The notes and studies found in this work were made during the earlier period of World War I and were collected for publication. They do not pretend to be any sort of complete record in their embrace of the subject, rather they are scattered thoughts suggested by the large and tangled drama witnessed at the time. Carpenter stated there would come a time of recovery and reconstruction on a wide and extended scale over Europe and a large part of the world, thus he gives some suggestions toward the future healing of the nations.
