Washington State journal and Adams County news. [volume] (Ritzville, Wash.) 1906-1907, 1907-10-09
ON BOARD THE IWANTATo.
That Was the Name Suggested for .
Nice New Launch,

Nice New Launch.
The young man who was Johnny Off
his yacht last year Is Johnny on his
yacht this year. Then he had his cap
and duck trousers and was going 10
have his yacht later. He made good
as to the yacht. and his nautical toys
are fortunately but little the worse
for wear, says the New York Sun.
After he had bought launch ut
store he tried to think Of name
something just right, not so swift MS
Arrow, Meteor or Comet, not SO dones-
tic In its sound AZ Marian G., not so
boastful as Dreadnought or Storm
king-somethng neat and appropriate
for Just that sort OF boat aud If possI-
BILE something different from the name
of any other craft afloat.
In his perplexity he sought out the
summer girl who had admired his ap-
pearance In his breezy sea toys last
season and asked her to think I'D a
name for his new craft, which he de-
scribed to her infinitely.
The next time he saw she had found
a name. 1t was Of eight letters and
she wrote 1t down In capitals on piece,
Of paper as follows: IWANTATO.
1t was a Seminole Indian word, she
said; the letters were pronounced as
In English and the accent was on next
TO the last syllable. What did it mean7
Well. perhaps she would tell him later
when they were better acquainted,
she said, with an appearance of coy re-
luctance. 1t was appropriate and ro-
mantle and she hoped he would never
think her forward in suggesting it.
That settled 1t and he had the name
put on the bow In brass letters and
also had made a large flag with The
name on 1t in letters of blue In white
field
But the significance of the word
preyed upon his mind. lie remember
e the tinge of color that deepened ON
the girls cheek as she confessed that
it was romantic and he decided that he
could not wait for her to tell him.
So he wrote letter to Kirk Monroe.
the author, who Is probably better nc
quainted than any other white man
with the ways and language of the
Seminoles, telling him all about 1t and
requesting an early reply as to the sig
nificance Of the name.
Mr.. Munroe answered promptly. He
wrote that the name was highly ap-
propriate and from the young womans
point of view undoubtedly romaatic.
But, In view of all the circumstances
of her pretty confusion when asked
as to the meaning and Of her promise
to tell him when they were better ac-
quainted-Mr. Munroe did not think
1t would be seemly on his part to de-
prlve him Of the pleasure of learning
its significance from her own lips.
A few days ago johnny tried his
launch on the bay. She looked very
pretty as she started out, with her glis-
tening decks and coamings and with
her name floating on the flag at her
stern. But new launches ARE apt to
give a little trouble until their ma
chlnery is limbered up and this one
was no exception.
Two men in lobster skiff. coming
in from lifting. saw tie new launch
drifting almost In their course aud her
owner working over the engine The
skiff ran alongside and stopped aud
one of the lobster men called out:
"All right, cap! Throw us your
line"
THANK You very much, but think
I shall get her to going soon," said!
Johnny.
Just as you please" one Of the fish
ermen replied good-naturcdly, "but
you'd better take down your sign"
"What sign?" inquired the yachts
man, looking around.
why. your distress flag. What's
the use Of signaling 4 want tow
when you don't want oneT"
The name on the launch hns been
changed and her owner and the sum
mer girl have yet 10 come to an under