from New York Times
Verse Means to Get About Queens
E. P. Butler's Rhyming System Guides All Folks When Street Plans Twist 'Em.
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Ellis Parker Butler, humorist, who lives in Flushing, Queens, has lately taken an interest in the street naming and house numbering system now being carried on throughout the borough. He has discussed the subject with Charles U. Powell, engineer in charge of the Topographical Bureau, and has suggested a rhyme, which, like the old rhyme for remembering the number of days in the month -- "Thirty days hath September" -- is hoped will become as useful to Queens residents.
Queens Borough is having its streets named and houses numbered under the modern method known as the Philadelphia method.
The following is a letter received from Mr. Butler:
Mr. C. U. Powell,
Topographical Bureau.
Dear Sir -- When I was a pupil in school years ago many of the things our teachers tried to impress strongly on our minds they taught us in rhyme. Confusion over the way streets and avenues, roads, drives, places and lanes are designated in Queens has recently been called to my attention. I have recently come across a little couplet which I believe can be easily committed to memory and it will help everyone to know more of how the streets in Queens are named. The couplet is as follows:
In Queens to find locations best --
Avenues, roads and drives run west;
But ways to north and south, 'tis plain
Are street or place or even lane;
While even numbers you will meet
Upon the west and south of street.
Older people can learn this easily, and I believe if the teachers in the public schools would give it to their pupils, they would also learn it and would never again forget the method of street naming in this borough.
Very truly yours,
Ellis Parker Butler,
State Street, Flushing.
