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From: aeq@pucc-h (Sargent)
Newsgroups: net.jokes
Subject: Disparaging to engineers
Message-ID: <400@pucc-h>
Date: Tue, 13-Dec-83 12:39:43 EST
Article-I.D.: pucc-h.400
Posted: Tue Dec 13 12:39:43 1983
Date-Received: Fri, 16-Dec-83 01:32:09 EST
Organization: Purdue University Computing Center
Lines: 40

During the French Revolution, a doctor, a lawyer, and an engineer were snagged
by the Reign of Terror and put on trial for being enemies of the Republic.

The doctor defended himself by pointing out that he had helped many poor
people who were sick (not even charging any fees if they were REALLY poor),
that he had established hospitals, and that his work had benefited the
citizens in many ways.  But to no avail; he was sentenced to the Guillotine.

The lawyer similarly pointed out that he had defended poor clients without
charging fees and had worked tirelessly for justice, even sometimes incurring
the ire of some (long-since-guillotined) aristocrats with his crusade.  But
his plea also fell on deaf ears, and he received the same dread sentence.

The engineer pointed out that he had improved the streets and roads, that he
had designed and supervised the construction of the water works, and that he
had undertaken many projects for the benefit of all the people.  But he too
failed to sway the tribunal; his future was also to be cut short....

Came the morning of execution.  Now it was traditional that, if a victim of
the guillotine thought he (or she) had been unjustly convicted, he would lie
in the guillotine face up as a means of indicating his contempt for those who
had sent him there.

The doctor came first.  He lay face up in the guillotine, and watched with
icy calm as the sharp blade descended--and stopped about an inch above his
neck!  In those days, if such a thing happened, it was considered a miracle
from God, and the victim would be set free.  So the blade was hauled up, and
the doctor was released.

The lawyer followed the doctor.  He also lay face up in the guillotine.  Again
the blade flashed down, and again it stopped about an inch before doing any
damage!  The executioner and the spectators were thoroughly awed that God had
spared two in a row, and they let the lawyer go free.

Last came the engineer.  He too lay face up in the guillotine.  But just
before the executioner was about to release the blade, the engineer said,
"Hey!  The rope's slipped off the pulley up there!  No wonder the silly thing
doesn't work."

-- Jeff Sargent/...pur-ee!pucc-h:aeq