Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1939-11-02
The Letter Box
To the Editor of The Sentinel:

10 Cne EuIIOE VI L lie O0uClIlcl.
Please allow me space to inform
the subscribers of your paper that
it is reported the new Rockville
post Office, of which we are justly
proud, is to be decorated by one
of those hideous murals which are
now being forced upon the unwill-
ing vision of post Office patrons.
But hideous or not, small rural
post Office, is not an appropriate
place for murals of any kind.
We needed a permanent build
ing, as all will acknowledge, and
the majority of critics with whom
I have discussed the subject, APP
prove of the architecture and are
unanimous in praising the vastly
improved facilities. I have heard
only expressions of commentator
upon the quality of materials and
the extremely clean appearance,
due principally to the beautiful
marble and cream colored walls.
These unadorned walls give the
lobby an impression of space, from
which a mural will detract, appar-
emily causing the dimensions to
shrink.
Aside from these comments,
will say that while we are delight
ed to have this necessary and at
tractive improvement in the town,
we should not be called upon to
accept it as gift from the Gov
eminent. None of the Federal
officials could or would donate this
post Office to our town, and with
all due respect to them, we are en-
titled to have some say as to
whether we do or do not care to
have one of those Nightmares
wished upon US. If anyone has ever
seen one that looks as if inspired
by normal brain, will appreci-
ate such information, for judging
from the newspaper cuts of all
those murals imposed upon the
helpless tax payers of small COM
munities, 1 have yet to see one
that was not horror. The craze
for oddities should not be forced
upon conservative, practical people.
The better balanced persons justly
ridicule the many weird styles of
today, especially the modern head
gear, but one does not have to
adopt them, and they are succeed
ed in a short time by at least
something different. These murals
are fixtures, and no matter how
many patrons disapprove, they and
their children will have to stare at
this same imposition daily, without
any redress. Is this fair or just ?
Look at last Sundays Star and see
the designs planned to be perpet-
uated upon the citizens of Selby-
vile, Del; Elkton, Md, and
Bridgeport, Ohio. There are glar-
ing defects in all. Was it Mark
Twain who said of a painting of
Daniel in the Lions Den: "You
can only tell Daniel from the lions
by the green umbrella under his
arm"
These monstrosities are paid
with money from the tax payers,
many of whom are more needy
than the so-called artists. There is
no comparison between these op-
pressive efforts and many of the
attractive advertisements along
the public roads, to which there is
SO much objection, although I am
opposed to them as being out of
place.
Put the question squarely to any
post Office official as to his willing
ness to have such work mar the
walls of his home. do not have to
register his reply. OF course, the
helpless postmasters are on the
spot and are not free to oppose.
This article is written by a
staunch Democrat, so politics do
not enter into the discussion.
1t will indicate a laudable indie
pendence if all readers will write
to the Editor expressing their opin-
ions as to the desirability of a
mural, and attend the meeting of
the Chamber of Commerce on Fri
day night at P. M. in the cid
Court House.