St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1868-09-11
The WicEedest Man in New York.
HIS DANCE-HOUSE NOW HOUSE OF
PRAYER.
From the New York Tribune

I
crossed the verge of midnight, the infer
nal den was closed, nevermore, John
Allen says, TO he opened as "a dance
house. Having heard it rumorcd that
/ the wickedcst man had actually and
finally shnt up shop on Saturday night,
we went down there yesterday 10 take
an observation and learn the exact facts
of the case. Arriving at No. SOL Wa
ter street. we i"4nd the house closed, and
the following notice posted on the door
''THIs DANCE-H0UsE Is CLOSED"
| ''No gentlemen admitted unless ac-
compauied by their wives who wish 10
employ Magdaenes as dOmcs,ics.
/ JOHN ALLEN"
/ There were groups of people in the
street talking about the wickcdest mans
unprecedented course, and some un-
friendly feeling toward him was discov-
cradle, although the balance of feeling
was decidedly in his favcr. We raped
at the door, and it was opened by Il .laIe,
clean-shaved, and cloan-shirted man. in
his shirt sleeves, of muscular proportions,
and rather good looking.
"AIe YOU John Allen - we asked.
''YrS, ST." he replied.
Are you the WickedeSt Man in NrH
York city p
''Some sensation reporters have called
Inc So be responded; "but don't con-
sdcr myself such, and my nci9hbor>
don't either. There isn't anybody in the
Ward that would call me So
"WiIl you answer Il few plain quc>-
tions p we asked
$40 the best of my ability, | will, -
replied the wickedest man; AID there
upon the following dialogue ensued.
Reporter-"Have you shut up your
lance house for good !''
Alen-"YeS, Sir: shut it up tor
good last night at II o'clock.
Reporter-''Whatm made YOU quit the
business -
AIlen-"Because have come to the
conclusion that it is wrong to keep such
a place; and also 10 crafty my poor old
father, who is tottering on the brink OF
the crave, and my brothers and sisters,
who are all respectable people; and also
or the sake of my children, to whom
want to set a good example
Rrporter-''Dou't you intend ever to
keep dance house again p
Allen-"Not il | can help it,"
Reporter-'.What do you mean by
IF you can heP IT."
Allcn-''l mean, i'll can fnd any
thing else TO make u living at
Reporter-"But they say you ar
rich. What do you want employment
for ~
Alen-''Well, if am rich, l can
he idle l must do something. l'k'
an active life
Rlportcr-''Thcn il you can't do b.t
ter, you'll 90 back to keeping 4 dam'o
hou-c again Is that wha; yen mean ,
Allen-.'No. Sir. I'd carry i hu,
oetoie I'd 20 INTO the d1nee-haus. hn-j
ness again. I've done evil enough am,
now I'm going to try to do some GOO
jSpokcn with cmPhasi,.)
Reportcr-''iIow many dance-hou
II are there in tins ,:"cct ~
Allen - "About twenty, | 5houl
judsc."
Repurter-'.How many girls apiec
do they average -
Alen-''Fre or six some have onl
two or three. Mine was larger-aver
aged about sixteen"
Representations long do the sirI
live. rs a general thing ?"
AlIen-"They average about h'
wears, bat some are used up N one yeaI
I've one girl that has been with III
twelve years
Reporter-''What is the nationaili
e. of the girls ?
Allcn-''More than half a c Irish
the other half are divided up amon
nearly all naIionalltics.
Reporter-''Iiuw has the recent note
riety, occasioned by Mr.. Dyer's article
y affected the business ~
Allen-''It has hurt it-Causcd u7
De overrun with clergymen ana other II
spectacle people, and frightened oil ii
customers.
- Reporter-''What are you going 4
now that you've given up the dane
=. house business 2
Allen-"Can't exactly say just nov
- Shall begin TO look around after whII
Am in no hurry. Shall wait Tor thin!
to quiet down.
al, Allen was perfectly frank in spce'
ct and manner, ike a man vino has ma'
St up his mind, and sees his way clear
n, lie went into the dance-house busine
n seventeen years ago, he said, ''mereiy
- Il lark-ust for a little fun, you know
intending to stay in it only Tor Il mon
i or SO : and there he has been ever sine
Ills father, his brothers, and his $
tiers, who are all good christian peopl
and of whom he seems to be proud III
fond, on finding him out, sought by e'
ted means in their power to win him fro
his net;rious business, and they h;1
clung to him, and followed him WI
= their tears and their prayers during
e these seventeen hopeless years-a !
s. markable instance OF family affection Ill
md taithfulness
ii's Mr.. Dyer, in his explorations of t
shady side OF New York, first came up
We Allen about two years ago. lie at or
;. became interested in him, recognized Ia
-, as the bell-wether of the Whole dan
, c house 1iock, and set at work 10 stu
him up, determined, if possible, to I
cue the interesting wretch, and get h
* to help break up The dance-house bu
u ness. When he got ready, and oppor
nifty offered, Mr.. Dyer wrote his ii
..Wickedest Man article Tor Packar
Monthly He aimed the screed dlrec
ing at John Aliens hearl-at whatever