Leland writes:

>>>observation - guessing occupation, background,
nationality, etc. based on appearance and body language.  This was my
informal apprenticeship <<<

The humanity and honor of doing business in preservation has been on my mind a lot lately. In the 1950s one of my father's several "sidelines" was operating a "Jewelry Stand" at the Nebraska State Fair every year, selling rings and bracelets to the farm kids and their folks. For 10 days, throngs of people would stream by, with a running commentary  from my father on their appearance, character, etc.. Here's a typical scene: a 14 year old boy is striding by with a beaming grin on his face, 3 or 4 of his friends are right behind him, and behind them, 2 or 3 families with older siblings and moms & dads strolling along. My dad would say to me, "See that boy, he just won a big prize on his hefer. He has done good. Let's give him a reward for his good works." A big production would ensue: honoring the boy once again in front of his friends and family with a gift of some value, like his choice from all the biggest rings. It would amaze me that my dad would know this much about a stranger, and that he would know the boy deserved a free ring, and that he could "hit it off" with this crowd of adults. Of course, my dad knew that if the boy had a new ring, his friends would want one too, and their parents were standing right there to buy everyone new rings. Even if no one bought anything everyone felf good about the whole rig-ma-role. My dad would be grinning about it for the rest of the day. So I grew up with these Nebraska State Fair lessons in how to read people's situation and character in short order, and how to relate that "reading" to doing business with them, and how to make them feel good about it. 

John Leeke, Preservation Consultant