it is was a code for the telegraph. ( 1 beep for S, 2 beeps for T, 3 beeps for R, 4 beeps for E, 5 beeps for A, 6 beeps for M).
T,e,t,t,f,f,s,s,e
Remove = S I X L E T T E R S = to get = M A T H E M A T I C S =
t i t s a r e t h e b e s t
S D E T T A I E T N S U:United States
I-N-T-E-R-S-T-A-T-E
S a t a n w a s t h e r e s u l t
B e s t q u e s t
YOU SPELL IT R-E-P-R-E-S-E-N-T-I-T-I-V-E-S the way you WROTE IT IN THE QUESTION
The letters s n a t a l t e e r can be rearranged to make Alternates
defrays, instead, detains, sainted, dietary, unready, reunify, estuary, restudy, fustian, untried, intrude, nutrias, unitary, fruited, infused
T e n n e s s e e
t h e s o u t h w e s t d e s e r t h o p i