The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1868-07-22
JOHN ALLEN.
More About "Ths wiolko1Sst MsA In

quote the principal passages'-
HIS RECEPTION OF VISITORS.
"Since the appearance of the sketch in the
July number of this magazine Mr. Allen mas
been run down with visitors, especially cer-
pymen, who, he says, invariably ask for the
Wiokedest Man in New York, to which inquiry
he promptly responds as being the Identical
individual 're'erred to-
UHis reception Of his clerical visitors is
sometimes exquisitely characteristic.
" 1'm glad to see you, gentlemen he says.
walk in. Sit down. Make yourselves at
home. Have a copy Of the Lille Wanderers
Friend? We have to do a good deal of mis-
siOnary work down here, and find the LtHe
Wanderers Friend good thing in that line.
Take it home with you and read It,. Lots OF
good stuff in it. Good music, too. like to
have clergymen come here. want to do all
the good | can; and l don't know any class of
men who'd be more benefited by association
with me than clergymen. So, come, often,
gentlemen, and stay late.'
HIS OPINION OF RELIGIOUS PAPERS.
"Allen also frequently plays of his Observer
and Independent on his clerical visitors; gets
them into theological discussions, and twists
and harnesses them in all manner of good
natured ways, always taking care to keep
himself master of the situation under all cir
cumstances.
"One curious development OF Aliens cha
racter was manifested in his anxiety to know
how the religious papers would treat his case
as set forth in our sketch. His tenacity of
connection with the religious press is, in
truth, most singular and significant fact
far more significant than he himself has any
idea of.
"'What possible interest can you take in
religious papers p we once asked him. 'Why
do you read the Observer and the independently
"'Oh, he replied, I'm liberal in my views,
and impartial in my tastes. And as to reading,
why, l read anything, from Tom Paine to the
Bible. Besides, must have my theology and
my whisky Straight" don't want either of
'em watered or adulterated. The Observer and
Independent are observation-disclosures on one
side and t'other on t'other. They strike out
from the shoulder and get in a lick under the
ear every time. When the Observer gets hold
of one of your loose, milk-and-water Chris
tians, or some fellow with an unsound, new
tangled theology, it shakes him just as one Of
Kit Burns pups shakes a rat; and then the
Independent gets mad, and pitches in, and
shakes the ObSerCtr just as Kit shakes the pup
when he gets mad. That's my style. like
lively Gospel and muscular religion. l go
in for the church militant, and pride myself
on being high private in the same army in
which the Observer and independent are field
marshal. Pm content to carry the knapsack,
and let them wear the plumes.'
FoYDNEss FOR MUSIC.
"An additional and pointed illustration Of
Aliens fondness for sacred music was recently
given to us by Sergeant George L. Towns of
the Fourth Precinct Metropolitan Police. In
the winter of 1864, when the Sergeant, then
patrolman, was walking his beat with his COM
rade Frederick Gilbert, they stopped, about
o'clock in the morning, to kick their heels on
Aliens stOop. 1t was bitter cold, and, to keep
their hearts warm, they began 70 hum some
heart-stirring old hymns. After while they
struck into old Coronation
HAll hail the poWer of JesuS mama
Bring forth the royal dadem,
And crown Him Lord of all"
AS they concluded the hymn a noise was
heard inside of Aliens bar-room, and Mr..
Towns exclaimed
Hush, Gilbert there's some one in
there ~
"'It is only me, Towns responded Allen
opening the door and stepping to the threshold
in his night rig, bitter cold as it was. Il heard
you humming old Coronation, and had to get
up and come down. l could not stand it, with
that old tune buzzing in my ears. Old Coro-
nation will always fetch me at any season Of
the year, and at any time of the day or night
'On the third day of July last as DR.. J. NJ.
Ward, a we'll known Christian philanthropist,
was passing Aliens saloon, at about 10 o'clock
in the morning, he found him sitting near the
door with a copy of Packard'S Monthly for July
in his hand, intently studying our sketch of
him. On accosting Allen he was kindly
greeted IN return; ana, after some conVerSa-
tion about the sketch, DR.. Ward spoke to
him, as is his custom on every fit occasion,
about his SOULS welfare and the salvation of his
children.
SIN response to this Allen called out,
Chester, come here, and his son came to
his side.
"'Now, Chester said he, 'sing "Nearer, my
God, to Thee" for the Doctor
Sand thereupOn Allen himself led of, aud
father and son sang
"'Nearer, my God, to Thee,
Nearer to Thee,
E'en though 1t be a cross
That ratseth me;
Still, ali my song shall be,
Nearer, My God, to Thee,
Nearer TO Thee
Sand there that strange man sat in his dance
house, on that third day of july with the door
open to the street, and his little son standing
by his side, and led the child in song through
the whole five verses of that hymn, in as de-
vOtional and reverent manner, DR.. Ward
says, as he ever witnessed.
HORROR OF IEFIDRLITY.
"Allen is solicitous that little Chester should
not have his mind poisoned by anything verg-
ing on infdelity. On one OCCASION when visi.
tors were present, an infdel came into the
dancing saloon about IL o'clock at night and
began to ventilate his belief, or rather his un
belief He was surprised at being at once
taken up by Allen and demolished. The un
believer was no match for the Wickedest Mar
in theology, philosophy, or common sense
he soon retired, rather crestfallen; and aftel
the door had closed on him, Allen turned tC
some of those present and exclaimed, in tones