Napoleon Was Ill
Jack went to university to study history. At the end of his first year, his history professor failed him in his examinations, and he was told he would have to leave.
His father decided to see the professor to urge him to let Jack continue his studies the following year.
"He's a good boy," said Jack's father. "If you let him pass this time, I'm sure he'll improve a lot next year and pass the examinations very well."
"No, no, that's quite impossible," replied the professor immediately. "Do you know, last month I asked him when Napoleon had died, and he didn't know!"
"Please, sir, give him another chance," said Jack's father. "You see, I'm afraid we don't take any newspaper in our house, so none of us even knew that Napoleon was ill."