40 THE MAMMOTH CAVE. 
much rough and fatiguing travel within the 
Cave, over loose rocks, etc., which might be ren- 
dered, at small expense, comparatively smooth. 
Hand-cars might be introduced and easily made 
available over more than half the Long Route, 
stopping as frequently as the curiosity of the 
visitor might require in making his observa- 
tions. 
Green River, with its towering cliffs, is but a 
few hundred yards from the hotel. 
Bayard ‘Taylor, upon first beholding this beau- 
tiful river, at the time of his visit to the Cave, 
sixteen years ago, was struck by the appropri- 
ateness of the lines of Bryant, which were 
applied, strange to say, to another river of the 
same name : 
“Yet, fair as thou art, thou shunnest to glide, 
Beautiful stream! by the village side, 
But windest away from haunts of men, 
To silent valley and shaded glen.” 
It has been conclusively proven, by careful 
observations, that the rivers of the Cave have a 
subterraneous communication with Green River. 
The entrance of: the Cave is about one-fourth 
of a mile from the hotel, and 1s reached by pass- 
ing down a wild, rocky ravine through a dense 
forest,—a fitting avenue to the hidden world. 
