New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1868-09-01
THAT "WICKEDEST MAN"
TuE PHASES OF HIS REFORMATION

TIE PHASES OF HIS REFORMATION.
now A DANCE-HoUsE Is CONVERTED INTO
HOUSE OF PRAYER--A THUNDERBOLI OF
RELIGION HURLED INTO STRONGHOLD OF
SATAN-THE WATER-sT. PRAYER MEETING
D. John Allen is still strenuous in his efforts to
reform His former acouaintanoes men in business Of
similarly loathsone character at first were busy with re-
ports that John was in luck. that he had successfully
hoodwinked the piOus who had taken hold OF him.
that he would profess the pentent as long as II was to his
pecuniary interest and then start afresh, with great
augmentation Of trade which would not fail in short
time 10 increase the yane Of his pocketbook hundred
fold Women OF the town laughed at him; pckpookets
jeered loafers smiled and waited. But john to ak ap
pearanccs, has cheated them all, and IS, IN reaiy'
making wild, but earnest, endeayOr to become Chris
tiau.
OF the closing OF his establishment Saturday at mid
night and the transformation OF the place Immediately
aterward into place Of prayer and penitence our read
ers have been already informed Despite the thousand
circumstances dragging him I'm another direction John
tho proprietor still sticks 20 his good Intention Tho
dance house suspeDds its attractions and the prayer
meeting takes It's place.
Our reporter yesterday paid special visit to the place.
and can speak from personal knowledge Of the sincerity
OF Mr.. Aliens professions.
Water.st between Dover and ROosevelsts., is an ex
tremey disgusting quarter. As YOU approach the quar-
ter through waer-st, you gradually apprsod of the
nature OF the locality. Sandwched between warehouses
doing heavy importation business are here and there to
be seen the lowest class OF drinking and dane
ing saloons The neamoss of the shipping
and the well known prodigaity OF seameh'
when Just paid of after long cruise are tho influences
which drag them SO near the waters edge Ihe rude
sons OF the ocean, indeed furnish treeOurths OF inc
patronage 70 tho vile dens, out OF which some OF the
proUrietors grow rich As you proceed northward the
warehouses grow fewer and the dens more numerous
Finally, passing Kit Burnss crib, just below Doverst
YOU find yourself in the wholesome block OF Waterst
between Dover Roosevelt at present made famous
by John Allen and his daneehOuse. There are hye
saloons and lodging house, the eastern OF river
side The former miserable drinking dens, exposed
to the street much possible through the medium OF
wide DOORS and windows little smaller than DOORS where
lewd hdeOus SIT and under the pretence OF sew
ing expose their persons in the most shameiesS'
disgusting manner, for the alurement OF the
passer.by. Now and then. not content, or
doubling the efficiency Of such attractions they will hail
the passenger with such saluatOns Come IN, Shang
ha come in aud see the plcturesW FLOWS your
mother you'll forget all about her il you come in here y
"Rum.um and bum-bum enter my royal jukc!' until
almost induced to fancy that he is in the midst OF
oden wickedness which rain OF fire and birthstone
alone could expate
OF the clearinghouse we shall say but little But IL is
suggestive of mproviseG press gangs OF newlyreurned
sailors seen no more, shipped TO the islands Of the
blcst I'm most mysterious manner, and we would con-
scientousy advise gentlemen affecting the briny deep
for lvchoOd to dive deeper into the town, and seek
quieter and less Singing harbor wherein TO cast
their anchors.
Almost Immediately opposite is John Aliens Dance
House. It threestory edifce. dapdated in appear
ance and painted bottlegreen. There is kind Of mean
in the very color which looks IL 1t trying to
steal between the bricks and drop them
the pavement In helpless heap On the first floor
you onter into kind Of preliminary barrOom devoted to
strychnine mixtures, and genuine Havana cigars, made
out Connecticut cabbage leaves over another door
going through fra partition into inner room, you
read the words: