156 THE MAMMOTH CAVE. 



Mr. Taylor continues: "I now noticed that 

 the ceiling became darker, and that the gray 

 cornice of the walls stood out from it in strong 

 relief. Presently it became a sheet of unvarying 

 blackness, which reflected no light, like a cloudy 

 night-sky All at once a few stars glimmered 

 through the void, then more and more, and a 

 firmament as far off and vast, apparently, as 

 that which arches over the outer world, hung 

 above our heads. We were in the celebrated 

 Star Chamber. Leaning upon a rock which lay 

 upon the right side of the avenue, we looked 

 upward, lost in wonder at the marvelous illu- 

 sion. It is impossible to describe the effect of 

 this mock sky. Your reason vainly tells you 

 that it is but a crust of black gypsum, sprinkled 

 wdtli points of the white limestone beneath, 

 seventy-five feet above your head. You see that 

 it is a fathomless heaven, with its constellations 

 twinkling in the illimitable space. You are no 

 longer upon this earth. You are in a thunder- 

 riven gorge of the mountains of Jupiter, looking 

 up at the strange firmament of that darker 

 planet. You see other constellations rising, far 

 up in the abyss of midnight, and witness the 

 occultation of remoter stars." 



The starry firmament which Mr. Taylor has 



