". لكن الريحاني لم يفصح عن هذه الامور في الرسالة.
A letter from Ameen Rihani to King Abdulaziz Ibn Saud, dated December 17, 1924 (Jumada alAwal 20, 1343). Rihani did not receive a reply from King Abdulaziz for his last letter, so in this letter, once again, Rihani requests to see the King before engaging in "any dangerous war". Rihani would like to inform Ibn Saud on some serious issues, but he did not explain what these issues are.
Subject
The topic of the resource
Rihani, Ameen Fares, 1876-1940
Ibn Saʻūd,--King of Saudi Arabia,--1880-1953
Correspondence
Letter writing, Arabic
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
كانون الاول 1924
1924-12-17
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
امين الريحاني
Ameen F. Rihani
Coverage
The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant
Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
Language
A language of the resource
Arabic
Source
A related resource from which the described resource is derived
Ameen Rihani Organization
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
Text
Format
The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource
Text/pdf
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
Moise A. Khayrallah Center for Lebanese Diaspora Studies
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
Donor retains full ownership of any and all copyright currently controlled in agreement with Khayrallah Center. Nonexclusive right to authorize all uses of these materials for non-commercial research, scholarly, or other educational purposes are granted to Khayrallah Center pursuant to Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike (CC BY-NC-SA).
1920's
Ibn Saud
Jeddah
King Abdulaziz
Saudi Arabia
Visit
War
ابن سعود
السعودية
الملك عبد العزيز
امين الريحاني
جدة
حرب
زيارة
-
https://lebanesestudies.omeka.chass.ncsu.edu/files/original/08401cedffb09d44fc0e71663f34e980.pdf
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PDF Text
Text
����
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Ameen Rihani: Arabic Letters
Subject
The topic of the resource
Rihani, Ameen Fares, 1876-1940
American literature--Arab American authors
Description
An account of the resource
The Ameen Fares Rihani collection contains the personal correspondence, English and Arabic manuscripts, papers, notebooks, articles, press clippings, and other documents of Ameen Fares Rihani (1876-1940), a formative and influential Arab-American author, poet, political activist, and intellectual who dedicated his life to promoting and advocating for Arab culture and history across the world.
This collection contains 271 letters, written in Arabic, addressed to Ameen Fares Rihani from friends, family, political leaders, and others. The letters were written between 1899-1941.
Source
A related resource from which the described resource is derived
Ameen Rihani Organization
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
Moise A. Khayrallah Center for Lebanese Diaspora Studies
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1899-1940
Contributor
An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource
Ameen Rihani Organization
Format
The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource
Text/PDF
Language
A language of the resource
Arabic
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
Text
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
Donor retains full ownership of any and all copyright currently controlled in agreement with Khayrallah Center. Nonexclusive right to authorize all uses of these materials for non-commercial research, scholarly, or other educational purposes are granted to Khayrallah Center pursuant to Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike (CC BY-NC-SA).
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
Rihani2018AR55_05_008
Alternative Title
An alternative name for the resource. The distinction between titles and alternative titles is application-specific.
رسائل امين الريحاني العربية
Title
A name given to the resource
Letter from Ameen Rihani to King Abdulaziz Ibn Saud, 1924 December 26
Description
An account of the resource
رسالة امين الريحاني الى الملك عبد العزيز ابن سعود في 26 كانون الاول 1924 (29 جمادى الاول 1343). يرد فيها الريحاني على طلب الملك عبد العزيز في رسالة سابقة على امور ثلاث: "مركز الامير علي في الحجاز" و"مركز حكومة نجد في الحجاز وما هي الحقوق التي ستكون لها في الحجاز" و"وما هي علاقة الامير علي بابيه واخيه".
A letter from Ameen Rihani to King Abdulaziz Ibn Saud, dated December 26, 1924 (Jumada alAwal 29, 1343). Rihani answers to King Ibn Saud request in a previous letter on three matters: "the position of Prince Ali of Hejaz", "the position of Najid government within in Hejaz and what rights shall it enjoy", and "what the type of relationship between Prince Ali and both his father and brother".
Subject
The topic of the resource
Rihani, Ameen Fares, 1876-1940
Ibn Saʻūd,--King of Saudi Arabia,--1880-1953
Correspondence
Letter writing, Arabic
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
كانون الاول 1924
1924-12-26
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
امين الريحاني
Ameen F. Rihani
Coverage
The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant
Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
Language
A language of the resource
Arabic
Source
A related resource from which the described resource is derived
Ameen Rihani Organization
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
Text
Format
The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource
Text/pdf
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
Moise A. Khayrallah Center for Lebanese Diaspora Studies
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
Donor retains full ownership of any and all copyright currently controlled in agreement with Khayrallah Center. Nonexclusive right to authorize all uses of these materials for non-commercial research, scholarly, or other educational purposes are granted to Khayrallah Center pursuant to Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike (CC BY-NC-SA).
1920's
Hejaz
Ibn Saud
Jeddah
King Abdulaziz
Najid
Prince Ali
Prince Faisal
Saudi Arabia
Sharif Mecca (Hussien bin Ali)
Visit
ابن سعود
الامير علي
الامير فيصل
الحجاز
السعودية
الشريف حسين
المعاهدة الانجليزية الحجازية
الملك عبد العزيز
امين الريحاني
نجد
-
https://lebanesestudies.omeka.chass.ncsu.edu/files/original/c73fb9c57539295d4bae5fb0ec1a8f68.pdf
25fe407a54568f7f08512b4d84ffa271
PDF Text
Text
�
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Ameen Rihani: Arabic Letters
Subject
The topic of the resource
Rihani, Ameen Fares, 1876-1940
American literature--Arab American authors
Description
An account of the resource
The Ameen Fares Rihani collection contains the personal correspondence, English and Arabic manuscripts, papers, notebooks, articles, press clippings, and other documents of Ameen Fares Rihani (1876-1940), a formative and influential Arab-American author, poet, political activist, and intellectual who dedicated his life to promoting and advocating for Arab culture and history across the world.
This collection contains 271 letters, written in Arabic, addressed to Ameen Fares Rihani from friends, family, political leaders, and others. The letters were written between 1899-1941.
Source
A related resource from which the described resource is derived
Ameen Rihani Organization
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
Moise A. Khayrallah Center for Lebanese Diaspora Studies
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1899-1940
Contributor
An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource
Ameen Rihani Organization
Format
The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource
Text/PDF
Language
A language of the resource
Arabic
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
Text
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
Donor retains full ownership of any and all copyright currently controlled in agreement with Khayrallah Center. Nonexclusive right to authorize all uses of these materials for non-commercial research, scholarly, or other educational purposes are granted to Khayrallah Center pursuant to Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike (CC BY-NC-SA).
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
Rihani2018AR55_05_012
Alternative Title
An alternative name for the resource. The distinction between titles and alternative titles is application-specific.
رسائل امين الريحاني العربية
Title
A name given to the resource
Letter from Ameen Rihani to King Abdulaziz Ibn Saud, 1925 January 3
Description
An account of the resource
رسالة امين الريحاني الى الملك عبد العزيز ابن سعود في 3 كانون الثاني 1925 (7 جمادى الثانية 1343). يطلب الريحاني تأكيدا على استلام رسالته السابقة من قبل الملك عبد العزيز، ويشاركه بعض الاخبار.
A letter from Ameen Rihani to King Abdulaziz Ibn Saud, dated January 3, 1925 (Jumada alThani 7, 1343). Rihani asks confirmation of receipt of his previous letter from King Abdulaziz, and sharing with him some news from the region.
Subject
The topic of the resource
Rihani, Ameen Fares, 1876-1940
Ibn Saʻūd,--King of Saudi Arabia,--1880-1953
Correspondence
Letter writing, Arabic
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
كانون الثاني 1925
1925-01-03
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
امين الريحاني
Ameen F. Rihani
Coverage
The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant
Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
Language
A language of the resource
Arabic
Source
A related resource from which the described resource is derived
Ameen Rihani Organization
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
Text
Format
The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource
Text/pdf
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
Moise A. Khayrallah Center for Lebanese Diaspora Studies
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
Donor retains full ownership of any and all copyright currently controlled in agreement with Khayrallah Center. Nonexclusive right to authorize all uses of these materials for non-commercial research, scholarly, or other educational purposes are granted to Khayrallah Center pursuant to Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike (CC BY-NC-SA).
