Indianapolis Times, Volume 38, Number 185, Indianapolis, Marion County, 9 November 1926 — Page 11

NOV, 9, 1926

'Next To My BibleTrue Story" SHE had just reached the tender age of sixteen—the age of innocence and inexperience when she met and fell in love with “her man”. Oh, what days of heart'fillcd joy those were! He was so gentle, so considerate, so steadfast in his devotion. Every hour they could spend in each other’s company was heaven itself. It is true that “her man” was already married. But did that matter? Wasn’t his wife even then suing him for divorce? Soon he would be free—and they could take up their lives together, with nothing to mar their happiness. But until then, every day of separation was torture to them both. Why wait? (he pleaded). Why not go away together at once—and as soon as the divorce was granted, their union could be sanctioned by marriage immediately. She knew it was wrong—but she could not steel her heart against his pleading. So they left town together under an assumed name.

Grateful Readers Write Letters Filled with Praise The best evidence of True Story’s power for good is seen in the thousands of letters which have come to the editors from men and women who have profited by the teachings found in its pages. More than seven thousand of these letters have been received, constituting a library of praise and gratitude of which any publicition might well be proud. One of these letters appears below 1 . For obvious reasons, the name and address of the writer cannot be revealed. / Dear Sirs: 1 am afraid my letter won’t be a literary success as I must write quickly before my courage fails. Even now I hesitate, but my gratitude to “True Stpry” overwhelms me. I must tell you why “True Story”—next to my Bible, is the most honored book in my house. I was sixteen when I met my man—we fell In love, he was married, his wife was then suing for divorce. He begged me not to wait, as he would soon be able to marry me—l knew it was wrong—but I agreed—we left town—under a different name. Soon his wife heard of his new love and stopped divorce proceedings, declaring she would never divorce him now. 1 wanted to leave then, but he pointed out that as 1 was pregnant, It would be wise to remain as we were. He knew that his wife would give in eventually. The days came and went, I was paying (as I should for sinning) by worry, doubt, and fear. My time came, and how “Fate” must have laughed at her little joke, for my babies were twins and girls at that. Then I wrote his wife, imploring her to save my babies from dishonor; if she would set him free I swore that I would re-divorce him and never see him again. She returned my letter, having written across it “Have been hoping to hear of a baby—but twins—ha, hakeep it up. Cdhgratulate the papa and tell him I will never divorce him.” Doyou wonder it was four months before 1 left my bed! Two years passed. One day we heard she was dead. Then I asked “my man” how soon we would be married. He explained that when we married he wished to be in a financial positionto move to astrange town, marry under our own name, and start life anew. I couldn’t understand sucb.reasoning—l begged,wept, in fact became frantic, but nil the time he looked at me as though 1 were a stranger. That was only the beginning. Every evening, and sometimes far into the night, I would coax, plead, scold, and always it ended in a quarrel. He said that since I was in such a hurry to put the yoke on him, he was going to take his time. Eleven years went by. I had ceased to ask, and he never mentioned marriage. For myself I didn’t I deserved all the suffering which was mine. But my daughters, two lovely children, had not asked for birth. My greatest fear was that he or 1 would die and leave the helpless victims of our selfishness to be dashed to pieces by a relentless fate. How I prayed that our sins would not be visited upon theml Finally my prayer was answered in this manner: I have been reading True Story since it first came out, but my man wouldn’t even pick it up; “light stuff”, were his words regarding it. One day, however, he came home and there under his arm was a True Story. “Why, you’re not reading ‘light stuff* are you?” I asked. He didn’t answer directly but asked me to send the .children somewhere, as he wanted to talk to me. They were no sooner out of the house when he dropped to his knees, and with his head in my lap, told me now that day his cat had broken down —he came home by train. On his seat was a True Story and to pass the time he began reading and before he knew it, his hands were clenched and in imagination h# was pounding the scoundrels who would dare to play with purity, when suddenly his heart stood still, for he realized he was worse than any character he had read about. He begged forgiveness of me, and pulling me down beside him, he for the first time since I had known him, begged forgiveness of the Almighty—and promised that should the good Lord see fit, we would be married in the morning. He asked God to bless the person or persons who had made True Story possible, for it had opened his understanding where everything else had failed. Please pardon this blurring but I just can’t stop the tears from falling, but they’re tears of joy, they always come whenever 1 think of that most eventful moment of my life. / We were married next morning. Surely “God works in a mysterious way, His wonders to perform.” Thank you again and again, and may God bless you in all your efforts, my best friend, “True Story”, you have given me “my husband”. Sincerely yours, P. S. Can anyone now say, I commit a sacrilege when I say, next to my Bible, True Story has the most honored place in my home and heart?

