New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1868-08-31
THE WICKEDEsT MAN IN NEW YORK.


wIcKEDEsT MANS AfDEN sPEECH-A NOON
DAY PRAYER MEETING. ~
The Wickedest Man in New-YOrk shut up
his Saturday night AS the clock struck
49, and the Sabbath crossed the verge Of midnight the
internal den closed nevermore John Allen says to
be opened danee-house. Having heard it rumored
that the wckedest Man had actually and finally shut
shop on. Saturday night We went down there
yesterday to take an observation and
learn the exact facts Of the case. Ar
irving at No so4 watert we found the house closed.
and the following notice posted on the door: r.
syil,5B THIS DANCE HOUSE IS cLosBDr
accompanied by JOHN MA si Ihs yA
There were groups Of people the street talking about
the wickedest Mans unprecedented course ana some I'M
friendly feeling toward him was dscoveraee although
the balance Of feeling xas decidedly in his favor We
raped at the door, and 1t was opened Thy hale clear
shaved and cleanshrted man. In bis shirt sleeves VI
muscular proportions and rather goodiooking' fr n
u "Are you John Allen 81 We asked f.
"Ar Are you Ha the he wickedest Man IN NewYcrti"
sponded; :" but don't consider myself such, and my
neighbofs don't either There Is MT anybody In the Ward
Twill you answer few plain questions r we asked
To the best Of my ability Will replied the wleked
Reportr-" Have you shut UP your dance mouse III
Xat,-" sr shut 1t up for,sood last night at u
Reporter" What made you quit the busiIessp a,
is wrong keep such place. and also 70 crafty ny
poor old father who is lettering the brink OF the
able people; and also for the sake OF my children, to
whom 1 want 10 rot . good example, ..1U 49,
Reporer-" Don't you intend ever to keep dance
HlenE" Not 4 can help IT," 4iIs. l9d, o
Reporter" What do you mean by ~ you help uF"
Aden-"I mean. II I can find anything else to make
But they ss say you are rich What do you
ANenI"WelJ, II am rich. can't be idle. must do
Reporta-"Then II you can't do better, you'll go back 70
keeping a dance house again Is that what you meani
"a as@r sa ds,e T s, ia e GO a~s nd
now Pp going 10 Try 10 do some eood' Spoken with en-
Rep@to-"How many danse-hOuses are there in this
1Her-" About twenty, should judge. sn.o p
Be1,orter-" How many girls apiece do they ayeragep
Ah<n-' Five or nI some have only two or three.
Mine was larger-ayoraged about sixteen. -,
tniSg G"- 10" '0ns ~ 'H' guns A''' s'D''
4Ien-"Thoy average about hye, years, but some are
used up in I've one girl that has been with me
Repo,isrN"what is the nationality OF the girisir
Ahen-" More than half Irish: the other half a.
vfded up among nearly all natonalities." -
.I r ha. S bs
Aleu-" IL has hurt t--eaiised us TO DO overrun win
cerymen and other respectable people, and frightened
Reporter;- what ara you going at, now that you've
Aue,l-" Can't exactly say Just now. Shall begin TO
look around after while Am In no hurry Shall walt
for things 70 quiet down" 1900
Allen was perfectiy frank in his speech and manner
Ike man who has made up his mind and sees bis way
clearly Hs into tho er ss fun yo
know intending to stay in 1t only for month or so and
His father his brothers, and his sisters. who all
good Christian people, and OF whom ne seems TO be
me ans in their power TO win his nefarious bu
ness and they have chung to him. and followed him with
yoars-a remarkable instance of family affection and
Mr. pyes in his explorations OF the shady side Of New
York first upon Allen about two years ago. He at
once became Interested him. recognized him Is the
WORK to study him up determined II possible 70 rescus
the interesting wretch and get him 70 help break ap the
dance house business. When he got ready, and oppor
tunIty offered Mr. Dyer wrote his first "wekedest Man
article for IaekgrG: Monthly He aimed n: ssFeed a.
and parental affection there might be LEFT him. was
dead hit nled the %Wesedsst MAJ Man with terror
His family came down. on him sfresh He learned
Sa' the father ad s avs 90 the
had tainted away on reading IT, HIS pct crying
cSas ii the said sS was tie sees man
In New-York Hs den with respectable via
nes and sp so he cnTsed the Sos ard she
Dyer" who had sent them there, and raved and swore
and. to use his own words. run on rum heavier than
AT last Mr.. Dyers second "wlckedest Man article
came out in the August number Of Packard" at the
CLOSE Of which he gives Aliens promise 70 SSis hs bus
Wiciedest Man in New-York "skaH W scin a name Of
% ne sSS a S4 s t ~ s@se s,t ss s
suffer those children plant Orers upon his craze pif0sI
NGshing for ne memory Of er dead JaA lying beneath
when Allen read these lines he vert again, not with
rage and shame. but with remorse and repentance To
;" When read what Mr Dyer says about my childrens
yet planting flowers ON my grave and not blushns at
kept reading II over aad over. and at last said III
lice long Enough hat SHALL be soP and have read IL a.
most every day since and every time have said. IL
a
to encourage him in his good resolutions DIT Ward
OF Newark ~ j. gentleman OF wealth and culture, has
reer Of SIM aud Mr. Albert Arnold of the Howard Mis-
sion has abored 10 the same end with enlightened zeal
p%nisd AneD home TO the Wcfedest Mans fathers
house where family council bad been called for the
quit his shameful business. The result was hopeful
Allen returned the city deeply impressed with sense
God and Sencs his friend: the sSs 1pt
attack When Mr. Van Meter returned from Europe he
%aTd Mr. ArnOS and Mr. Dyer But the devil devil had hi:
agents at work also Aliens neghDors got wind Of what
him, and ridcusd him; called him Methodist wanted
TO know when he was going to JON the church and did
s tSsy called his medaeS Of the
dance house business .at.Hi4I . , ..1 f
w dS Gs ss% Bsy STs Sn
bors "Yonre ettin' 'em runnin' there much,
out ycari soon be az bad as any 81 en- 'N '-
But Aliens true friends gained steadily him. BE
sp a A1S u using MAJ anu
posulated With hin for swearing he said That's right
Arnold, want 70 stop the use OF bad language, ard
Whenever you hear mo use profane word, OF foul
word yOu just me, He1 do you parse that yohn
and IN take the hint" And he has actually made great
progress In comeness Of speech aud In sobrety
The truth is this "Wlckedest Man" Is original and
hearted pirates and hehwsymen whom noSelists and no
OTIS have so delighted 20 Depict and who have been ces
bFaed In song and story fUr the handsome manner IN
which they dsbursed the funds which they had cut the
tbroat or blown out the brains OF their victims 70 Obtain
and who finally the French Cardinal said Of Louis
XIV, "made tho dTeads honorable 20 God and died In
the arms Of the Redeomer." II 90 -