And now at His feet, who can use the least, we lay this book again; for "to the Mighty One," as the Tamil proverb says, "even the blade of grass is a weapon." May it be used for His Name's sake, to win more prayer for India--and all dark lands--the prayer that prevails. AMY WILSON-CARMICHAEL, Dohnavur, Tinnevelly District, S. India. Confirmatory Notes _From_ Rev. D. DOWNIE, D.D., American Baptist Mission, Nizam's Dominions, S. India. I have felt for many years that we missionaries were far too prone to dwell on what is called the "bright side of mission work." That it has a bright side no one can question. That it has a "dark" side some do question; but I for one, after thirty years of experience, know it to be just as true as the bright side is true. I have heard Miss Carmichael's book denounced as "pessimistic." Just what is meant by that I am not quite sure; but if it means that what she has written is untrue, then I am prepared to say that it is NOT pessimistic, _for there is not a line of it that cannot be duplicated in this Telugu Mission_. That she has painted a dark picture of Hindu life cannot be denied, but, _since it is every word true_, I rejoice that she had the courage to do what was so much needed, and yet what so many of us shrank from doing, "lest it should injure the cause." _From_ Rev. T. STEWART, M.A., Secretary, United Free Church Mission, Madras. This book, _Things as They Are_, meets a real need--_it depicts a phase of mission work of which, as a rule, very little is heard_. Every missionary can tell of cases where people have been won for Christ, and mention incidents of more than passing interest. Miss Carmichael is no exception, and could tell of not a few trophies of grace. _The danger is, lest in describing such incidents the impression should be given that they represent the normal state of things, the reverse being the case._ The people of India are not thirsting for the Gospel, nor "calling us to deliver their land from error's chain." The night is still one in which the "spiritual hosts of wickedness" have to be overcome before the captive can be set free. The writer has laid all interested in the extension of the Kingdom of God under a deep debt of obligation by such a graphic and accurate picture of the difficulties that have to be faced and the obstacles to be overcome. Counterparts of the incidents recorded can be found in other parts of South India, and there are probably few missionaries engaged in vernacular work who could not illustrate some of them from their own experience. _From_ Dr. A. W. RUDISILL, Methodist Episcopal Press, Madras. In _Things as They Are_ are pictured, by camera and pen, _some_ things in Southern India. The pen, as faithfully as the camera, has told the truth, and nothing but the truth.