And then, very soofti, events took a terrible and unexpected turn. His wife learned of his new love and she stopped divorce proceedings, declaring that she would never divorce him now. Nor was she moved by the frantic appeals of the unfortunate girl in the case, on whom retribution for her sin had already fallen with crushing force. Time passed—a time of grief and terror. Twin baby girls were bom—babies without a name. Two years later a capricious fate brought death to the deserted wife—and then ironically turned the laugh on the unwedded mother. For “her man” changed his mind. He refused to marry her. Thus the years went by—years of agonized re* morse and tearful pleadings which left the man unmoved. His heart was stone. Bowed down under the black shadow of her shame, a helpless bit of human wreckage in the storm'tossed sea of life—she realized that at last she was paying—paying as only a woman can pay. Then one day—the miracle. “Her man” came home, dropped on his knees beside her and, his big frame shaken by terrible sobs, begged her forgive* ness for the wrong he had done. Scarce daring to believe that it could be true, she took him in her arms—and as they mingled their tears of joy, he told her what had brought about his change of heart. Coming home on the train he had picked up a copy of True Story Magazine, and with clenched fists and in a fury of hate, had read there of the way that scoundrels dare to play with purity. Then his heart stood still, as he realized that he himself was a greater scoundrel than any of those characters he had read about. He saw himself, at

last, as he really was. He declared that they would be married without another moment’s delay. And he kept his word. “Surely,” says this girl in the letter reproduced on this page, “God works in a mysterious way His wonders to perform.” And “Can anyone say I commit sacrilege when I say that next to my Bible, True Story has the most honored place in my home and heart?” r * * * * The letter on which the aDove story is based appears, in the column on the left, word for word as this girl wrote it. Yet hers is only one in thousands of such letters

n*i n* _ True Story IcMagaune^jf The Qreatest Newsstand Sale in the World

.THE INDIANAPOLIS TIMES

Other Stirring Features in the December Issue are “In Search of Love” “Was He Right?” “Pearls of a Price” “Haunting Memories” “Before I Learned” “I Married for Spite” “Things Wives Tell” “I Thought I KneW* “The Sting of Remorse” “Who Shall Judge?” “Fool's Gold " “Her Code of Honor” “Because I Was Young” “Her Amazing Secret”

he looked at me as though j

which come to True Story Magazine from men and women whose problems have been solved, and who have been helped, uplifted and inspired by the truedife chronicles that appear every month in this great publication. Every issue of True Story contains from fifteen to twenty truedife narratives —gripping, heart'searching, thought' compelling true stories that guide, warn and inspire the reader as only a story from real life can do. The Prevention of Wrong Easier Than the Cure How much better it is to teach young people to avoid life’s dangers than to weep with them after the damage is done! This thought is well illustrated in the following brief outlines of stories picked at random from the December issue of True Story Magazine. “The Uncertain Road” is the pitiful experience of a young girl, left an orphan to grope her way through life alone, unguided by the loving counsel of those older and wiser than herself. It is not strange, then, that she failed to es' cape the terrible misfortune which came to her when she fell in love with her employer. A tragic, heart'touching story that every girl should read. “You Must Pay in Full” recites what happened to a , young and giddy girl who recklessly entered into a foolish romance with a fascinating young doctor. As you follow the unhappy drama of events which grew out of this young girl’s folly, you will realize as never before the great mission that True Story Magazine serves. “Baby Fingers” recounts the terrific battle waged by a young mother who, with her baby, is abandoned by a worthless husband on an open prairie £t the height of a storm. How she afterwards fought to protect herself and child against the wicked plotting of vicious men, is an epic of courage and motherdove that will thrill and inspire all readers, no matter who they may be. And yet these are only three of the eighteen truedife narratives that are to be found in the December issue of True Story Magazine. The same high moral tone —the same constructive note—dominates every issue of this great __publication, month in and month out.

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What 3000 Ministers Think of True Story Magazine The minister of the gospel is the natural leader in his community. He knows the power of the written and spoken word to influence and mould the lives of the young. He is looked up to for counsel and guidance. His word carries weight. Yet even the minister cannot reach every boy and girl. He cannot go into every hoire. For that reasen he is the first to recognize that True Story reaches many persons who could not be reached in any other way. Asa result, more than three thousand ministers have written to True Story Magazine expressing their sympathy with the great work this periodical is doing. They appreciate the power for good that these lessonstories contain. Below you will find a few of their letters of appreciation. A brochure containing nearly fifteen hundred such letters will be mailed free on request to any address. To publish all such letters received would require a volume too bulky for practical purposes. Jackson and Chauncey Sts., Columbia City, Ind. For several years my family and I have been readers of the Macfadden Publications and at this time we have four of your magazities coming each month. I wish to express my appreciation of the care you exercise in keeping up the moral tone of your publications. Your “True Story” is in itself a liberal education to those who would acquaint themselves with life as it really is. Keep up the good work, and be assured you have the whole-hearted support of all who stand for higher moral character or the young people of our day. Sincerely yours, . (REV.) EDMUND C. LINDSAY, D. D. Winslow, Ind. I can say that the True Story Magazine is a clean, uplifting and a moral force not to be despised. It is a guide book to the wanderer, a warning to the careless, encouragement to the noble, and a moral value in knowing life. (REV.) JAMES E. TODD Peru, Indiana. I have read True Story and I think it a very worthy magazine and I never read it but I am benefited. I will not hesitate to recommend it to anybody and everybody. I wish that it might be in every home. (REV.) A. E. GRUBBS Flora, Ind. Having known the Macfadden Publications for some years, I am glad to give my endorsement of the "True Story Magazine.” I have read it for some time and that our young people ought to have it before them. Sin is exposed but never glorified. Your censorship idea is commendable. I have read Physical Culture since 1915 and possess a set of “Macfadden’s Encyclopedia of Physical Culture.” Both of these have proven of great value to myself and friends. Trusting that you will continue the fine editorials, I am, Sincerely yours, (REV.) JOHN D. YUNDT

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