1920's
Hejaz
Ibn Saud
King Abdulaziz
Mecca
Najid
Saudi Arabia
ابن سعود
الحجاز
السعودية
الملك عبد العزيز
امين الريحاني
جدة
مكة
نجد
-
https://lebanesestudies.omeka.chass.ncsu.edu/files/original/66e9f5832a3bd619ab4ff7f610238e24.pdf
ba33ef45d8804af652610e271180936a
PDF Text
Text
�
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Ameen Rihani: Arabic Letters
Subject
The topic of the resource
Rihani, Ameen Fares, 1876-1940
American literature--Arab American authors
Description
An account of the resource
The Ameen Fares Rihani collection contains the personal correspondence, English and Arabic manuscripts, papers, notebooks, articles, press clippings, and other documents of Ameen Fares Rihani (1876-1940), a formative and influential Arab-American author, poet, political activist, and intellectual who dedicated his life to promoting and advocating for Arab culture and history across the world.
This collection contains 271 letters, written in Arabic, addressed to Ameen Fares Rihani from friends, family, political leaders, and others. The letters were written between 1899-1941.
Source
A related resource from which the described resource is derived
Ameen Rihani Organization
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
Moise A. Khayrallah Center for Lebanese Diaspora Studies
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1899-1940
Contributor
An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource
Ameen Rihani Organization
Format
The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource
Text/PDF
Language
A language of the resource
Arabic
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
Text
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
Donor retains full ownership of any and all copyright currently controlled in agreement with Khayrallah Center. Nonexclusive right to authorize all uses of these materials for non-commercial research, scholarly, or other educational purposes are granted to Khayrallah Center pursuant to Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike (CC BY-NC-SA).
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
Rihani2018AR55_05_013
Alternative Title
An alternative name for the resource. The distinction between titles and alternative titles is application-specific.
رسائل امين الريحاني العربية
Title
A name given to the resource
Letter from Ameen Rihani to King Abdulaziz Ibn Saud, 1924 March 2
Description
An account of the resource
رسالة امين الريحاني الى الملك عبد العزيز ابن سعود في 2 اذار 1924 (26 رجب 1342). فيها يعبر الريحاني عن راحته وسعادته لسلامة الملك عبد العزيز وتعافيه، خاصة بعد انتشار خبر وفاته. كما يؤكد الريحاني للملك عن اجرائه التعديلات (الحذف) التي امر بها الملك عبد العزيز: "وصل مع المسودة علم بما تبغون حذفه مما كتبت" - على الاغلب يقصد من كتابه ملوك العرب وتاريخ ابن سعود فيه.
A letter from Ameen Rihani to King Abdulaziz Ibn Saud, dated March 2, 1924 (Rajab 26, 1342). Rihani expresses his comfort and pleasure of King Abdulaziz safety and wellness, especially after rumors of his death. Rihani also confirms that he will do all amendments the King requested in the draft copy he received from Rihani earlier - Rihani likely means his book "Kings of Arabs" and the history of Ibn Saud in it.
Subject
The topic of the resource
Rihani, Ameen Fares, 1876-1940
Ibn Saʻūd,--King of Saudi Arabia,--1880-1953
Correspondence
Letter writing, Arabic
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
اذار 1924
1924-03-02
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
امين الريحاني
Ameen F. Rihani
Coverage
The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant
Freike, Lebanon
Language
A language of the resource
Arabic
Source
A related resource from which the described resource is derived
Ameen Rihani Organization
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
Text
Format
The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource
Text/pdf
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
Moise A. Khayrallah Center for Lebanese Diaspora Studies
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
Donor retains full ownership of any and all copyright currently controlled in agreement with Khayrallah Center. Nonexclusive right to authorize all uses of these materials for non-commercial research, scholarly, or other educational purposes are granted to Khayrallah Center pursuant to Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike (CC BY-NC-SA).
1920's
Book: Kings of Arabs
Ibn Saud
King Abdulaziz
Saudi Arabia
ابن سعود
السعودية
الملك عبد العزيز
امين الريحاني
كتاب: ملوك العرب
-
https://lebanesestudies.omeka.chass.ncsu.edu/files/original/9e10c9f63efc056467ba8b9e7e71beca.pdf
cd535fecfd16af9d8be7e71c8f8a006b
PDF Text
Text
�
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Ameen Rihani: Arabic Letters
Subject
The topic of the resource
Rihani, Ameen Fares, 1876-1940
American literature--Arab American authors
Description
An account of the resource
The Ameen Fares Rihani collection contains the personal correspondence, English and Arabic manuscripts, papers, notebooks, articles, press clippings, and other documents of Ameen Fares Rihani (1876-1940), a formative and influential Arab-American author, poet, political activist, and intellectual who dedicated his life to promoting and advocating for Arab culture and history across the world.
This collection contains 271 letters, written in Arabic, addressed to Ameen Fares Rihani from friends, family, political leaders, and others. The letters were written between 1899-1941.
Source
A related resource from which the described resource is derived
Ameen Rihani Organization
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
Moise A. Khayrallah Center for Lebanese Diaspora Studies
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1899-1940
Contributor
An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource
Ameen Rihani Organization
Format
The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource
Text/PDF
Language
A language of the resource
Arabic
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
Text
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
Donor retains full ownership of any and all copyright currently controlled in agreement with Khayrallah Center. Nonexclusive right to authorize all uses of these materials for non-commercial research, scholarly, or other educational purposes are granted to Khayrallah Center pursuant to Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike (CC BY-NC-SA).
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
Rihani2018AR55_05_014
Alternative Title
An alternative name for the resource. The distinction between titles and alternative titles is application-specific.
رسائل امين الريحاني العربية
Title
A name given to the resource
Letter from Ameen Rihani to King Abdulaziz Ibn Saud, 1924 March 11
Description
An account of the resource
رسالة امين الريحاني الى الملك عبد العزيز ابن سعود في 11 اذار 1924 (5 شعبان 1342). فيها يخبر الريحاني الملك عبد العزيز عن تعيين اخيه البرت في "الشركة الشرقة شركة مايجر هومس" في البحرين ويسأله تشجيع البرت ليكون "صلة صالحة مفيدة" بين الملك والشركة. كما يُعلم الريحاني الملك عبد العزيز بارساله هدية له ويرجو منه قبلوها.
A letter from Ameen Rihani to King Abdulaziz Ibn Saud, dated March 11, 1924 (Sha'ban 5, 1342). Rihani tells King Abdulaziz that his brother, Albert, was appointed in "the Eastern Company Major Homes Co" in Bahrain, and asks the King to encourage Albert so he can be a "good connection" between the King and the Company. Rihani also asks the King to accept a gift he has sent to him.
Subject
The topic of the resource
Rihani, Ameen Fares, 1876-1940
Ibn Saʻūd,--King of Saudi Arabia,--1880-1953
Correspondence
Letter writing, Arabic
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
اذار 1924
1924-03-11
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
امين الريحاني
Ameen F. Rihani
Coverage
The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant
Freike, Lebanon
Language
A language of the resource
Arabic
Source
A related resource from which the described resource is derived
Ameen Rihani Organization
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
Text
Format
The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource
Text/pdf
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
Moise A. Khayrallah Center for Lebanese Diaspora Studies
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
Donor retains full ownership of any and all copyright currently controlled in agreement with Khayrallah Center. Nonexclusive right to authorize all uses of these materials for non-commercial research, scholarly, or other educational purposes are granted to Khayrallah Center pursuant to Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike (CC BY-NC-SA).
1920's
Albert Rihani
Freike
Ibn Saud
King Abdulaziz
Saudi Arabia
ابن سعود
البرت الريحاني
السعودية
الفريكة
الملك عبد العزيز
امين الريحاني
-
https://lebanesestudies.omeka.chass.ncsu.edu/files/original/678eb507ed424d0cbb6df10fcefa0695.pdf
afea706631c14b8ae16e868f43a01524
PDF Text
Text
��
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Ameen Rihani: Arabic Letters
Subject
The topic of the resource
Rihani, Ameen Fares, 1876-1940
American literature--Arab American authors
Description
An account of the resource
The Ameen Fares Rihani collection contains the personal correspondence, English and Arabic manuscripts, papers, notebooks, articles, press clippings, and other documents of Ameen Fares Rihani (1876-1940), a formative and influential Arab-American author, poet, political activist, and intellectual who dedicated his life to promoting and advocating for Arab culture and history across the world.
This collection contains 271 letters, written in Arabic, addressed to Ameen Fares Rihani from friends, family, political leaders, and others. The letters were written between 1899-1941.
