It's European!

I'm sitting at a Delta Airlines gate and the sign by the desk says this: "Federal regulations limit your carry on baggage to 1-carry on item and 1 smaller personal item such as a male/female purse, briefcase,..." "It's not a purse! It's European!" There is also a graphic above this statement showing me what I can't take on the plane. Imagine my embarrassment when I had to take my liquid propane gas container out of my carry on bag.