Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1868-09-09

Nd0Co IAO puOAAC
Captain is known to be at his post.
A. F. B.
THE WICKEDEST MAN In NEW
YORK.
Allen Closes his DaHes-hoEse-" WII Car
M Hod Sooner than OpsHh hAgaiH. y
PRAYER meeting in the Old DsH-Ihs
Wickedsst Mans Maiden jSpesch--A
Noond day Prayer meeting.
From the New York Tribune. August 3l-l
The Wickedest Man in New York
shut up his dance-house on Saturday
night. As the clock struck twelve, and
the Sabbath crossed the verge Of mid
night, the internal den was closed, neV-
ermore, John Allen says, to be opened
as a dance-house. Having heard 1t
rumored that the Wickest Man had ac-
tually and finally shut up shop on.Sat-
urday night, we went down there yes
terday to take an observation and learn
the exact facts of the case. Arriving
at No. 304 Water street, we found the
house closed, and the following notice
posted on the door:
THIS DANCE HOUSE IS CLOSED"
"No gentlemen admitted unless accompanied
BY their wives who wish to employ Magdalens
as domesties. JoHN ALLEN.
There were groups of people in the
street talking about the wlckedestMan's
Unprecedented course, and the same
unfriendly feeling toward him was dis
coverable, although the balance of feel
ing was decidedly in his favor. We
raped at the door, and it was opened
by hale, clean-shRVed and clean shirt
ed man, in his shirt sleeves, of muscu-
lar proportions. and rather good look
ing.
"Are you John Allen?" we asked.
"Yes sir" he replied.
"Are you the Wickedest Man in New
York ?"
Some sensation reporters have
called me So" he responded, "but I
don't consider myself such, and my
neighbors don't either. There isn't
anybody in the ward that would call
me So"
"Will you answer a few plain ques-
tions 2" we asked.
"To the best Of my ability, will, "
replied the wickedest man; and there
upon the following dialogue ensued:
Reporter-"HaVe you shut up your
dance house for good 2"
Allen-"Yes, sir; l shut it up for
good last night at twelve o'clock"
Reporter-"Whst made you quit the
business 7"
AlIen-"Because l have come to the
conclusion that il was wrong to keep
such place, and also crafty my poor
old father who is toliering on the brink
of the grave, and my brothers and sis
ters who are all respectable people; and
also for the sake Of my children, to
whom l want to set good example" ="
Reporter-"Don't you intend to keep
a dance house again ?"
Allen-"Not if l can help it"
Reporter-"What do you mean by
If you can help it p"
Allen-"I mean, if 1 can find any
thing else to make living at"
Reporter-"But they say you are
rich. What DO you want employment
for?"
Allen-"Well, if I am rich, 1 can't
be idle. l must do something. / like
an active life."
"Then if you can't do
better, you'll go back to keeping a
dance house againi Is that what you
mean?"
Allen-"No sir, I'd carry hod be
fore I'd go into the danee-hOuse busi-
ness again. I've done wrong enough
and now Pm determined to do some
good" Spoken with emphasis.l
Reporter-"How many dance houses
are there on this streetP
Allen-"About twenty, 1 should
judge"
Repatriation many girls do they
average Z"
Allen-"Fiye or six; some have only
two or three. Mine was larger-aver-
aged about sixteen"
Reporter-"How long do the girls
live as a general thing?"
Allen-"They average about five
years, but some are used up in one
year. I've one girl th&t has been with
me twelve years"
Reporter-"What is the nationality
of the girlsi"
Alleo-"More than half are Irish
| the OLu6E ndll dfc ulNAuGA ny ALAOh6 :
nearly all nationalities."
Reporter-"How has the recent no
torieIy, occasioned by Mr.. DyeT's arti
cles, affected the business ?"
AIlen-"It has hurt it-caused US to
be overrun with clergymen and other
respectable people, and frightened oH
the customers"
Reporter-"What are you going al
now that you've given up the dance
house business?"
Allen-"Can't exactly say just now
Shall begin to look around after awhile
Am in no hurry. Shall wait for things
to quiet down"
Allen was perfectly frank in his
speech and manner, like man who
has made up his mind, and sees hi
way clearly. He went into the dance
house business seventeen years ago, be
said, merely as lsrk-just for little
/ fun, you knoww intending to stay IL
it only for month or so; and there he
has been ever since.
His father, his brothers, and his sis
ters, who are all good Christian people
and of whom he seems to be proud sno
fond, on finding him out, sought BY
every means in their power to win him
from his nefarious business, and they
have clung to him and followed hin
with their tears and their prayer;
during all those seventeen hopeless
years-a remarkable instance of family
affection and faithfulness-
Mr.. Dyer, in his explorations of th'
shady side of New York, first cams
upon Allen about two years ago. HI
at once became interested in him
recognized him as the bell-wether o
the whole dancehouse flock, and set a
work to study him up, determined i
possible to rescue the interesting
wretch and get him to help break III
the dance-house business. When he
got ready and opportunity offered
Mr.. Dyer wrote his first ''Wickedes
Man" article for Paekard's Monthly. He
Faimed the screed directly at Johr
Aliens heart-at whatever family pride
and affection there might be left il
him. 1t was q dead hit. 1t filed the
"Wickedest Man" with terror anC
shame. He Wept over it in rage and