118 THE MAMMOTH CAVE. 



formations as onlophilites, or curled leaf stones. 

 In lecturing on them he says, ' They are unlike 

 anything yet discovered, equally beautiful for 

 the cabinet of the amateur and interesting to the 

 geological philosopher.' 



"Another gentleman (a clergyman) also speaks 

 of these formations. His remarks are to the fol- 

 lowing effect : ' So exquisite and beautiful is 

 Cleveland's Avenue, that it is out of the power 

 of painter or poet to conceive anything like it. 

 Such loveliness cannot, indeed, be described. 

 Were the sovereigns of wealthy states to spend 

 their all on the most skillful lapidaries they could 

 find, with the view of rivaling the splendor of 

 this truly regal abode, the attempt would be 

 entirely vain. What, then, is left for the nar- 

 rator? People must see it, and then they will 

 be convinced that all attempts at adequate de- 

 scription are useless. Tlie Cabinet was discov- 

 ered by Mr. Patten, of Louisville, and Mr. Craig, 

 of Philadelphia, accompanied by the guide Ste- 

 phen. It extends in a direct line about two 

 miles. It is a perfect arch of fifty feet span, and 

 of an average height of ten feet in the center, 

 just high enough to be viewed at ease in all its 

 parts. It is incrusted from end to end with the 

 most beautiful formations in every variety of 



