IV
Mary Haskell
the Guardian She-Angel “She would correct secretly Gibran’s manuscripts and return them to him by mail.”
The occasion of the first International Conference on Kahlil Gibran at the University of Maryland in December 1999 brought together speakers to discuss Gibran’s life. At one session, speakers praised Mary Haskell for her relentless encouragement for him to write in English and for the financial, moral and emotional support she offered Gibran. Whilst looking around the conference room, I noticed a tearful young lady. Professor Suheil Bushrui, the president of the conference, also saw her and whispered to me: “She is Mary Haskell’s relative.” I approached her after the session. I introduced myself as a connoisseur of Gibran’s writings and also of Mary Haskell’s history. She pointed to the necklace she had around her neck, saying: “This is from her.” It was a beautiful necklace inlaid with finesse. 57
