Mr. Butrus el Bistany, the husband of Raheel, writes me as follows:—­

     Beirut, Oct. 23, 1872.

     “It would be superfluous to speak of the efforts of American
     Missionary ladies in training the females of Syria, and the good
     done by them.

     “The sainted Sarah L. Smith, who was one of the first among them,
     established the first Female School in Beirut.

     “Mrs. Whiting, also, who had no children of her own, trained five
     girls in her family, all of whom are still living.

     “Mrs. De Forest had a very interesting female school in her family,
     and the girls educated in that school are of the best of those
     educated by American ladies in Syria.

“The obstacles in those times were very great, and the people believed that education is injurious to females.  But these ladies obtained a few girls to educate gratuitously, and thus made a good impression on the minds of the people, and wrought a change in public opinion, so that year by year the people began to appreciate female education.  And as we are now building on the foundation laid by those good ladies and reaping the fruit of their labors, we should pray to be imbued with the same spirit, and try as much as we can to follow their example, and carry on the work with the same spirit, zeal and wisdom as they did.”

Mr. Naame Tabet, the husband of Miriam, who was educated by Dr. and Mrs. De Forest, writes as follows:—­

     Beirut, Oct. 21, 1872.

“It affords me unfeigned gratification that you give me an opportunity of recording my impressions in regard to the advantages of female education in this country under the guidance of the light of the Gospel of our Lord and Saviour, such as is exemplified by the American Mission, whose labors in diffusing and disseminating the Scriptures are so conspicuously manifest.

“That example chiefly has had the effect, in this neighborhood, to stir up gigantic efforts to fill the want of female education.  The same feeling is extending itself throughout Syria, so that future prospects for the promotion of pure Christian knowledge and true civilization are brilliant and ought surely to encourage the benevolent in persevering in their action.”

The Rev. John Wortabet, M.D., Professor of Anatomy in the Syrian Protestant College, and husband of Salome, writes as follows:—­

     Beirut, Oct. 20, 1872.

“Though I was very young when Mrs. Smith, Mrs. Whiting, and Mrs. De Forest began their labors in the cause of Female Education in Syria, I can distinctly recollect that they were the first to initiate that movement which has grown to so vast an extent at the present time.  To them belongs the honor of having been the determined and brave pioneers in the important work of raising woman from her degraded position,