Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1868-07-28
this incomprehensible Water street
dance-house keeper?

iul5 W. SbACSt
dsnce-house keeper?
LOVE FOR LAW AND ORDER.
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 Z. Ac-
ton, President Of the Board OF Metropoli-
tan Police, says that during the riots Of
1858 he swore Allen in as special po.
licemAn, and that he was perfect lion
on the 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 Allen
sent to him for that purpose, without
asking any questions, so sure was he Of
his judgment and loyalty. And in not
a single instance did Mr.. Acton find that
his confidence ia the man had been mis-
placed.
HTbe police of the Fourth ward bear
similar testimony to this mans Orderli-
ness, and his love of public and especially
Sabbath decorum. He renders most ef-
ficient aid to the police in keeping the
crowds that assemble st the outdoor
Sabbath meetings in order.
e "Our Wickedest Man
was not at the meeting above described,
else things might have gone differently.
He has most unique way OF quieting
rowdies on such occasions. He takes the
ringleader by the collar, aud jerks him
out OF bis boots into decOrum by single
application Of muscle. Or, he seiZes some
Obstreperous disturber by the throat, and
impressiveIy exclaims
"'You lousy hound, what do you mean
by treating the ministers of the Gospel
with disraspect? When q gentleman
takes the trouble to bring yon a message
from Heaven for nothing, aren't you
man enough 20 listen 20 him respectful
ly. II l catch you making any more
distuI bsnce here, pll boot you into the
dock .
Another Of his means Of grace is to
take q boisterOVs worshiPper by the CO.,
lar, ard say;
d'Come here and take drink, yop son
of thiefn Aud, after administering 6
dose OF Bourbon to him, be gives him s
Jerk aud a shove, and says, Now go
mind your gospel, and see that you treat
the preacher respectfully, or I'll button
your nose over your eyen
"By such meesuI ca, and others of
similar character, this phenomenal
81 an onc-dOOr Sabbath meet
ing will keep in order a crowd that il
would seem could be reduced to suhjec-
ton by no other means. His own cTiti-
cisms ou ihe speakers, meanwhile, are
as unspariDg as they arc original, lie
has q keen perception of their fitness or |
uufituegs, as the case may be; and no
one rejoices more than he does when a
speaker proves himself called Of Heaven
10 the work, nor grieves more poignant
Iy when one brings the cause ne at
'eIlDts to serve into contempt by his |
.ncspacity Sl3 Jolly.
GRIT AND GRACE"
at must be that there is something |
n this mRn's blood which makes him as
Eager for sacred songs and for religious |
services az the setter is for game. His |
quoted in our flrmer article, |
hat grit and grace run through his |
'amiry- az the Tigris and the Jordan run |
hrougn the Holy Land was 40 mere |
die 6oast. 10 those three SieFical (
1rothers OF his we hope yet to see
ourth added. John Allen, as a preacher |
# the Gospel to the outdoor poor Of |
New York, and to the vagsbonds of the |
lreets and docks, would be the Boan-
,rges Of the Metropolis.
BENEvOLENCE
"AHen is tender-hearted towards poor
.hiidren. He gathers them into his in
ernal place by dozens and scores during
weather, and especially in the
winter, and cften not only feeds but
Iothes them he also sends them TO
Sometimes be goes into
ne streets OF the Sabbath and gathers
10 the vagrant children in squads, and
marches them off to the Mission Sab
Iath-school ia Dover street, or TO some
.ther similar Institution else where. And
le looks to their behavior, toe, after he
.ets them into Sabbath-schOOl, and takes
fatherly interest in their welfare.
"This man takes especial pleasure in
ieIping the most helpless classes. LII
eused vendors come in f5r goOdly
hare Of his friendly attentions.
JOKE ON THE DEMOCRATIC COSvEN-
TION.
Among the most recent 'distin-
,uished' visitors to Mr.. Aliens abode
we're several large deputatiOns from the
Democratic National Convention when
hat institution was lately flourishiDg in
street. One company OF
ountry delegates, numbering thirty,
vent down to No 304 Water street, un-
er the escort Of Capt. ThOrne, Of the
Fourth Precinct, and we are informed
hat on one evening as many as sixty
delegates were present at one time, I'LL
ng both bsrrOOm and dancing saloon,
nj protrudiDg upon the stOOp and side
walk. They had ali read our account of
he Wickedest Man, and were anxious
o see him. He was courteous and cor
iaI, as he always is to visitors. One Of
be delegates remarked
Et [ suppose this is about the worst
ection Of the city, Mr.. Allen, from all
a. To which Mr.. Allen replied:
"'Well, yes, il has had that reputa
ION; but Just now it is completely
clipsed by Fourteenth street.
"This returt was received with ap-
Isuse, and the delegates hailed The
YickedesP as man and brother.
SUMMING UP.
According to our view Of the matter,
ne pre eminent wickedness of John AL
n comes from his willful perversion of !
is own original excellence of character,
be prostitution of extraordinary talents
D base uses, and the persistent violation |
( divine laws, the truth and binding
jrce Of which he clearly perceives and
believes.
"There is plentiful supply of men in
lew York who are far more vile, beast
' and repulsive than this Wickedest
ian. In point of fact, be is not repul-
i've; he does not impress one who
nows him as vile fellow but as a
old, chivalTic emissary of Psndemo-
ium, who has good points enough to
nable him to serve his satanic chiefGain /
nth q force and efficiency which no
lere bestial satrap of hell could ever
chieve.
" We are glad that he has the grace to
e grieved by our showing him up as I
'e have found him. according to agree
lent; glad that he winces at the
lought OF his children's some day read
lg our sketch. For, as we said in the
eginniDg, we like the man, despite his
.ickedness, and would do much to res
1e him from the fate to which he seems
} be rushing.
JOHN ALIENS PROMISE.
" "At4 O'Clock pm. on Friday, the 10Th
ay Of July, after the foregoing had 1
cen put in type, we had an interview
18th John Allen, in the private room of
Ir. Acton, and in Mr.. Acton's presence,
poiice headquarters, No. 300 Mulberry
rect. Alien protested against being
allied the Wickedest Man in New York.
aid he:
a Z -, ,,,f H. I