214 THE MAMMOTH CAVE. 



the farewell words of Bayard Taylor. He ex- 

 presses the same idea that we gave to the public 

 in a brief newspaper notice (" Mobile Register," 

 June, 1867) immediately after our visit, and 

 before his sketch had come under our notice, 

 and almost in the same language. His corrobo- 

 ration, together with that of Professor Silliman, 

 gives additional weight to the remarks we made 

 at that time regarding the character and magni- 

 tude of the curiosity. Mr. Taylor says : 



" Before taking a final leave of the Mammoth 

 Cave, let me assure those who have followed me 

 through it, that no description can do justice to 

 its sublimity, or present a fair picture of its 

 manifold wonders. It is the greatest natural 

 curiosity," adds this great traveler, "that I have 

 ever visited, — Niagara not excepted; and he 

 whose expectations are not satisfied by its mar- 

 velous avenues, domes, and sparry grottoes, must 

 either be a fool or a demi-god." 



Whoever has seen a cascade, however diminu- 

 tive in volume, can readily imagine a larger one, 

 and by a greater effort of imagination, may con- 

 ceive of the magnitude of Niagara ; but he who 

 has not entered the Mammoth Cave can form 

 but faint conception of its character, or of the 

 varied and lasting impressions produced upon 



