Debutante Ball

A US Navy cruiser anchored in Mississippi for a week's shore leave.

The first evening, the ship's Captain received the following note from
the wife of a wealthy plantation owner:

"Dear Captain, Thursday will be my daughter Melinda's Debutante Ball. I
would like you to send four well mannered, handsome, unmarried officers
in their formal mess dress uniforms to attend the dance. They should
arrive promptly at 8:00 PM prepared for an evening of polite Southern
conversation. They should be excellent dancers, as they will be the
escorts of lovely refined young ladies. One last point: no Jews
please."

At precisely 8:00 PM on Thursday, Melinda's mother heard a polite rap at
the door which she opened to find, in mess dress, four handsome, smiling
black naval officers.

Her mouth fell open, but pulling herself together, she stammered, "There
must be some mistake."

"No, Maam," said the first officer. "Captain Goldstein never makes
mistakes."