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."