Source
A related resource from which the described resource is derived
Ameen Rihani Organization
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
Moise A. Khayrallah Center for Lebanese Diaspora Studies
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1899-1940
Contributor
An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource
Ameen Rihani Organization
Format
The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource
Text/PDF
Language
A language of the resource
Arabic
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
Text
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
Donor retains full ownership of any and all copyright currently controlled in agreement with Khayrallah Center. Nonexclusive right to authorize all uses of these materials for non-commercial research, scholarly, or other educational purposes are granted to Khayrallah Center pursuant to Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike (CC BY-NC-SA).
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
Rihani2018AR55_05_015
Alternative Title
An alternative name for the resource. The distinction between titles and alternative titles is application-specific.
رسائل امين الريحاني العربية
Title
A name given to the resource
Letter from Ameen Rihani to King Abdulaziz Ibn Saud, 1924 July 7
Description
An account of the resource
رسالة امين الريحاني الى الملك عبد العزيز ابن سعود في 7 تموز 1924 (5 ذي الحجة 1342). يناقش الريحاني ويبعث برأيه حول موضوع الخلافة والملك في العالم الاسلامي/ العربي بعد سقوط الدولة العثمانية (مركز الخلافة الاسلامية انذاك)، وكذلك رأيه في الشريف حسين بن علي ومؤتمر الخلافة الذي كان سيعقد في مصر.
A letter from Ameen Rihani to King Abdulaziz Ibn Saud, dated July 7, 1924 (Thi alHija 5, 1342). Rihani discusses and shares his opinion with King Abdulaziz on the issue of Caliphate in the Arabic/Islamic world following the fall of the Ottoman Empire
also Rihani expresses his views on Shareef Hussein ibn Ali, and the Caliphate conference that was to be held in Egypt.
Subject
The topic of the resource
Rihani, Ameen Fares, 1876-1940
Ibn Saʻūd,--King of Saudi Arabia,--1880-1953
Correspondence
Letter writing, Arabic
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
تموز 1924
1924-07-07
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
امين الريحاني
Ameen F. Rihani
Coverage
The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant
Freike, Lebanon
Language
A language of the resource
Arabic
Source
A related resource from which the described resource is derived
Ameen Rihani Organization
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
Text
Format
The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource
Text/pdf
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
Moise A. Khayrallah Center for Lebanese Diaspora Studies
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
Donor retains full ownership of any and all copyright currently controlled in agreement with Khayrallah Center. Nonexclusive right to authorize all uses of these materials for non-commercial research, scholarly, or other educational purposes are granted to Khayrallah Center pursuant to Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike (CC BY-NC-SA).
1920's
Arabs
Caliphate
Caliphate Conference
Freike
Hussein ibn Ali
Ibn Saud
Islam
King Abdulaziz
Saudi Arabia
ابن سعود
الاسلام
الخلافة
السعودية
الشريف حسين بن علي
العرب
الفريكة
الملك عبد العزيز
امين الريحاني
مؤتمر الخلافة
-
https://lebanesestudies.omeka.chass.ncsu.edu/files/original/867c1aab73c57d0a8ad9565a04dba54c.pdf
874834f88956812f498152251c488c31
PDF Text
Text
��
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Ameen Rihani: Arabic Letters
Subject
The topic of the resource
Rihani, Ameen Fares, 1876-1940
American literature--Arab American authors
Description
An account of the resource
The Ameen Fares Rihani collection contains the personal correspondence, English and Arabic manuscripts, papers, notebooks, articles, press clippings, and other documents of Ameen Fares Rihani (1876-1940), a formative and influential Arab-American author, poet, political activist, and intellectual who dedicated his life to promoting and advocating for Arab culture and history across the world.
This collection contains 271 letters, written in Arabic, addressed to Ameen Fares Rihani from friends, family, political leaders, and others. The letters were written between 1899-1941.
Source
A related resource from which the described resource is derived
Ameen Rihani Organization
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
Moise A. Khayrallah Center for Lebanese Diaspora Studies
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1899-1940
Contributor
An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource
Ameen Rihani Organization
Format
The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource
Text/PDF
Language
A language of the resource
Arabic
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
Text
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
Donor retains full ownership of any and all copyright currently controlled in agreement with Khayrallah Center. Nonexclusive right to authorize all uses of these materials for non-commercial research, scholarly, or other educational purposes are granted to Khayrallah Center pursuant to Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike (CC BY-NC-SA).
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
Rihani2018AR55_05_017
Alternative Title
An alternative name for the resource. The distinction between titles and alternative titles is application-specific.
رسائل امين الريحاني العربية
Title
A name given to the resource
Letter from Ameen Rihani to King Abdulaziz Ibn Saud, undated
Description
An account of the resource
رسالة امين الريحاني الى الملك عبد العزيز ابن سعود، التاريخ غير مذكور. يذكر الريحاني فيها احوال فلسطين والسياسة البريطانية فيها وكذلك فكرة ضمها مع ولاية شرق الاردن و"اقامة عبد الله اميرا او مليكا عليها". ويسأل كذلك الملك عبد العزيز عن رغبته في "الاستيلاء" على منطقة الجوف (هي اليوم منطقة في السعودية على الحدود مع الاردن). ثم يعرب عن قلقه من قيام جماعة الدويش او "الاخوان" برئاسة فيصل الدويش بالهجوم على عشائر العراق والكويت مما قد يسيء الى سمعة الملك عبد العزيز شخصيا.
A letter from Ameen Rihani to King Abdulaziz Ibn Saud, undated. Rihani discusses the situation in Palestine, and the British policy in it, and the idea of annexation of TransJordan and making "Abdullah the Prince or King of the land" . Rihani also asks King Abdulaziz whether he wants to "takeover" the Jauf region (today in Saudi Arabia near the borders with Jordan). He also expresses his concerns of the attacks held by Faisal al-Duwaish and his Ikhwan (brother tribesmen) against tribes in Iraq and Kuwait, as such act will discredit the reputation of King Abdulaziz.
Subject
The topic of the resource
Rihani, Ameen Fares, 1876-1940
Ibn Saʻūd,--King of Saudi Arabia,--1880-1953
Correspondence
Letter writing, Arabic
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
غير مذكور
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
امين الريحاني
Ameen F. Rihani
Language
A language of the resource
Arabic
Source
A related resource from which the described resource is derived
Ameen Rihani Organization
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
Text
Format
The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource
Text/pdf
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
Moise A. Khayrallah Center for Lebanese Diaspora Studies
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
Donor retains full ownership of any and all copyright currently controlled in agreement with Khayrallah Center. Nonexclusive right to authorize all uses of these materials for non-commercial research, scholarly, or other educational purposes are granted to Khayrallah Center pursuant to Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike (CC BY-NC-SA).
1920's
Abdullah I bin Al-Hussein
al-Duwaish
al-Jauf
British Mandate
Faisal al-Duwaish
Ibn Saud
Ikhwan Revolt
Iraq
Jordan
King Abdulaziz
Kuwait
Palestine
Saudi Arabia
TransJorda
ابن سعود
الاردن
الامير عبد الله بن الحسين
الانتداب البريطاني
الجوف
الدويش
السعودية
العراق
الكويت
الملك عبد العزيز
امارة شرق الاردن
امين الريحاني
تمرد الاخوان
فلسطين
فيصل الدويش
-
https://lebanesestudies.omeka.chass.ncsu.edu/files/original/53e321e529fb7ee17dfcb24e746876c7.pdf
ea3c1e86354ccbb92f1bab8566abb6b4
PDF Text
Text
��
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Ameen Rihani: Arabic Letters
Subject
The topic of the resource
Rihani, Ameen Fares, 1876-1940
American literature--Arab American authors
Description
An account of the resource
The Ameen Fares Rihani collection contains the personal correspondence, English and Arabic manuscripts, papers, notebooks, articles, press clippings, and other documents of Ameen Fares Rihani (1876-1940), a formative and influential Arab-American author, poet, political activist, and intellectual who dedicated his life to promoting and advocating for Arab culture and history across the world.
This collection contains 271 letters, written in Arabic, addressed to Ameen Fares Rihani from friends, family, political leaders, and others. The letters were written between 1899-1941.
