Editor:

Having just returned to Casper to live after an absence of 46 years, I am really happy to be here with the familiarity of my childhood home, family, and friends. I am especially impressed with Casper's public sculptures. The new sculpture, "Joy of Life," that was dedicated last week is truly beautiful.

However, I have just one concern, and this stems from having come from a family of strong women, and the "Equality State": there is only one woman represented in all of these sculptures!! Oh, all right, two, if counting Justice in the courthouse. The only other representation is "Good Book" near the library. There are also only five female children depicted in all of these sculptures, with three in "Celebration of Learning," one in "Family Ties," and one in "Good Book."

This is also contrasted with nine of young males, five of which are the boys only in "Field of Blue," "One on One," "Best Friend Times Three," "Team Ropin'" and "Best Friends."

I moved here from Pierre, S.D., where the History Museum featured a beautiful strong woman pioneer near the entrance which led me to this concern, with the Historic Trails Museum as a true monument to both the men and women who settled this wonderful state (see the strong "The Homesteader" bronze of a male pioneer on Durbin Street): where are the women represented? Don't get me wrong, I love the wildlife, the cowboys, the Native Americans, the children, et al, I just felt my Wyoming feminine role models have been left out.

MARILYN OSSE, Casper