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In Upstate New York there is a sanitarium that, every year, picks two of its most improved patients and questions them. If they answer the questions correctly, they are released.

This year the two lucky people were Paddy and Sean, both of whom happened to be from Ireland.

Escorted to the office by an orderly, they were told to wait while the doctor gave their files a final review.

The doctor came out and motioned for Paddy to come in for his questioning. Once inside, Paddy was instructed to sit in the seat opposite the doctor.

"Paddy, you know the tradition of this sanitarium, so I imagine you know why I've asked you here. I will ask you two questions, and if you answer them correctly, you will be free to leave. Do you understand all that you have been told?" said the doctor, with a rather sly grin.

Paddy nodded and the doctor began to question him.

The first question was this. "Paddy, if I was to poke out one of your eyes what would happen?"

"I would be half blind, of course," Paddy answered without much thought.

"What would happen if I poked out the other eye?" said the doctor.

"I would be completely blind," said Paddy, knowing that he had just won his release.

The doctor then sent him outside while he drew up the paperwork. He then accessed and reviewed Sean's files.

When Paddy reached the waiting room however, he told Sean what the questions would be and what the correct answers.

The doctor called in Sean and he followed the same procedure as he had with Paddy.

"Sean, my first question is what would happen if I cut off your ear?"

"I would be blind in one eye," he said, remembering what he had been told.

This received a perplexed look from the doctor but he just simply asked the other question so that he could figure out what Sean might be thinking.

"Sean, what would happen if I cut off your other ear?"

"I would be completely blind," Sean answered with a smile, as if he knew he had passed.

But then the doctor asked him what his reasoning was, and Sean said flatly, "Me friggin' hat would be fallin' down over me eyes."
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