Daily Davenport Democrat. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1864-1874, 1868-09-24
The Converted sssvaclxe dess Man
In New York;.


In New York;
reporter Of the New York 7yms has
recently called upon John Allen. the noto-
rious "wickedest" Of New York, who, it
was currently reported, has been converted
to religion. The following 10 . sketch Of
the interview:
With view Of founding Allen On various
points OF public interest connected with
this exciting affair, the writer, on Thurs
day, paid q visit to the dsvildcm Of which
Allen 10 monarch, and there saw and heard
some things which are worth the resder's
sttention The house. No. s04 Water street
was easily found. Opening the door that
leads from the street into apartment that
once served ~ q bar-ro ON, he (ths writer
asked if Mr.. Alien WAS at home. and he was
informed BY lad TO whom the inquiry was
addressed, that be VS. not, - he vas
across the street talking to slocun (ths
proprietor Of nsighboring dance halD,
and, II the business upon which the visitor
had called was important hs would be sum-
monsd. Allen was accordingly sent for,
and. with evident reluctance, he accompan-
led the messenger to the room Of which 10
have spoken.
The moment he entered, il was easily
seen that he was grossly into xicated. His
step was steady. but the wandering ex.
preston Of his bioodshot eyes, the silly grin
that played about his lips, and the unmis-
taxable rum-odor Of his breath as he ap-
preached, made it certain that he was
drunken man. He did not woit for the
formalitics Of an Introduction, but at once
opened with. well, who are you. Whats
your names Where do you live? What's
your busineas,-salvation, sinners, Ell -
oil At . single breath, and with rapidity
that would defy tho pencil Of the most skill
full stenographer. There ~as an air Of i'm
pudence, too, in his tone Of voice that
seemed 10 say. Come, talk quickly, now,
end then 60 about your business, have
no time to waste The inquiries, 10 the
main, having been answered, Allen closed
the door Of the saloon, dragged small table
aud two chairs into the middle Of the floor,
and, having done this. and dismissed the
boy and : hideous-looking girl who wac
preparing to scrub the apartment. he bsds
10 BE- seated, and then resumed the CONVEX
cation, which Wa carrisd on in something
like the following manner:
well, M. Allen, what do you desire 10
say to the public about this reform
| work 7"
"Don't know what TO say about it,--itu
oil right, l guess. You can tell EN- thu,
those prayin' 'fellers' have broken al my
cans chairs. and I've got to get wooden
ones, -gusss they can't break them. Brok,
my glass there. too, smashed it in, and
they smash everything they touch. Some
body stole ny coat. too,--Id like to catct
bin. ! don't much like them prayin' folks
nyhew." he said.
Why" was the rejoindsr, in evident
surprise, "the public have been led to be
llsvs that you were converted, John, and
that you loved Christian people, ther,
will Be great surprise when they lesrs tha,
such 10 not the case"
"Oh. he returned, interruptipg the Wis
itor, I'm reformed, and I've made up my
mind to serve my great Rsdssmer, % long
- be lsts me live. III never 70 back on hin
irus's you live. I'm just agoIn' to lot th,
world know that I'm . second A postle Paul
there Amt agoin' 10 b any lody beat m,
in this line Of business, sure % name i,
John Allen"
"what do you mean by second Apos
tie Paul ~ we ventured 10 ask.
"Whas do you men ;" was tho reply
"why, mean just what say Pm goin
to study for a preacher, and I'm goin t,
sweep everything in this street, II OIL
i church Won't have me, another will, and II
, toll these wicked sinners In the world tina
, they'd better look out for themselves, o
they Il wake up some fine morning in hell
fire"
You say that you are going to preach
John. DO you suppose that people wi
hear you from tho pulpit unless you s.o
d drinking rum,
who told you drank rum ?" he aske
= Hereby aud, without waiting for reply
he continued: II never was drunk in IN
life. | take a glass now and sgam when
iecl the need OF It, and lately I've been Il
perins on am going to stop it, by-and
by, when get ready
IN response TO al inquiry concerning hi
intentions for the future, he spoke ram
blingly for half an hour, not permitting al
interruption during the whole time
Among other things he said that it was hi
Intention to start immediately upon lee
turing tour through the country, commen
; eng at Nswburg on Friday (last) evening
in company with DR.. Chandler, formerly ,
ward missionary. lie had l. girls in BIZ
employment, he said when this excite
ment began, aud now there were but three
, who were engaged in assisting his wife n
, takinE..caro OF tn. house Df tho others
tive had secured situations as dome.t,
servants, and four went 70 neighborinc
dance hals. Upon being asked what h,
! was gong to lecture about, and who was I,
write his diScourses 1or it was eviden
that he could not produce tho correct sen
tcnces. consecu,ively. before an audience
without promptingl, he ssid THAT was no
bodys business"
1T - stated on excellent authority.
John" We said, "that prominent dramat.
ic agent in this city has offered you 81 200
per week to travel on exhibition through.
out tho country, in company with Mrs.
Allen and little Chester; is that true ?"
Allen ground bis teeth with rage. and
evidently struggled hard to conceal his
emotions. while he looked nonplusssd ia
the face Of 90 straight an inquiry. A.
ter some hesitsucy he fatty refused to
answer the questions but, upon being told
that his silence would be construed % "a
atisr mativs reply, he said in . calmsr
mood: well rm just going to 70 oil
over the country aad stand up before the
folks, and cay to them. "Here am-rm
John Allen. the wick eldest man in New
York. do look like the wieksdest man
Wen guess don't. I'll show them" he
added, that l amt 40 wicked looking a.
they think am." This is oil that I would
Say upon that point. The arrangements
were confidential. he declared. and be
could not reveal them. lie did say. hov.
ever. that neither M. Dyer, nor Mr.. Ar.
mold. nor anyone else connected with the
Howard Mission. was identified with tn,
lscturing enterprise they had dropped
him, be said, because he liked rum and
didn't agree with them - 10 the best vay
Of continuing this work.
"Ysu'M charge for admission to your
country calls. Of course" " vsntursd 10.
tsrroeativsly.
"Yes, what Of it ?" he returned.
"Wsn. what do you intend to do with
the profits Of the affair ?"
he was again angry, and 1t first declined
to answer, and Afterwards attempted "a
svade the query. but fading that neither
games would work, he reluctantly deal,