Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: Notesfiles $Revision: 1.7.0.8 $; site convex Path: utzoo!linus!decvax!harpo!whuxlm!whuxl!houxm!ihnp4!inuxc!pur-ee!uiucdcs!convex!tmorris From: tmorris@convex.UUCP Newsgroups: net.jokes Subject: OFFENSIVE TO POLISH Message-ID: <36700045@convex> Date: Tue, 13-Aug-85 16:59:00 EDT Article-I.D.: convex.36700045 Posted: Tue Aug 13 16:59:00 1985 Date-Received: Tue, 20-Aug-85 07:47:18 EDT Lines: 17 Nf-ID: #N:convex:36700045:000:971 Nf-From: convex.UUCP!tmorris Aug 13 15:59:00 1985 OFFENSIVE TO POLISH It seems that during the French revolution , those facing execution were given their choice of lying face up or face down on the guillotine. Such a choice was given to an English prisoner , who said "It is for my country that I die , let me face the blade !" So they placed him face up, pulled the rope , and the blade stopped 1/8 inch from his neck. The crowd roared " An innocent man, let him go! "; and so he went free. The next one up was a French aristocrat. When offered his choice , he declared " I am no less a man than ze Englishman , let me face ze blade " Again , the rope was pulled , the blade fell , and stopped just short of his neck. Again ,the crowd asserted that it was a miracle, and the man was set free. The next victim was a Polish traveller , caught in the outbreak of the revolution . "Do you wish to go face up ,or face down ? ", the executioner asked. " I'm not going anywhere until you get that damn thing fixed "...