THE MAMMOTH CAVE. 35 



according to the amount of credulity they pos- 

 sess : in either case, their interest in the Cave 

 need not be lessened. 



We re-entered the coaches, and, after a ride of 

 about five miles, reached the Mammoth Cave 

 Hotel, about five o'clock in the afternoon. An 

 exceedingly disagreeable, drizzling rain was fall- 

 ing ; and although we were in the southern part 

 of Kentucky, in the latter half of May, we 

 found the atmosphere so chilly as to require the 

 use of fires in our rooms. 



For the benefit of the Cave visitors of the 

 present day, it is proper to add, in this place, 

 that we have recently (1870) received a com- 

 munication from Mr. Proctor, of the Cave 

 Hotel, in which he states that Glasgow Junc- 

 tion, as a stopping-place, on the Louisville & 

 Nashville Railroad, for parties visiting the 

 Cave, has various advantages over Cave City : 

 first, it is about three miles nearer the Cave 

 (being but seven miles distant) ; second, an 

 excellent stage-road has been recently made 

 between the points ; and, third, immediately 

 upon this route lie the Diamond and Proctor 

 Caves, both of which are exceedingly beautiful 

 and interesting. 



With the view of gaining time, some of our 



