BOOK NOTICES. 507 
existence of God is then what Kant has called it, the postulate of the moral 
law." 
This is a very weak and imperfect suggestion of the object and scope of the 
work, which must be carefully read to be fully comprehended, and the reader 
must be possessed of a truly philosophic mind to attain that full comprehension. 
Seven Spanish Cities. By Edward Everett Hale. i2mo., pp. 328. Roberts 
Brothers, Boston, 1883. For sale by M. H. Dickinson, $1.25. 
If readers of travels do not learn all that is desirable to be known about 
Spain soon, it will not be the fault of the authors and publishers. Within the 
past year or so, we have had "Spain and the Spaniards," by De Amicis, and 
" From the Pyrenees to the Pillars of Hercules," by Henry Day, besides other 
books, magazine articles and newspaper correspondence in abundance, and now 
Rev. Edward Everett Hale comes up with "Seven Spanish Cities," published 
by Roberts Bros., of Boston. The consolation in this special case, however, is 
that Mr. Hale is always sparkling and original, never dull or imitative. If he 
were to write a work on wood sawing it would doubtless be spicy and piquant to 
an high degree, while the truly American habit of seeing everything that others 
see, and a great deal more, would manifest itself openly. 
This little work is the result of observations made during a few weeks' pas- 
sage through Spain in May and June of 1883. There is very little of fact either 
in description or history that is new, but upon closing the book one has the im- 
pression of a new revelation. Madrid, Cordova, Seville, Saragossa, or Zoragoza, 
as he writes it, are all invested with a new interest. We have the facts as here- 
tofore, but a kind of halo of freshness surrounds them, a play of fancy and humor, 
never wanting in any of Mr. Hale's efforts, that attract the reader and hold his 
attention to the work, even when other works on the same subject lie before 
him unread, or merely skimmed over. 
It is presented by the publishers in a very neat and attractive style. 
The Boys' and Girls' Plutarch. By John S.White, LL. D. 8vo., pp. 468; 
Illustrated. G. P. Putnams' Sons, New York, 1883. For sale by M. JH. 
Dickinson, $3.00. 
Plutarch has been for more than 1600 years a source of information and in- 
spiration to the students and writers of most nations and languages. He wrote 
more books than almost any other ancient author, and the same sprightly and 
attractive vein pervaded them all, while his accuracy is in most matters unques- 
tioned. 
The volume under consideration has been especially prepared by Professor 
White, long Head-Master of Berkeley School, for the use of boys and girls. It is 
most handsomely printed, bound, and illustrated by the publishers, and the sub- 
jects selected are well chosen, both for the entertainment and instruction of the 
