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 Fifi 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."
