Don't be so quick to dismiss puppet art

To the editor: According to your article Dec. 15, the Des Plaines mayor called puppeteering a "dying art" and gave that as part of the reason for opposing the use of public money to keep the Puppet Parlor in his city.

There are a number of so-called dying art forms in our history. People look back with nostalgia and sadness when it's too late to resurrect a lost art. We should make more moves to keep them around when we have the opportunity.

I think it is fortunate that the city of Chicago was able to see the value in the puppet theater, and very unfortunate that Des Plaines could not be as open.

There will always be a variety of choices for children's attention and interest. To allow that to be a reason for not supporting retaining this venture in the Northwest suburbs is, in a word, humbug.

Brenda Baines

Arlington Heights