Source
A related resource from which the described resource is derived
Ameen Rihani Organization
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
Moise A. Khayrallah Center for Lebanese Diaspora Studies
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1899-1940
Contributor
An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource
Ameen Rihani Organization
Format
The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource
Text/PDF
Language
A language of the resource
Arabic
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
Text
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
Donor retains full ownership of any and all copyright currently controlled in agreement with Khayrallah Center. Nonexclusive right to authorize all uses of these materials for non-commercial research, scholarly, or other educational purposes are granted to Khayrallah Center pursuant to Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike (CC BY-NC-SA).
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
Rihani2018AR55_05_021
Alternative Title
An alternative name for the resource. The distinction between titles and alternative titles is application-specific.
رسائل امين الريحاني العربية
Title
A name given to the resource
Letter from Ameen Rihani to King Abdulaziz Ibn Saud, 1925 December 23
Description
An account of the resource
رسالة امين الريحاني الى الملك عبد العزيز ابن سعود بتاريخ 23 كانون الاول 1925 (27 جمادى الثانية 1343).يعرب فيها الريحاني عن اسفه مما وصله من بعض الاصدقاء المشتركين ورجال الملك عبد العزيز وهو امتعاظ الاخير منه، وظنا من رجاله ان الريحاني لم "يراعي مقام" ابن سعود وقد صغّر من شأنه وحقه وعظم ذلك لخصمه (الامير علي بن الحسين)، ويأسف على سوء فهمه.
A letter from Ameen Rihani to King Abdulaziz Ibn Saud, dated December 23, 1925 (Jumada alTahannia 27, 1343). Rihani feels sorry for the misunderstanding that took place by King Abdulaziz because of some previous letters, as conveyed to Rihani by common friends with the King. Rihani was misunderstood that he disregarded King Abdulaziz and praised Prince Ali ibn Hussien (Ali of Hejaz).
Subject
The topic of the resource
Rihani, Ameen Fares, 1876-1940
Ibn Saʻūd,--King of Saudi Arabia,--1880-1953
Correspondence
Letter writing, Arabic
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
كانون الاول 1925
1925-12-23
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
امين الريحاني
Ameen F. Rihani
Coverage
The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant
Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
Language
A language of the resource
Arabic
Source
A related resource from which the described resource is derived
Ameen Rihani Organization
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
Text
Format
The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource
Text/pdf
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
Moise A. Khayrallah Center for Lebanese Diaspora Studies
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
Donor retains full ownership of any and all copyright currently controlled in agreement with Khayrallah Center. Nonexclusive right to authorize all uses of these materials for non-commercial research, scholarly, or other educational purposes are granted to Khayrallah Center pursuant to Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike (CC BY-NC-SA).
1920's
Ali bin Hussein
Ali of Hejaz
Ibn Saud
King Abdulaziz
Saudi Arabia
ابن سعود
الامير علي بن الشريف حسين
السعودية
الملك عبد العزيز
امين الريحاني
-
https://lebanesestudies.omeka.chass.ncsu.edu/files/original/a9146d4577dda53f55cd90bf59e8a8b9.pdf
aca799f369b9b861be570a4b81e6fc44
PDF Text
Text
�
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Ameen Rihani: Arabic Letters
Subject
The topic of the resource
Rihani, Ameen Fares, 1876-1940
American literature--Arab American authors
Description
An account of the resource
The Ameen Fares Rihani collection contains the personal correspondence, English and Arabic manuscripts, papers, notebooks, articles, press clippings, and other documents of Ameen Fares Rihani (1876-1940), a formative and influential Arab-American author, poet, political activist, and intellectual who dedicated his life to promoting and advocating for Arab culture and history across the world.
This collection contains 271 letters, written in Arabic, addressed to Ameen Fares Rihani from friends, family, political leaders, and others. The letters were written between 1899-1941.
Source
A related resource from which the described resource is derived
Ameen Rihani Organization
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
Moise A. Khayrallah Center for Lebanese Diaspora Studies
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1899-1940
Contributor
An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource
Ameen Rihani Organization
Format
The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource
Text/PDF
Language
A language of the resource
Arabic
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
Text
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
Donor retains full ownership of any and all copyright currently controlled in agreement with Khayrallah Center. Nonexclusive right to authorize all uses of these materials for non-commercial research, scholarly, or other educational purposes are granted to Khayrallah Center pursuant to Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike (CC BY-NC-SA).
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
Rihani2018AR55_05_023
Alternative Title
An alternative name for the resource. The distinction between titles and alternative titles is application-specific.
رسائل امين الريحاني العربية
Title
A name given to the resource
Letter from Ameen Rihani to King Abdulaziz Ibn Saud, 1925 March 1
Description
An account of the resource
رسالة امين الريحاني الى الملك عبد العزيز ابن سعود بتاريخ 1 اذار 1925 (5 شعبان 1343). الريحاني يخبر الملك عبد العزيز برحيله وتركه جدة بتاريخ 5 شباط 1925 (11 رجب 1343)، وحزنه الشديد لعدم مقابلة الملك له لمرات عديدة طلب الريحاني فيها ذلك.
A letter from Ameen Rihani to King Abdulaziz Ibn Saud, dated March 1, 1925 (Sha'ban 5, 1343). Rihani informs King Abdulaziz that he left Jeddah on February 5, 1925 (Rajab 11, 1343), and his deep sorrow that the King didn't meet with him, despite the fact that Rihani requested so for several times.
Subject
The topic of the resource
Rihani, Ameen Fares, 1876-1940
Ibn Saʻūd,--King of Saudi Arabia,--1880-1953
Correspondence
Letter writing, Arabic
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
اذار 1925
1925-03-01
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
امين الريحاني
Ameen F. Rihani
Coverage
The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant
Freike, Lebanon
Language
A language of the resource
Arabic
Source
A related resource from which the described resource is derived
Ameen Rihani Organization
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
Text
Format
The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource
Text/pdf
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
Moise A. Khayrallah Center for Lebanese Diaspora Studies
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
Donor retains full ownership of any and all copyright currently controlled in agreement with Khayrallah Center. Nonexclusive right to authorize all uses of these materials for non-commercial research, scholarly, or other educational purposes are granted to Khayrallah Center pursuant to Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike (CC BY-NC-SA).
1920's
Ibn Saud
Jeddah
King Abdulaziz
Saudi Arabia
Visit
ابن سعود
السعودية
الملك عبد العزيز
امين الريحاني
جدة
زيارة
-
https://lebanesestudies.omeka.chass.ncsu.edu/files/original/cf63800dd726bfba2bec83a5b635c9e8.pdf
2415c26b6b66c7fbf1e6027d7c376aa9
PDF Text
Text
��
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Ameen Rihani: Arabic Letters
Subject
The topic of the resource
Rihani, Ameen Fares, 1876-1940
American literature--Arab American authors
Description
An account of the resource
The Ameen Fares Rihani collection contains the personal correspondence, English and Arabic manuscripts, papers, notebooks, articles, press clippings, and other documents of Ameen Fares Rihani (1876-1940), a formative and influential Arab-American author, poet, political activist, and intellectual who dedicated his life to promoting and advocating for Arab culture and history across the world.
This collection contains 271 letters, written in Arabic, addressed to Ameen Fares Rihani from friends, family, political leaders, and others. The letters were written between 1899-1941.
Source
A related resource from which the described resource is derived
Ameen Rihani Organization
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
Moise A. Khayrallah Center for Lebanese Diaspora Studies
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1899-1940
Contributor
An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource
Ameen Rihani Organization
Format
The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource
Text/PDF
Language
A language of the resource
Arabic
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
Text
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
Donor retains full ownership of any and all copyright currently controlled in agreement with Khayrallah Center. Nonexclusive right to authorize all uses of these materials for non-commercial research, scholarly, or other educational purposes are granted to Khayrallah Center pursuant to Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike (CC BY-NC-SA).
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
Rihani2018AR55_05_024
Alternative Title
An alternative name for the resource. The distinction between titles and alternative titles is application-specific.
رسائل امين الريحاني العربية
Title
A name given to the resource
Letter from Ameen Rihani to King Abdulaziz Ibn Saud, 1924 August 26
Description
An account of the resource
رسالة امين الريحاني الى الملك عبد العزيز ابن سعود بتاريخ 26 آب 1924 (26 محرم 1343). فيه يستعرض الريحاني ما يحدث في المنطقة من احتلال الجوف وردود الافعال حيالها وما اشيع من ارتكاب جرائم بشعة. كذلك يخبر الريحاني الملك عبد العزيز بانه اكمل كتابه "ملوك العرب" وجاري طبعه ويطلب من الملك اختيار العنوان المناسب من بين اربع عنواين او اقتراح عنوان اخر، كما اراد تأكيد تاريخ ولادة الملك عبد العزيز وتاريخ خروجه من الرياض.
