Democratic enquirer. [volume] (M'arthur, Vinton County, Ohio) 1867-1873, 1868-09-17

venture in. Coleman was there too--Peter
Coleman. This person is not known to
fame, unless in the courts. II John Allen
is the wickedest man in New York, certain
" Peter Coleman has the hardest looking
face. His head is round, like q cannon
ball. the cheeks puffsd ont almost hiding
the small, cunning eyes; the nose horri-
BILE pug; the forehead furrowed deeply; the.
whole forming q acountenance which, when
filed with liquor, as it was last night, glows
like red-hot coal. His body is short and
stout; his feet are crooked; one of them
lame, and one of his hands is deformed'
We are glad to say this man was impressed
and confessed he would like TO be a better
man.
Thirty children came in to see the fun,
as they termed it, They are unclean, their
clothes rent in many places, their faces un-
washed, their hair uDcombed. Many have
no shirts or caps, but then the weather is
warm. These children are "guiter snipes,
as they are called. Some Of them are
born in the gutter, bread in the gutter, and
die in the gutter. Among them are bright
faces too, and had they been born under
better auspices they would be bright, in
telligent school-going children, and not
outcasts, being educated already in the ru-
diments of crime. Two or three little
girls, with intelligent, handsome faces, sit
together inone seat. They are children of
men like John Allen, who, like him, may
love their children, but have not
courage to leave their horrible trade
for their sake, if for nothing else
Mrs Allen sat at the table near Mr. Ar
mold, her baby in her arms. She express
ed herself overioyed at Johns reformation
and said she had been awaiting it for years.
John stood in different parts Of the room
during the evening, one time with his
arms crossed upon his breast behind the
bar near Mr.. Van Meter, and again at the
door. He looked not sad butmther proud
that he had created such a sensation. The
title of the "Wickedest Man in New York"
will never kill John Allen. He is fond of
notoriety in his own way, and he has got
it. He was attentive during the service,
joined in the singing, and stood with COW
cred face and bowed head when prayer was
being made. Chester went round the room
and his bright face and manly way made
him welcome to every one.
The service was opened by Mr.. Arnold,
who gave out the hymn,
''AIore like Jesus would be,
Let my Savior dwell with me-"
All who knew the tune OF words, or could
read the hymn book, Joined in the singing
The voices of the women were distinctly
heard, and they were sweet though ii is
true that the effect of all the voices was no
harmony One woman persisted in sing
ing the words "More like Jesus" all the
time She knew no more. The gamins
kicked up row and added their voices to
the discord. Eventually the hymn was
sung through. Mr. Hamilton prayed, but
was interrupted by the boys, who commen-
ced playing pranks on each other, and the
laughter of the grown-up children added
to the confusion. As soon as the prayer
was ended, the boys were put out. Quiet
having been restored, Mr.. Van Meter gave
out the hymn commencing a -8N
30 come to Jesus now, Jesus is here; a4t
And low before him bow, Jesus is here"
This was sung with much feeling and cor.
rectness Mr.. Arnold then spoke few,
plain, telling words. The next hymn is
entitled "There's room for all" 1t was we'll
rendered, and at its conclusion Mr.. Van
Meter prayed Mr.. Oliver Dyer made
short address, the most effective made
during the evening. 1t was short, pithy
and to the point, ''Jesus paid it ALI was
sung, and Mr.. Arnold said few words, and
DR.. Perry ollowed in prayer. Mr.. Arnold
then called upon John Allen to say some
thing. John smiled, looked bashful, and
said:
II don't know what to say. 1 rejoice to
have prayer meeting here. 1t is friend
ly gathering, and 1 shall be glad to have it
repeated next Sunday night" A portion
of one of the hymns previously sung was
given out, and got through all right, with
the exception that in the middle of it
woman put in her head and called out an
other, saying her place was on fire. The
woman called did not stir, however. Mr.
Arnold finally gave out the hymn, 'Shall /
be there ?" which he said was the favorite
of little Chester, 1t was well sung. Ches-
ter sat on the bar counter i1ongside Mr.
Arnold, and his clear, strong voice was
heard all over the room singing his choice
hymn. After some remarks by DR.. Ward,
of Newark, n j., the doxology was sung,
and the benediction pronounced. 1t was
announced that at the request of the Wick
edest Man daily prayer meeting would be
held at noon, commencing to-day. The
visitors bade John and his family good night
and went home with plenty of food for re-
hection