An
American soldier, serving in World War II, had just returned from several weeks
of intense action on the German front lines. He had finally been granted R&R
and was on a train bound for London.
The train was very crowded, so the soldier walked the length of the train, looking
for an empty seat. The only unoccupied seat was directly adjacent to a well
dressed middle aged lady and was being used by her little dog.
The
war weary soldier asked, "Please, ma'am, may I sit in that seat?"
The
English woman looked down her nose at the soldier, sniffed and said, "You
Americans. You are such a rude class of people. Can't you see my Little Fife
is using that seat?"
The
soldier walked away, determined to find a place to rest, but after another"
trip down to the end of the train, found himself again facing the woman with
the dog.
Again
he asked, "Please, lady. May I sit there? I'm very tired."
The
English woman wrinkled her nose and snorted, "You Americans! Not only are
you rude, you are also arrogant. Imagine!"
The
soldier didn't say anything else; he leaned over, picked up the little dog,
tossed it out the window of the train and sat down in the empty seat.
The
woman shrieked and railed, and demanded that someone defend her and chastise
the soldier.
An
English gentleman sitting across the aisle spoke up, "You know, sir, you
Americans do seem to have a penchant for doing the wrong thing. You eat holding
the fork in the wrong hand. You drive your autos on the wrong side of the road.
And now, sir, you've thrown the wrong bitch out the window."
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