About three years ago I attended an open house at Iowa State University's
Farm House Museum and was horrified (along with the staff) to see the
university's president stroll up to a display of antique crystal, lift a
tumbler from its place, and deliver it a decisive "TING!" with his
finger.  Perhaps gentle warnings and expectations of common sense and
manners should make way for more explicit directives.  Remember, nothing
EVER goes without saying.

Stephanie Coon
Purchasing Department
The University of Iowa
[log in to unmask]

On Sat, 10 Feb 1996, Matthew Linke wrote:

> Be glad it wasn't Tim Taylor!  =-)
>
>
>
> >Grrr....I saw Bob Vila groping the furniture and fixtures of many beautiful
> >Northeastern homes!  As an interpreter at Olana, the last sight shown, I was
> >shocked and horrified to watch Vila doing things that I spend the entire tour
> >season trying to stop our visitors from doing.  In bringing these beautiful
> >homes to the public's attention, Vila should make an effort to also show the
> >proper behavior of a guest.  It would make my job a lot easier (!!) and not
> >give our vistors unrealistic expectations.  I would also like to point out
> >that in the case of Olana neither of the individuals who gave the tour are
> >actually employed at the sight and our staff had very little involvement with
> >the actual filming...
> >
> >Maria Lizzi
>