It was during World War II, and some soldiers were back in England, on a break from the fighting. They returned from France by boat to Dover and were on a train to London. The train was quite crowded, so a US Marine walked the entire length looking for a seat, but the only seat left was taken by the French poodle of a very well dressed, middle-aged, Englishwoman.

The sweat stained war-weary Marine asked, 'Ma'am, may I have that seat?' The woman just sniffed and said to no one in particular, 'Americans are so rude. My little Fifi is using that seat.'

The Marine walked the entire train again, but the only seat left was under that dog. 'Please, ma'am. May I sit down? I'm very tired.'

She snorted, 'Not only are you Americans rude, you are also arrogant!'

This time the Marine didn't say a word; he just picked up the little dog, tossed it out the train window, and sat down.

The woman shrieked, 'Someone must defend my honour! Put this American in his place!'

An English gentleman sitting nearby lowered his newspaper and looking over his reading glasses spoke very calmly 'Sir, you Americans seem to have a penchant for doing the wrong thing. You hold the fork in the wrong hand. You drive your autos on the wrong side of the road. And now, sir, you seem to have thrown the wrong bitch out of the window.'