The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1868-07-22
incOmprehensible Water street danoe-house-


"Another singular fact about this man is
his passion for law and order. The law, in
his opinion, must be respected and obeyed.
The Hon. Thomas G. Acton, President of the
Board of Metropolitan Police, asays that
during the riots of 1863 he swore Allen in as
a special policeman, and that he was a perfect
lion on th g side of the authorities all through
those frightful times So trustworthy and true
hearted was he, so implicitly could his word
be relied upon, that Mr.. Acton swore in every
man that he sent to him for that purpose, with
out any questions, so sure was he of his judg-
ment and loyalty. Aud in not a single in-
stance did Mr. Acton find that his confidence
in the man had been misplaced.
''The police of the Fourth Ward bear similar
testimony to this mans orderliness, and his
love of public and especially Sabbath decorum.
He renders most efficient aid to the police in
keeping the crowds that assemble at the out
door Sabbath meetings in order.
4 "Our Wickedest Man was not pre-
sent at the meeting above described else
things might have gone differently. lie has a
most unique way of quieting rowdies on such
occasions. He takes the riDgleader by the
collar, and Jerks him out of his boots and into
decorum by single application of muscles.
Or, he sei2es some Obstreperous disturber by
the throat, and impressively exclaims:-
You lousy hound what do you mean by
treating the ministers of the Gospel with d s.
respeotH When a gentleman takes the trou-
bic to bring you message from Heaven for
nothing, arn't you man enough to listen to
him respectfully If catch you making any
more disturbance here, I'll boot you into the
dock'
"Another of his means of grace is to take
boisterous worshipper by the collar and
say
I" Come here and take drink you son Of a
theft And after administering a dose Of
Bourbon to him, he gives him jerk and
| IL,
and see that you treat the preacher respect
fully, or I'll button your nose over your eyel'
"By such measures, and others of a similar
character, this phenomenal creature, at IN
outdoor Sabbath meeting, will keep in order
a crowd that it would seem could be reduced
to subsection by no other means. His own
criticisms on the speakers, meanwhile, are as
unsparing as they are original. He has a
keen perception of their fitness or unfitness,
as the case may be; and no one rejoices more
than he does when a speaker proves himself
called OF Heaven to the work, nor grieves
more poignantly when one brings the cause
he attempts to serve into contempt by his in
capacity and folly.
"GRIT AND GRACE"
"It must be that there is something in this
mans blood which makes him as eager for
sacred songs, and for religious services, as the
setter is for game. His declaration, quoted in our
former article, that grit and grace run through
| his family as the Tgris aud the Jordan run
through the Holy Land was no mere idle
| boast. To those three clerical brothers of his
We hope yet to see q fourth added. John Allen,
as a preacher of the Gospel TO the outdoor
poor of New York, and to the vagabonds of the
streets and docks, would be the Boanerges of
the metropolis.
BENEYoLENCE.
"Allen is tender hearted towards poor chill
dren. He gathers them into his internal place
by dozens and scores during the inclement
weather, and especially in the winter, aud
often not only feeds, but clothes them. II
! also sends them to Sabbath school. Some
times he goes into the streets on the Sabbath
and gathers up the vagrant children in Squads
and marches them OF to the Mission Sabbath
school in Dover street, or to some other SINH
lar institution elsewhere. And he looks to
their behavior, too, after he gets them into
Sabbath-school, and takes a tatherly interest
in their welfare.
"This man takes especial pleasure in help
ing the most helpless cases. Licensed venders
come in for goodly share of his friendly at
tentions.
A JOKE ON THE DEMOCRATIC CONVENTION.
"Among the most recent distinguished
visitors to Mr.. Aliens abode were several
| large deputations from the Democratic Ma
tIonal Convention, when that institution was
lately fourishing in Fourteenth street. One
company of country delegates, numbering 30,
went down to No. 3O4 Water street, under
the escort of Captain ThOrne, of the Fourth
| Precinct; and we are informed that as many as
sixty delegates were present at one time, fill
ing both bar-room and dancing saloon, aud
protruding upon the stoop and sidewalk.
! They had all read our account of the
Wickedest Man, and were anxious to see him.
| He was courteous and cordial, as he always is
to visitors. One of the delegates remarked:-
i suppose this is about the worst section
of the city, Mr.. Allen from all accounts p To
which Mr.. Allen quietly replied
"'Well, yes, it has had that reputation but
! just now it is completely ecipsed by Four
teenth street =
'This retort was received with applause,
and the delegates hailed The Wickedest' as a
man and a brother.
| SUMMING UP.
"Acoording to our view of the matter, the
pTe-eminent wickedness of John Allen comes
from his wilful perversion of his own original
excellence of character, the prostitution of
extraordinary talents to base uses, and the
persistent violation OF divine laws, the truth
and binding force of which he clearly perceiyes
and steadiastly believes.
"There is plentiful supply of men in New
York who are far more vile, beastly, and re-
pulsive than this Wickedest Man. In point
of fact, he is not repulsive; he does not impress
one who knows him as a vile fellow but as a
bold, chivalrc emissary Of Pandemonium,
who has good points enough to enable him to
serve his Satanic chieftain with a force aud
efficiency no mere bestial satrap of hell could
ever achieve.
"We are glad that he has the graca To ba