The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1900-05-05
rhe pernIexing Inltials.


ST just arrived in Washington to-day; in
fact. am a stranger in the capital" he
said TO a citizen on Pennsylvania avenue,
according to the Washington Star
"Yes?" answered the citizen, interroga-
lively. at the same time putting his hands
on his watch chain, and conjurinS up pic
lures of piles of gold bricks and wads of
the imitation long green lying around
loose on the asphalt.
Yes. l never saw such tall buildings
before" he continued. with a wave of the
hand toward the Postoffice and the Star
building. 81 come down from the noun
tains," he added, exp,anatorily. You
don't mind my asking you few questions
about something which had worried me
mightiiy?"
Not bit of It. my friend. We are
only too glad to be of service 10 strangers.
Drive ahead"
well. it's these perplexing Virginia
rail-fence initials. 1 suppose you people
who live here understand EN-, but I'll be
goldarned If the stranger within your
gates comprehends what they mean. Is
Ii fair assumption that u. s. A. and
u. S, NJ mean, or stand for, the United
States army and navy, respectively"
ut is?"
well, does u. S. NJ. c. stand for United
States Member of Congress or United
States metallic carriage?'
United States Marine Corps"
''Oh, the marines of ancient equine af-
fllations and Boston food, Ell? Well well!
l Just passed two young officers In uni
form who had the letters u. s. NJ r D.
c. and u. S. N G. D. c. in gilt letters
on their cutoff coat collars. I don't dare
TO even think what those young chaps
represent. What is it?'
''Oh, they were officers in TIE Naval Re-
serve and the National Guard of The Dis
trict of Columbia
Wen, does that wagon there with the
letters u. S. S. H.. painted on It's side
belong to the government hospital for IL
Not much. That floors every new man
tnat comes 10 town. Those letters sta nd
for the United States Soldiers Home "
And there Is another wagon Mr. Han
mas private carriage, for it has &c. o. p
! painted on its sides. They say up my Wav
he is the head and front Of the grand oil
party
Grand old party nothing cried the
| ciuzen pityingly. That wagon belongs to
| the government printing Office"
Il suppose p. o. D. means nav on de-
livery and b. f. and p stands for Bos-
ton, Engleside and Potomac Railroad?
Not on your life Those wagons are at
tached to the Postoffice Department and
to the bureau of engraving ard printing -
| Does C. L. mean that that WAGON cat
ries the patients of the Commissioner af
| Lunacy around town?'
we haven't any such official That
combination represents the Congressional
Library, and the wagon totes books"
| well, my accommodating fiend, I'll
floor you now. Coming down Pennsylva-
MIA avenue the one following the other.
were two delivery wagons with this text
on each respectively: u. S. s. D. r. and
H. R. D. r. What sort of a policy play
can you make out of those letters?''
"Oh, that's easy. Just United States
Senate Document Room and House of
| Representatives Document Room"
We'll If l hadn't been told, I'd said
| those letters stood for United States
Steamship Daughter Rose and the other
| for Humble Rogers Daughter Ruth.
Many thanks for your information"
| Don't mention IT,"