* هذه هي الرسالة الاصلية، للنسخة الموجودة في السطر رقم (36) ، ملف رقم (AR55_05_019)
و (AR55_05_020)
A letter from Ameen Rihani to King Abdulaziz Ibn Saud, dated August 26, 1924 (Muharam 26, 1343). Rihani explains reactions after taking over the Jauf region, and the news of horrible crimes that took place afterwards. Rihani also tells King Abdulaziz that he finished his "The Kings of Arabs" and was sent print house
Rihani asks the King to choose a title, of the four that were sent to him earlier, or to suggest a new one. He also wanted to confirm the date of birth of Abdulaziz and when he left Riyadh.
Subject
The topic of the resource
Rihani, Ameen Fares, 1876-1940
Ibn Saʻūd,--King of Saudi Arabia,--1880-1953
Correspondence
Letter writing, Arabic
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
آب 1924
1924-08-26
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
امين الريحاني
Ameen F. Rihani
Coverage
The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant
Lebanon
Language
A language of the resource
Arabic
Source
A related resource from which the described resource is derived
Ameen Rihani Organization
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
Text
Format
The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource
Text/pdf
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
Moise A. Khayrallah Center for Lebanese Diaspora Studies
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
Donor retains full ownership of any and all copyright currently controlled in agreement with Khayrallah Center. Nonexclusive right to authorize all uses of these materials for non-commercial research, scholarly, or other educational purposes are granted to Khayrallah Center pursuant to Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike (CC BY-NC-SA).
1920's
Book: Kings of Arabs
Ibn Saud
Invasion
Jauf
King Abdulaziz
Saudi Arabia
War Crimes
ابن سعود
احتلال
الجوف
السعودية
الملك عبد العزيز
امين الريحاني
جرائم حرب
كتاب: ملوك العرب
-
https://lebanesestudies.omeka.chass.ncsu.edu/files/original/ea58c1203d130217d222ccbe2e489070.pdf
97ba4b5e4f29b1f8ca253a519849bf86
PDF Text
Text
�
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Ameen Rihani: Arabic Letters
Subject
The topic of the resource
Rihani, Ameen Fares, 1876-1940
American literature--Arab American authors
Description
An account of the resource
The Ameen Fares Rihani collection contains the personal correspondence, English and Arabic manuscripts, papers, notebooks, articles, press clippings, and other documents of Ameen Fares Rihani (1876-1940), a formative and influential Arab-American author, poet, political activist, and intellectual who dedicated his life to promoting and advocating for Arab culture and history across the world.
This collection contains 271 letters, written in Arabic, addressed to Ameen Fares Rihani from friends, family, political leaders, and others. The letters were written between 1899-1941.
Source
A related resource from which the described resource is derived
Ameen Rihani Organization
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
Moise A. Khayrallah Center for Lebanese Diaspora Studies
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1899-1940
Contributor
An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource
Ameen Rihani Organization
Format
The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource
Text/PDF
Language
A language of the resource
Arabic
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
Text
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
Donor retains full ownership of any and all copyright currently controlled in agreement with Khayrallah Center. Nonexclusive right to authorize all uses of these materials for non-commercial research, scholarly, or other educational purposes are granted to Khayrallah Center pursuant to Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike (CC BY-NC-SA).
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
Rihani2018AR55_05_026
Alternative Title
An alternative name for the resource. The distinction between titles and alternative titles is application-specific.
رسائل امين الريحاني العربية
Title
A name given to the resource
Letter from Ameen Rihani to King Abdulaziz Ibn Saud, 1924 September 22
Description
An account of the resource
رسالة امين الريحاني الى الملك عبد العزيز ابن سعود بتاريخ 22 ايلول 1924 (23 صفر 1343). الريحاني يهنئ الملك عبد العزيز على نصر حققة الاخير - لم يذكر ما هو - ويرسل اليه "قصاصات من جريدتين" كتب فيهما الريحاني عن الملك عبد العزيز - او كما دعاه الريحاني "زعيم العرب الاكبر وسلطة نجد والوهابية". كما يطلب الريحاني اختيار عنوان لكتاب او فصل كان قد ارسله من بين اربعة عنواين.
A letter from Ameen Rihani to King Abdulaziz Ibn Saud, dated September 22, 1924 (Sufar 23, 1343). Rihani congratulates King Abdulaziz on a victory. Rihani sends newspaper clippings to Ibn Saud where he wrote about them and called him "The Leader of Arabs, and Sultan of Najid and Wahhabism". Rihani also reminds him to choose a title for a book or chapter among other four title Rihani sent to him earlier.
Subject
The topic of the resource
Rihani, Ameen Fares, 1876-1940
Ibn Saʻūd,--King of Saudi Arabia,--1880-1953
Correspondence
Letter writing, Arabic
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
ايلول 1924
1924-09-22
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
امين الريحاني
Ameen F. Rihani
Coverage
The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant
Freike, Lebanon
Language
A language of the resource
Arabic
Source
A related resource from which the described resource is derived
Ameen Rihani Organization
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
Text
Format
The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource
Text/pdf
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
Moise A. Khayrallah Center for Lebanese Diaspora Studies
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
Donor retains full ownership of any and all copyright currently controlled in agreement with Khayrallah Center. Nonexclusive right to authorize all uses of these materials for non-commercial research, scholarly, or other educational purposes are granted to Khayrallah Center pursuant to Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike (CC BY-NC-SA).
1920's
Book
Freike
Ibn Saud
King Abdulaziz
Saudi Arabia
Victory
ابن سعود
السعودية
الفريكة
الملك عبد العزيز
امين الريحاني
انتصار
كتاب
-
https://lebanesestudies.omeka.chass.ncsu.edu/files/original/628bdc1a7903d35cee36666efeeac5b5.pdf
dc43f8623e591334a3988404d707df35
PDF Text
Text
�
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Ameen Rihani: Arabic Letters
Subject
The topic of the resource
Rihani, Ameen Fares, 1876-1940
American literature--Arab American authors
Description
An account of the resource
The Ameen Fares Rihani collection contains the personal correspondence, English and Arabic manuscripts, papers, notebooks, articles, press clippings, and other documents of Ameen Fares Rihani (1876-1940), a formative and influential Arab-American author, poet, political activist, and intellectual who dedicated his life to promoting and advocating for Arab culture and history across the world.
This collection contains 271 letters, written in Arabic, addressed to Ameen Fares Rihani from friends, family, political leaders, and others. The letters were written between 1899-1941.
Source
A related resource from which the described resource is derived
Ameen Rihani Organization
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
Moise A. Khayrallah Center for Lebanese Diaspora Studies
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1899-1940
Contributor
An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource
Ameen Rihani Organization
Format
The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource
Text/PDF
Language
A language of the resource
Arabic
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
Text
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
Donor retains full ownership of any and all copyright currently controlled in agreement with Khayrallah Center. Nonexclusive right to authorize all uses of these materials for non-commercial research, scholarly, or other educational purposes are granted to Khayrallah Center pursuant to Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike (CC BY-NC-SA).
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
Rihani2018AR55_05_027
Alternative Title
An alternative name for the resource. The distinction between titles and alternative titles is application-specific.
رسائل امين الريحاني العربية
Title
A name given to the resource
Letter from Ameen Rihani to King Abdulaziz Ibn Saud, 1924 October 23
Description
An account of the resource
توجد رسالتين في هذا الصفحة.
الاعلى: رسالة من امين الريحاني الى الملك عبد العزيز من حيفا الى البحرين بتاريخ 23 تشرين الاول 1924. فيها يطلب الريحاني من الملك عبد العزيز عدم التقدم في الحجاز ويرجو مقابلته لامور هامة لم يذكرها في نص الرسالة وانه الريحاني مسافر الى جدة.
الاسفل: رسالة من امين الريحاني الى الملك عبد العزيز من جدة بتاريخ 6 تشرين الثاني 1924 (9 ربيع الثاني 1343). يطلب فيها الريحاني مقابلة الملك عبد العزيز لابلاغه امورا هامة ويخبره بوصوله الى جدة.
Two letters from Ameen RIhani to King Abdulaziz Ibn Saud.
Top: Letter from Ameen Rihani to King Abdulaziz, dated October 23, 1924. Rihani asks King Abdulaziz not to move forward in Hijez, and requests a meeting with the King to discuss important issues. Rihani also tells the King that he is traveling to Jeddah.
