The Montgomery advertiser., 1906-02-11
LINCOLN'S CHEERFUL ADVICE
 TO NEW YORK STREET WAITS
Anniversary of American Presidents Birth Recalls His Well Wishing to the Lads of New Yorks Celebrated Juvenile Asylum. "Truth, Justice and Humanity" His Watch
 wordS-Some Interesting Contrasts.

mems souls. Monday, February 12r marking the anniversary of Lincoln's birth. and being a legal holiday in New York, is, next to Christmas, the day which the New York Juvenile Asy- lum most loves to celebrate. for it was to tho Asylum boys. of 1860 and to the Asylum boys ever since and to come, that Abraham Lincoln sent message that iS the pride of the institution even yet. Tell the boys of the Juvinile Asy- lum." he said that they must follow truth. justice and humanity if they wish to become useful and honorable men.
 These words are enshrinAd In a huge frame, hanging on the wall in the as- sembly room of the Asylum school house at Dobbs Ferry, to which site the institution removed last May from its former home in single building at Washington Heights. They are the peculiar pride of the Asylum boys. who today take this message as personal to themselves, just as their predecessors did forty-six years ago.
 Small wonder, then, that Lincoln $ birthday is celebrated at Dobbs Ferry with all the vim that the Asylum boy can impart to the occasion. There is no school session, and only the most necessary work is done. Above all there are "the exercises" which take place In the assembly room of the school All the Asylums youthful ora tors and essayists treat the great sub feet of the day before an apprecistive audience. Stirring, patriotic songs are sung in unison. and a distinguished director, with a voice that Is coveted for many public gatherings, sings for the pleasure of the Asylum youngsters.
 The historical "reminiscences bring ont the fact that the New York Juve- nile Asylum had been In existence but nine years when the late George H .. Allen, then it's western agent, met Abraham Lincoln in Springfield, H.. and talked to him about his proteRes. That was just about a month before Lincoln was chosen president. The coun- ty was then in excitement over the coming election. though little realizing the greater excitement to follow; and Lincoln was staying at home, quietly engaged in watching the trend of af- fairs
 He was much impressed with MT, Aliens enthusiastic plans for "his boys" with his finding them good homes. and thus giving their misdi- rected young lives a new impetus in the youthful and energetic West. But he did not know when he might come again to New York, and as he could not give definite promise to make an address to the Asylum boys. he told MT. Allen to tell them from him that they must follow truth. justice and humanity If they wish to become useful and hon. orable men
 The Asylum orator goes on to say that Lincoln's sympathy. as he listened to the hisory of Mir Aliens charges. was typical of the kindllness he always felt for children. particularly If they were destitute or unfortunate. For his own childhoods privations had been of the bittersst. Tn contrast. indeed, with the struggles of his boyhood, the lot of the New York waifs, sheltered in the gray walls of the big city institu- tion. was luxurious As compared with the real conditions in the middle West in pioneer days. the existeuse of the Juvenile Asylum boys as lived now on