o 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