The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1868-08-31

deeply impressed with SENSE of his duty to
bis true-hearted, fathful relatives, II not to
God al decency. HIS friends in the city fol.
lowed up the attack. When Mr.. Van Meter re-
turned from Europe be joined his arguments
and persuasions 10 those OF Or. Ward, Mr..
Arnold, and Mr.. Dyer. But the devil had his
OF what was going on, and made dead set at
him. They abused him, and rdculed him;
called blm Methodist, wanted to know when
he was going to join the church, and did all they
could TO keep hun hom going over to the
enemy" as they called his meditated abandon
ment of the dance house business.
why don't you kick th(m prayin' fellers
outn your house" Indignantly exclaimed one
OF his alarmed neghb0rs. You're lettiu' 'em
come runntn' there so much, a singln' their
camp meetin' hymns, that eff yol don't look out
you'll suon be as bad as any OF 'em!n
But Aliens true friends gained steadily on
him. He began to stop swearing and using
obscene language, and ran lighter on rum"
One day, when Mr.. Arnold expostulated with
him for swearing, he SAID, ''Tha5s right, Arnold,
want to stop the use OF bad language, aud
whenever your hear me use prolane word or a
parse that, John 7" and IN take the hint. And
be has actually made great progress In comeli-
ness of speech, and also in sobrlety.
The truth is, this "Wickedest Man" is an
original and marked character. He reminds us
OF those geperous-hearted pirates and highway
men whom novelists aud poets have so delghted
To depict, and who have been celebrated in song
and story tor the handsome manner in which
they had cut the throats or blown out the brains
OF their victims to obtain, and who finally, as
the French Cardinal said of LOUIS XIV, 'made
the dnende honorable to God, and died in the
arms OF the Redeemer."
Al len would stop in the very riot and carnival
OF his dance-house TO go out and help poor
chlld or poor man in distress, and then return
seven.iold more a child of hell than before.
One morning, few weeks ago, he came rushing
over to the Howard Mission TO get somebody to
go and read the Bible aud pray with dying
tenant of his-for he is the owner of houses
md lon6 1trn nr o,H o,nH Mr
There's a tenant Of mine over here dying.
He's poor printer. He can't live more than
twenty-four hours; and you know, gentlemen,
that when a man feels TINS world slipping out
from under him, there's only one thing thatll
do, and that is the Saviour. I've been out of
practice twenty years, aud can't read and pray
With the poor fellow, but you can. So come
aong.h
And he took them to the dying mans bedside
and sat reverently by while they read the Bible
and prayed with him; and when the man died
he saw to his funeral and had him deccntly
buried, and then went back to his dauce.house
and had a Ted-hot evening OF it.
There is many Christian landlord in this city
who would not look after dying tenant like
that, any more than he'd keep dance house.
Yesterday after Allen attended religious
services at the Howard Mission. At the close
of the service it was announced that Allen had
shut up his dance house, and that he would
make few remarks. Coming forward with
difidence and hesitation, he said:-
THE wICKEDEsT MANS MAIDEN SPEECH.
my Friends-Ladles and Gontlemen:-fm
not accus, omed to addressing audiences, and
don't intend to say much. I've been called the
Wickedest Man in New York, and have done
good deal of evil, but I'm sorry for my past life,
and intend to see if | can't now do a little good.
l suppose | shall have a hard time OF 1t, and
often get set back one way and another, but If
my Christian friends will stand by me, hope |
snall nold out, and do some good. Pm most
best can"
Aliens manner was modest and straightfor-
ward, and he seemed to be sincere in his inten-
ton to reform. Many gentlemen shook him
cordially by the hand, and promised to stand by
him In his efforts to atone for his past life:
The Rev. DR.. Burlugham, of St. Louis, fol-
lowed Allen, He said that he had read the ac-
count of Aliens life, had seen and talked with
him the day before and believed that he would
Keep his word, and never open his dance-house
again; that the announcement would ring
through the land, and ill thousands of hearts
with JOY.
In The evening there was prayer-meeting at
Aliens old dance-house, No. 304 Water street,
which was largely attended. The services were
conducted by MIR. Arnold. The impression
made was doep and intense. The dance hoase
girls were in attendance, and SO was Aliens
wife. Allen himself seemed to enjoy the meet
ing, and joined heartily in the singing of every
hymn. There was considerable excitement out
side, but the police kept everything quiet. To-
meeting is to be inaugurated at No. 304 Water
street, and the house is to be turned into
MISSION an asylum, or whate yer else the Chris
tian friends OF Allen shall determine upon.
Allen pencled off the folio wing card, which is
q slight extension of the notice posted on his
door, and handing 1t to us, requested its publ
cation. 1t is as follows:-
THE dance house No. 304 Water street is
closed. No gentlemen admitted unless accom-
panied by then wives who wish to employ Mag
dalens as domestics. JOHN ALLEN"
He writes a good free hand, and spells cor
rectly. He seemed very anxious to have every
one believe that he is in earnest. To Mr.. Dyer,
who was present at the prayer meeting, he
said.-
You lighted lthis fire; now you must help
put it out"
with great pleasure" replied Mr.. Dyer;
show shall I begin"
"Stand by me in my efforts to be better
man, responded Allen; land say in your next
article that from your last interview with John
Allen you are convinced that he deeply regrets
| what good he can"
MIR. Dyer said he would say that, and would
| stand by Allen in his efforts at reform.
To q suggestion that Allen would be set upon
| by the devil and all his hosts, aud would find it
hard to shake off the grip OF the Evil One, he
eXClaimeG:-
"Oh l slant mind the devil; am going to
| cut him, and shall hereafter do business with
| his boss"
At a late hour last evening the last of Aliens
| friends withdrew from the notorious house,
with promises to be present at the MONDAY
prayer meeting to-day at IL O'Clock. The ndi.
cations are that there will be large attendance
| at No. 304 Water street to-day, and what the
| end OF the business Will be it is impossible to
| predict.