Bottom: Letter from Ameen Rihani to King Abdulaziz, dated November 6, 1924 (Rabee' alThani 9, 1343). Rihani tells the King that he arrived in Jeddah and requests meeting with him to tell him important issues.
Subject
The topic of the resource
Rihani, Ameen Fares, 1876-1940
Ibn Saʻūd,--King of Saudi Arabia,--1880-1953
Correspondence
Letter writing, Arabic
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
الاعلى: تشرين الاول 1924
الاسفل: تشرين الثاني 1924
1924-10-23
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
امين الريحاني
Ameen F. Rihani
Coverage
The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant
Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
Language
A language of the resource
Arabic
Source
A related resource from which the described resource is derived
Ameen Rihani Organization
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
Text
Format
The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource
Text/pdf
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
Moise A. Khayrallah Center for Lebanese Diaspora Studies
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
Donor retains full ownership of any and all copyright currently controlled in agreement with Khayrallah Center. Nonexclusive right to authorize all uses of these materials for non-commercial research, scholarly, or other educational purposes are granted to Khayrallah Center pursuant to Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike (CC BY-NC-SA).
1920's
Bahrain
Hejaz
Ibn Saud
Jeddah
King Abdulaziz
Saudi Arabia
ابن سعود
البحرين
الحجاز
السعودية
الملك عبد العزيز
امين الريحاني
جدة
-
https://lebanesestudies.omeka.chass.ncsu.edu/files/original/bc3f39b5fdfc4c546fe056a990ee1fb1.pdf
7e5ffda60801bdd45884d0955924187f
PDF Text
Text
��
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Ameen Rihani: Arabic Letters
Subject
The topic of the resource
Rihani, Ameen Fares, 1876-1940
American literature--Arab American authors
Description
An account of the resource
The Ameen Fares Rihani collection contains the personal correspondence, English and Arabic manuscripts, papers, notebooks, articles, press clippings, and other documents of Ameen Fares Rihani (1876-1940), a formative and influential Arab-American author, poet, political activist, and intellectual who dedicated his life to promoting and advocating for Arab culture and history across the world.
This collection contains 271 letters, written in Arabic, addressed to Ameen Fares Rihani from friends, family, political leaders, and others. The letters were written between 1899-1941.
Source
A related resource from which the described resource is derived
Ameen Rihani Organization
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
Moise A. Khayrallah Center for Lebanese Diaspora Studies
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1899-1940
Contributor
An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource
Ameen Rihani Organization
Format
The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource
Text/PDF
Language
A language of the resource
Arabic
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
Text
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
Donor retains full ownership of any and all copyright currently controlled in agreement with Khayrallah Center. Nonexclusive right to authorize all uses of these materials for non-commercial research, scholarly, or other educational purposes are granted to Khayrallah Center pursuant to Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike (CC BY-NC-SA).
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
Rihani2018AR55_05_028
Alternative Title
An alternative name for the resource. The distinction between titles and alternative titles is application-specific.
رسائل امين الريحاني العربية
Title
A name given to the resource
Letter from Ameen Rihani to King Abdulaziz Ibn Saud, 1925 December 16
Description
An account of the resource
نسخة من رسالة امين الريحاني الى الملك عبد العزيز ابن سعود بتاريخ 16 كانون الثاني 1925 (20 جمادى الثانية 1343). يخبر الريحاني الملك عبد العزيز باعتزازه بمعرفته، وانه ارسل اليه اقسام الجزء الثاني من كتابه "ملوك العرب"، وحال وصولها مطبوعة في مجلد مع الخرائط والصور سيرسلها اليه ايضا. كما يطلب الريحاني رأي الملك عبد العزيز في مقال "البحث عن الوحدة العربية" في الكتاب - رأي الملك في المقال وفكرته. كما يعبر الريحاني عن ضرورة تحقيق السلم في الامة العربية واهمية تغليب السلم على القوة "السيف".
* الصفحة الثانية من الرسالة الاصلية موجودة في ملف (AR55_05_028)، السطر (36).
* الصفحة الاولى من الرسالة الاصلية موجودة في ملف (002_AR55_06 )، السطر (66).
A letter from Ameen Rihani to King Abdulaziz, dated December 16, 1925 (Jumada alThannia 20, 1343). Rihani expresses his admiration and pride of knowing the King in person. He also tells Ibn Saud that he sent to him chapters of part two of his book "Kings of Arabs" and once its printed copy with maps and pictures arrives, he will send it as well. Rihani asks King Abdulaziz his opinion on the article written by Rihani "Searching for Arab Unity" - the King's opinion of the article and the idea behind it. Rihani stresses on the idea of establishing peace across the Arab Nation, and to use the power of reason, not that of a sword.
Subject
The topic of the resource
Rihani, Ameen Fares, 1876-1940
Ibn Saʻūd,--King of Saudi Arabia,--1880-1953
Correspondence
Letter writing, Arabic
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
كانون الثاني 1925
1925-01-16
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
امين الريحاني
Ameen F. Rihani
Coverage
The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant
Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
Language
A language of the resource
Arabic
Source
A related resource from which the described resource is derived
Ameen Rihani Organization
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
Text
Format
The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource
Text/pdf
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
Moise A. Khayrallah Center for Lebanese Diaspora Studies
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
Donor retains full ownership of any and all copyright currently controlled in agreement with Khayrallah Center. Nonexclusive right to authorize all uses of these materials for non-commercial research, scholarly, or other educational purposes are granted to Khayrallah Center pursuant to Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike (CC BY-NC-SA).
1920's
Arab Nation
Arab Unity
Ibn Saud
Jeddah
King Abdulaziz
Peace
Saudi Arabia
ابن سعود
الامة العربية
السعودية
السلام
الملك عبد العزيز
الوحدة العربية
امين الريحاني
جدة
مقال
-
https://lebanesestudies.omeka.chass.ncsu.edu/files/original/34fca77533017221caa2858daa349783.pdf
c84e1d83d61a96ece929e02a6ecc8e3f
PDF Text
Text
�
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Ameen Rihani: Arabic Letters
Subject
The topic of the resource
Rihani, Ameen Fares, 1876-1940
American literature--Arab American authors
Description
An account of the resource
The Ameen Fares Rihani collection contains the personal correspondence, English and Arabic manuscripts, papers, notebooks, articles, press clippings, and other documents of Ameen Fares Rihani (1876-1940), a formative and influential Arab-American author, poet, political activist, and intellectual who dedicated his life to promoting and advocating for Arab culture and history across the world.
This collection contains 271 letters, written in Arabic, addressed to Ameen Fares Rihani from friends, family, political leaders, and others. The letters were written between 1899-1941.
Source
A related resource from which the described resource is derived
Ameen Rihani Organization
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
Moise A. Khayrallah Center for Lebanese Diaspora Studies
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1899-1940
Contributor
An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource
Ameen Rihani Organization
Format
The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource
Text/PDF
Language
A language of the resource
Arabic
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
Text
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
Donor retains full ownership of any and all copyright currently controlled in agreement with Khayrallah Center. Nonexclusive right to authorize all uses of these materials for non-commercial research, scholarly, or other educational purposes are granted to Khayrallah Center pursuant to Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike (CC BY-NC-SA).
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
Rihani2018AR55_05_029
Alternative Title
An alternative name for the resource. The distinction between titles and alternative titles is application-specific.
رسائل امين الريحاني العربية
Title
A name given to the resource
Letter from Ameen Rihani to King Abdulaziz Ibn Saud, 1924 December 22
Description
An account of the resource
رسالة امين الريحاني الى الملك عبد العزيز ابن سعود بتاريخ 22 كانون الاول 1924 (26 جمادى الاولى 1343). يخبر فيها الريحاني الملك عبد العزيز بانه ارسل له بيد صديقه حسين العويني "كتابا من وجهاء المسلمين في بيروت"، وبعض اقسام الجزء الخامس من كتاب "ملوك العرب". كما يبلغه ان كتابه جاري طبعه وسيرسل له نسخة حال توفرها لديه.
A letter from Ameen Rihani to King Abdulaziz, dated December 22, 1924 (Jumada alAwla 26, 1343). Rihani tells King Abdulaziz that he sent to him via his friend Hussein alAweeni "a letter from Muslim figures in Beirut", and parts of the fifth chapter of his book "The Kings of Arabs". Also, Rihani refers that his book is under publication, and he will send a copy to the King once he has it.
