Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1868-10-27
olive Logan's Views on the John Allen
Ques ion.

From the New York sun.l
The John Allen question just now
seems to share the honors with the VIC
man question.
By the John Allen question / mean
this matter of prayer meetings in Water
street dance houses and dog-pits; whether
John Allcnis s-swindler or not, whether
any good is being done, and all the rest
Of it.
The simplest way is to lump the mat
ter, call it the John Allen question, and
tackle it in that shape.
1t may be a questionable shape, but it
is the simplest one.
Really, you know, it was something too
much for poor human nature to be tor
tured by such doubts on this subject.
To read one morning that John Allen
was reformed.
To read the next morning that John
Allen was drunk. rt
To read in one reliable country news
paper that John Aliens soul was on its
knees before God in the deepest contri-
ton.
To read in another reliable country
newspaper that John Aliens brother
tainted away at one oftheprayer meetings,
and that John Allen was as unmoved as
a whisky barrel.
To he thus jostled from Tribune to
Herald from Times 10 World to be
run over by the Mail to be gared at
by the Sun to be continually tossed
from pillar to Epening Post by this John
Allen question-it really was unendura-
BILE.
One knew not what to think. One
dreamed nightmares. Ones mind was
in dreadful state of uncertainty.
mean, of course, Number one.
And so / determined to so see the John
Allen country for myself.
The papers said had been there when
I hadn't, and one might as we'll have the
fun when one has the name, you know.
Thus reasoned and at last the final
argument was brought to bear by Mas
sachusetts clergyman who called st the
Office OF our Authors Union when was
there. and said be was on his way to the
nrayer meeting at John Aliens.
The Authors Union Office is in Pearl
street. and the next street to Pearl is
Water; and while | had been undergoing
all this trepidation and doubt, here was
the John Allen country close at my
elbow.
A three minutes walk and stood at the
entrance to the Hotel d'Allen.
don't intend to describe the scene.
II has been described to the death.
Suffice it that | went inside; that l got
good place TO see aud hear; that L
heard and saw; that more than once
felt tears in my eyes; that / stayed till
the meeting was over; and that when
il wss over found the impression
made by it TO have been very evanesceni,
40 far as was concerned.
John Allen came in and took posi-
ton by my side as | stood there.
/ looked in his face and saw enough
manhood 10 il to make me offer my hand
thar he might shake it-which be did,
and very respectfully:
lam, every body who knows me will
easily admit, not q sentimental miss.
Whose thinks I am makes a missstake.
I looked at John Allen with cool and
ouestiouing eyes, and took his measure.
The result is that my views on the
John Allen question ars nov very clear.
Whelher John Allen is. or was, the
wickedest Man in New York depends
altogether on what you consider wicked;
Gentlemeu Of the Mr.. Dyer school
think that the boy who knows Il is sin
to steal a pin and then steals i is WICK
eder than the cannibal who knocks a
missionary on the head and eats him At
erward.
/ DO not belong 10 the Mr.. Dyer school,
and don't think 20.
Whether q man Knows Il is wrong 70
keep a dance-house, or whether be don't,
it's lust as wicked 70 DO IL
II. besides hat, be steals; II be nur-