The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1868-10-06

II "a said that such lifo brings then
10 their grave in sbout Eve years &.
Z Their habits are fearfnlly vile The,
swear. drink, fght, lie and steal The,
have neither virtue nor modesty, aud |
ma kes one Shudder 10 walk through
this place and soe and hear them. s
Z We're it not ioV the police who are hb
orally distributed among them. no man
life would be uale moment in tbs
region. and should the Democrats GO
the control of the Legislature Of III,
State, and thus OF the police force o
this city, there would be no restraint
over this hotbed Of Democracy. Now
however the police keep them under
some coutroL
IN the midSt of the scene and fore
most among the leaders was a man
know as John Alien For seventeen
years he had kept drinking aud a
"danee house. ne Is now pehans FOR.
ty years Of age Re is the son If ii.
ous p rents who brought lnm up to at
tend 'abbath school and church, ana
have . ften plead with Inn to turn from
BIS eyil ways and seek the Lord
Wicked as TINS son has been, his father
has never given him up and never
eeastd to visit nm, even IA that den Of
nlguity, plead with hun and praved
for ham. But John was apparently in
gninerable He visited home every
year 20 enjoy the family gathering. and
despite bis er1me, retained not only re-
spect for his fanily but for religion, and
said siuc rely that ho would not on any
account aafc his only son brought up
AZ infdol lie loved to sing the hymns
le learned IN childhood, and seua his
)oy to the Howard mission school. Yet
gas he most proiane, drank much and
sept Tor TINS long period bouse of in
amy OF the lowest kind 70 save the
eputation Of bis family he changed his
tame. His true name is T. Van Allen.
But God moves in mysterious way
His won,ie.cs to perform The How
ard Mission and Home for little Wan
derers was within few blocks OF Al
lens house, and Meteor, so we'll known
N connection with that institution, Mr.
Arnold and DR. Ward. also officers of
t,were nece ssarily thrown into frequent
contact wit Nh Alien, in their labors
among the children OF that district. -
they found him to have many good
traits and learned much of his history
md early education They became
much interested in his reformation, and
yradually approached him on the sub
ect, He resisted all, however, though
ae always created them politely and
kindly and visited their mission. Find
ing that every effort TO reach by direct
effort failed, Mr.. Dyer. who is connect
ed with the press Of this city and who
had beeii ltboring much with the gen.
tlenen c'f the Howard mission in these
dens, in co asultation With them, CON
ceived the idea of writing an account
Of John Alien under the little OF "The
Wickedtst Man in New York" He
described the man, his place, his busi-
ness, his qualities, good and bad. 1t
was publish he'd in Packards Monthly
Magazine in June last. 1t thoroughly |
aroused tho curiosity ofthe whole coun-
try. and at once crowds of people be-
yan to visit Aliens house to see the
Sickedest man in New York. Their
presence and remarks annoyed him
much, and he insisted upon it that he
vas not Il @ wickedest man in the CITY. |
His good humor and witty remarks oc-
asloned much mirth. and showed him
to be man Of good sense aud ready
speech. But be daily grew more sens
tive. Strange to say, he did not get
angry at the friends OF the Howard |
MISSION, and they kept much with him /
to watch the effect of all tbs on his .
mind and take advantage Of il. Tohis I
they urged upon him that
his butin ess was bad and he onght to .
give it W, He admitted all they said. I
and finally, two weeks ago, made up has
mind to close his house and reform -l
The stru ggle was hard one, but his
wife Loell ned HIM. On Saturday night K
when he closed his shutters he said to
his faithful friends who were present. /
There, it's done They'll never be
opened again for that purpose. They 1
then won't into the dance hall where
still sat the girls, and at midnight seal
Cd the work with prayer. On Sabbath
John Allen began new life, and his
housc a new career.
Now began new era ia the lai,ors
Of DI. Ward and Brn. Van Meter. Arm
old and Dyer. John had not vet made
any 81 ow Of religious penitence, but he
was willing they should have PRAYER
in his house, and at once they resolved
to bave MONDAY prayer meetings there.
On Monday it was announced m the
ial'y papers that prayer meeting
would be held at John Aliens dance
house from IL to o'clock. The honse
was crowded, and every day since, at
hat hour, services have been held here.
Not only is the house crowded, but the
street also is frequently filled with ev-
Try class of people, and addresses are
mad to them by the friends ofreliQion
u different denominations, ministers
md laynien. Mr. Allen is not yet a
converted man. but he and his wife
re the subjects OF many prayers and
vince an interest in the matter. His
'rother is a Baptist minister, and a
most affecting scene was presented q
aw days ago when that brother led the
nesting and prayed for the new found
lrother.
John is one Of those open, outspoken
Ind reliable men who, when they make
! promise, can be relied on for It's per II
ormance. He takes az much intereet