Subject
The topic of the resource
Rihani, Ameen Fares, 1876-1940
Ibn Saʻūd,--King of Saudi Arabia,--1880-1953
Correspondence
Letter writing, Arabic
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
كانون الاول 1924
1924-12-22
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
امين الريحاني
Ameen F. Rihani
Coverage
The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant
Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
Language
A language of the resource
Arabic
Source
A related resource from which the described resource is derived
Ameen Rihani Organization
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
Text
Format
The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource
Text/pdf
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
Moise A. Khayrallah Center for Lebanese Diaspora Studies
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
Donor retains full ownership of any and all copyright currently controlled in agreement with Khayrallah Center. Nonexclusive right to authorize all uses of these materials for non-commercial research, scholarly, or other educational purposes are granted to Khayrallah Center pursuant to Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike (CC BY-NC-SA).
1920's
Beirut
Book: Kings of Arabs
Hussien alAweeni
Ibn Saud
Jeddah
King Abdulaziz
Saudi Arabia
ابن سعود
السعودية
الملك عبد العزيز
امين الريحاني
بيروت
جدة
حسين العويني
كتاب: ملوك العرب
-
https://lebanesestudies.omeka.chass.ncsu.edu/files/original/5a42b484f2c2adcc02ad661f0cfd28cd.pdf
2e6726d226e3d2865de620c570355c3b
PDF Text
Text
����
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Ameen Rihani: Arabic Letters
Subject
The topic of the resource
Rihani, Ameen Fares, 1876-1940
American literature--Arab American authors
Description
An account of the resource
The Ameen Fares Rihani collection contains the personal correspondence, English and Arabic manuscripts, papers, notebooks, articles, press clippings, and other documents of Ameen Fares Rihani (1876-1940), a formative and influential Arab-American author, poet, political activist, and intellectual who dedicated his life to promoting and advocating for Arab culture and history across the world.
This collection contains 271 letters, written in Arabic, addressed to Ameen Fares Rihani from friends, family, political leaders, and others. The letters were written between 1899-1941.
Source
A related resource from which the described resource is derived
Ameen Rihani Organization
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
Moise A. Khayrallah Center for Lebanese Diaspora Studies
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1899-1940
Contributor
An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource
Ameen Rihani Organization
Format
The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource
Text/PDF
Language
A language of the resource
Arabic
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
Text
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
Donor retains full ownership of any and all copyright currently controlled in agreement with Khayrallah Center. Nonexclusive right to authorize all uses of these materials for non-commercial research, scholarly, or other educational purposes are granted to Khayrallah Center pursuant to Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike (CC BY-NC-SA).
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
Rihani2018AR55_05_030
Alternative Title
An alternative name for the resource. The distinction between titles and alternative titles is application-specific.
رسائل امين الريحاني العربية
Title
A name given to the resource
Letter from Ameen Rihani to King Abdulaziz Ibn Saud, 1924 December 22
Description
An account of the resource
مذكرة مقدمة من امين الريحاني الى الملك عبد العزيز تحتوي على ستة عشر بنداً تتمحور اغلبها حول الحجاز واستقلاله والمعاهدة النجدية الحجازية، والشريف حسين بن علي واولاده، والسيطرة الاجنبية على البلدان العربية خاصة سوريا وفلسطين؛ والسياسة البريطانية والفرنسية والايطالية في البلاد العربية؛ والحلف العربي والوحدة العربية؛ والخلافة ومن الجدير بها؛ وسبل تحقيق السلام في العالم الاسلامي والعربي وغيرها من النقاط.
هذه المذكرة قد تكون تابعة للرسالة رقم AR55_05_029 بتاريخ 22 كانون الاول 1924.
A memorandum from Ameen Rihani to King Abdulaziz, it includes 16 articles/items on: Hejaz and the Najid-Hejack Treaty
Shareef Hussien bin Ali and his sons
foreign mandate on Arab countries - especially Syria and Palestine
British, French, and Italian policy in Arab countries
Arab allies and Arab unity
peace establishment in Islamic and Arab world, among other issues.
Subject
The topic of the resource
Rihani, Ameen Fares, 1876-1940
Ibn Saʻūd,--King of Saudi Arabia,--1880-1953
Correspondence
Letter writing, Arabic
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
كانون الاول 1924
1924-12-22
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
امين الريحاني
Ameen F. Rihani
Language
A language of the resource
Arabic
Source
A related resource from which the described resource is derived
Ameen Rihani Organization
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
Text
Format
The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource
Text/pdf
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
Moise A. Khayrallah Center for Lebanese Diaspora Studies
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
Donor retains full ownership of any and all copyright currently controlled in agreement with Khayrallah Center. Nonexclusive right to authorize all uses of these materials for non-commercial research, scholarly, or other educational purposes are granted to Khayrallah Center pursuant to Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike (CC BY-NC-SA).
1920's
Ali bin Hussein
Ali of Hejaz
Arab Unity
Foreign Mandate
Hejaz
Ibn Saud
King Abdulaziz
Najid
Najid-Hejaz Treaty
Palestine
Peace
Saudi Arabia
Shareef Hussien bin Ali
Syria
Treaty
ابن سعود
الامير علي بن الشريف حسين
الانتداب الاجنبي
الحجاز
السعودية
السلام
الشريف حسين بن علي
المعاهدة النجدية-الحجازية
الملك عبد العزيز
الوحدة العربية
امين الريحاني
سوريا
فلسطين
معاهدة
نجد
-
https://lebanesestudies.omeka.chass.ncsu.edu/files/original/9319e815bd3a293ae7c0097f235f72ab.pdf
bd4a8f56a15461e50f175f35f73f06d5
PDF Text
Text
��
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Ameen Rihani: Arabic Letters
Subject
The topic of the resource
Rihani, Ameen Fares, 1876-1940
American literature--Arab American authors
Description
An account of the resource
The Ameen Fares Rihani collection contains the personal correspondence, English and Arabic manuscripts, papers, notebooks, articles, press clippings, and other documents of Ameen Fares Rihani (1876-1940), a formative and influential Arab-American author, poet, political activist, and intellectual who dedicated his life to promoting and advocating for Arab culture and history across the world.
This collection contains 271 letters, written in Arabic, addressed to Ameen Fares Rihani from friends, family, political leaders, and others. The letters were written between 1899-1941.
Source
A related resource from which the described resource is derived
Ameen Rihani Organization
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
Moise A. Khayrallah Center for Lebanese Diaspora Studies
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1899-1940
Contributor
An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource
Ameen Rihani Organization
Format
The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource
Text/PDF
Language
A language of the resource
Arabic
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
Text
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
Donor retains full ownership of any and all copyright currently controlled in agreement with Khayrallah Center. Nonexclusive right to authorize all uses of these materials for non-commercial research, scholarly, or other educational purposes are granted to Khayrallah Center pursuant to Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike (CC BY-NC-SA).
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
Rihani2018AR55_05_036
Alternative Title
An alternative name for the resource. The distinction between titles and alternative titles is application-specific.
رسائل امين الريحاني العربية
Title
A name given to the resource
Letter from Ameen Rihani to King Abdulaziz Ibn Saud, 1925 April 1
Description
An account of the resource
رسالة امين الريحاني الى الملك عبد العزيز بتاريخ 1 نيسان 1925 (5 رمضان 1343). الريحاني يستفسر من الملك عبد العزيز عن ما ورد على لسان السيد السنوسي في مكة انه "قد جاء الى الحجاز للتوسط بين المتحاربين" وفيما لو كان التصريح صحيحا فيأذن له الملك عبد العزيز بنشره. ويؤكد الريحاني للملك عبد العزيز نواياه في تحقبق السلم ووحدة العرب ونبذ الفرقة.
A letter from Ameen Rihani to King Abdulaziz, dated April 1, 1925 (Ramadan 5, 1343). Rihani asks confirmation from King Ibn Saud on the statement made by Sanussi in Mecca that he came "to Hejaz to moderate peace talks between the two parties", so they can publish it with the King Abdulaziz permission. Rihani also expresses to the King his aims for peace and Arab unity and to put aside conflicts and division.
