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The Anti-Peter Principle “The Peter Principle” was devised through the power of observation by Dr. Laurence J. Peter and Raymond Hull, and reported in their 1968 book of the same title. Basically the principle states that in a hierarchy, every employee tends to rise to the level of their own incompetence. Dr. William Corcoran, not to be confused with the former editor of The Baker Street Journal, William Cochran, concluded that anything that works will be used in progressively more and more challenging applications until it fails, which is called “the Generalized Peter Principle.” This brings me to my theory of the Anti-Peter Principle. The Peter in question is our own Peter Blau, the same Peter Blau who was once the editor of The Baker Street Journal. Whoa, you say, what’s the matter with Peter Blau? Why are you against him? What has he ever done to you? My answer is simple, nothing! It is my own observation that if the Peter Principle is all about incompetency then it only goes to reason the Anti-Peter Principle is just the opposite. I have been a lucky Sherlockian these past two weeks as I have been able to dine with Peter Blau during both of them. I have observed that the more one is around Peter, the better a Sherlockian one becomes – thus The Anti-Peter Principle. This week my work sent me to Washington, D.C. I had already made arrangements to meet Peter at his house in Bethesda, MD, so at the prescribed time, at least fairly close to it, I was walking up his front steps. This was actually my second time to visit Peter at his present house. The first trip to Peter’s house can be read by going to The Maniac Collector’s Inbox for September 10, 2006 - “Sherlocking in Maryland.” There was still another, even earlier visit to Peter’s when he was still living in the District. Read “Sherlocking in Washington, D.C.” from October 26, 2004. Every time I am around him, I learn something Sherlockian I did not know before. Of course, this time was no different. I am not the only Sherlockian who has noted that Peter has gotten better with age. Peter’s significant other, Bev Wolov and Bev’s daughter Samantha and a plethora of cats all greeted me as though I was part of the family. We all piled into my rented Kia and drove to a local Italian restaurant. There we had a wonderful time sharing all of our travel stories. Bev has been trying to get Peter to take her to Italy so I was able to tell them all about our recent trip there. Between Peter, Bev, and myself, we have covered nearly everywhere except South America. Upon returning to Peter’s house, I asked innocently enough about anything new and exciting in his collection. With a twinkle in his eye, he told me that they had added a new room to the house. My powers of observation may not be up to that of the Master’s but I could see nothing outwardly added to the house. Peter and Bev took me to the foyer where they showed me Peter’s 75th birthday present from Bev. It was a miniature room, but not a recreation of the sitting room at 221b Baker Street but a miniature synopsis of Peter’s life. The miniature looked to be about 24” x 12” X 9” It was full of the most amazing items, from a cheetah, because he had once owned one while living in Africa to a picture of a 1957 Chevrolet, which he add also owned at one time. There was plenty of Sherlockian items included and many one of a kind things that Bev had commissioned. The miniature took 2 years to complete and I do not have enough space here to describe everything inside. Suffice to say if you are ever lucky enough to visit Peter, you can be amazed on you own. You might even come up with your own Anti-Peter Principle. Happy Collecting!!
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