Subject
The topic of the resource
Rihani, Ameen Fares, 1876-1940
Ibn Saʻūd,--King of Saudi Arabia,--1880-1953
Correspondence
Letter writing, Arabic
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
نيسان 1925
1925-04-01
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
امين الريحاني
Ameen F. Rihani
Coverage
The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant
Freike, Lebanon
Language
A language of the resource
Arabic
Source
A related resource from which the described resource is derived
Ameen Rihani Organization
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
Text
Format
The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource
Text/pdf
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
Moise A. Khayrallah Center for Lebanese Diaspora Studies
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
Donor retains full ownership of any and all copyright currently controlled in agreement with Khayrallah Center. Nonexclusive right to authorize all uses of these materials for non-commercial research, scholarly, or other educational purposes are granted to Khayrallah Center pursuant to Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike (CC BY-NC-SA).
1920's
Freike
Hejaz
Ibn Saud
King Abdulaziz
Peace
Sanussi
Saudi Arabia
ابن سعود
الحجاز
السعودية
السلام
السنوسي
الفريكة
الملك عبد العزيز
امين الريحاني
-
https://lebanesestudies.omeka.chass.ncsu.edu/files/original/a1507cd3d68735bc5c53c79e15dcd32a.pdf
58ac8aff425192602eb9a442d7c853fc
PDF Text
Text
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Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Ameen Rihani: Arabic Letters
Subject
The topic of the resource
Rihani, Ameen Fares, 1876-1940
American literature--Arab American authors
Description
An account of the resource
The Ameen Fares Rihani collection contains the personal correspondence, English and Arabic manuscripts, papers, notebooks, articles, press clippings, and other documents of Ameen Fares Rihani (1876-1940), a formative and influential Arab-American author, poet, political activist, and intellectual who dedicated his life to promoting and advocating for Arab culture and history across the world.
This collection contains 271 letters, written in Arabic, addressed to Ameen Fares Rihani from friends, family, political leaders, and others. The letters were written between 1899-1941.
Source
A related resource from which the described resource is derived
Ameen Rihani Organization
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
Moise A. Khayrallah Center for Lebanese Diaspora Studies
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1899-1940
Contributor
An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource
Ameen Rihani Organization
Format
The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource
Text/PDF
Language
A language of the resource
Arabic
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
Text
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
Donor retains full ownership of any and all copyright currently controlled in agreement with Khayrallah Center. Nonexclusive right to authorize all uses of these materials for non-commercial research, scholarly, or other educational purposes are granted to Khayrallah Center pursuant to Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike (CC BY-NC-SA).
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
Rihani2018AR55_05_038
Alternative Title
An alternative name for the resource. The distinction between titles and alternative titles is application-specific.
رسائل امين الريحاني العربية
Title
A name given to the resource
Letter from Ameen Rihani to King Abdulaziz Ibn Saud, 1925 April 1
Description
An account of the resource
رسالة امين الريحاني الى الملك عبد العزيز بتاريخ 1 نيسان 1925 (5 رمضان 1343). فيها يناقش الريحاني الملك عبد العزيز حول مجئ السنوسي الى مكة ومحاولة التوسط بين الملك علي بن الحسين والملك عبد العزيز لتحقيق السلام. ويخبر الريحاني الملك عبد العزيز فيما لو رغب باتمام السلام فان الريحاني مستعد للذهاب الى جدة والتحدث مع الملك علي "ليكون الطالب للسلم" وانه ينتظر رد الملك عبد العزيز "كلمة سرية" بيد "وكيله" في الشام، او بيد صديق مشترك "ناصر بن التركي من عنيزة".
A letter from Ameen Rihani to King Abdulaziz, dated April 1, 1925 (Ramadan 5, 1343). Rihani discusses the arrival of Sannusi to Mecca and mederating peace talks between King Ali of Hejaz and King Abdulaziz, and if King Abdulaziz would like to resume peace talks, Rihani can go to Jeddah and "convince" King Ali to "initiate the peace talks". Rihani also explpains that he awaits the King's "confidential word" through his representative in Syria or a common friend "Nasser bin al-Turky from A'neza [tribe]"
Subject
The topic of the resource
Rihani, Ameen Fares, 1876-1940
Ibn Saʻūd,--King of Saudi Arabia,--1880-1953
Correspondence
Letter writing, Arabic
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
نيسان 1925
1925-04-01
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
امين الريحاني
Ameen F. Rihani
Coverage
The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Language
A language of the resource
Arabic
Source
A related resource from which the described resource is derived
Ameen Rihani Organization
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
Text
Format
The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource
Text/pdf
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
Moise A. Khayrallah Center for Lebanese Diaspora Studies
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
Donor retains full ownership of any and all copyright currently controlled in agreement with Khayrallah Center. Nonexclusive right to authorize all uses of these materials for non-commercial research, scholarly, or other educational purposes are granted to Khayrallah Center pursuant to Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike (CC BY-NC-SA).
1920's
Ali of Hejaz: Ali bin Hussien
Hejaz
Ibn Saud
King Abdulaziz
Nasser bib alTurkey
Peace
Sannusi
Saudi Arabia
War
ابن سعود
الحجاز
الحرب
السعودية
السلام
السنوسي
الملك عبد العزيز
امين الريحاني
علي بن الحسين
عنيزة
ناصر بن التركي
-
https://lebanesestudies.omeka.chass.ncsu.edu/files/original/a2cad069ba7891bbf0426670d192fabf.pdf
7904b1b1c72e5811ed62c489292e90f7
PDF Text
Text
������
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Ameen Rihani: Arabic Letters
Subject
The topic of the resource
Rihani, Ameen Fares, 1876-1940
American literature--Arab American authors
Description
An account of the resource
The Ameen Fares Rihani collection contains the personal correspondence, English and Arabic manuscripts, papers, notebooks, articles, press clippings, and other documents of Ameen Fares Rihani (1876-1940), a formative and influential Arab-American author, poet, political activist, and intellectual who dedicated his life to promoting and advocating for Arab culture and history across the world.
This collection contains 271 letters, written in Arabic, addressed to Ameen Fares Rihani from friends, family, political leaders, and others. The letters were written between 1899-1941.
Source
A related resource from which the described resource is derived
Ameen Rihani Organization
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
Moise A. Khayrallah Center for Lebanese Diaspora Studies
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
1899-1940
Contributor
An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource
Ameen Rihani Organization
Format
The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource
Text/PDF
Language
A language of the resource
Arabic
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
Text
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
Donor retains full ownership of any and all copyright currently controlled in agreement with Khayrallah Center. Nonexclusive right to authorize all uses of these materials for non-commercial research, scholarly, or other educational purposes are granted to Khayrallah Center pursuant to Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike (CC BY-NC-SA).
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
Rihani2018AR55_05_039
Alternative Title
An alternative name for the resource. The distinction between titles and alternative titles is application-specific.
رسائل امين الريحاني العربية
Title
A name given to the resource
Letter from Ameen Rihani to Albert Rihani, 1925 May 15
Description
An account of the resource
نسخة من رسالة امين الريحاني الى اخيه البرت الريحاني بتاريخ 15 ايار 1925. يعلم امين فيها اخيه باخر اخبار العائلة والاصدقاء، وما استجد من كتابات ومطبوعات الريحاني مثل نشرة اجزاء من كتابه عن الحجاز وابن سعود في مجلة "آسيا".
A photocopy of a letter from Ameen Rihani to his brother, Albert Rihani, dated May 15, 1925. Ameen tells his brother latest news of family and friends, and Ameen's recent writings and publications such as sending parts of his on Najid and King abdulaziz to "Asia" magazine.
Subject
The topic of the resource
Rihani, Ameen Fares, 1876-1940
Correspondence
Letter writing, Arabic
Date
A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource
ايار 1925
1925-05-15
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
امين الريحاني
Ameen F. Rihani
Coverage
The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant
Freike, Lebanon
Language
A language of the resource
Arabic
Source
A related resource from which the described resource is derived
Ameen Rihani Organization
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
Text
Format
The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource
Text/pdf
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
Moise A. Khayrallah Center for Lebanese Diaspora Studies
Rights
Information about rights held in and over the resource
Donor retains full ownership of any and all copyright currently controlled in agreement with Khayrallah Center. Nonexclusive right to authorize all uses of these materials for non-commercial research, scholarly, or other educational purposes are granted to Khayrallah Center pursuant to Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike (CC BY-NC-SA).
1920's
Albert Rihani
Freike
Ibn Saud
King Abdulaziz
Saudi Arabia
ابن سعود
اخبار عائلية
البرت الريحاني
الملك عبد العزيز
امين الريحاني
جنوا، ايطاليا
كتاب
ماريدا، المكسيك
مجلة آسيا
نجد