THE MAMMOTH CAVE. 159 



was he, — until finally his lights came in full 

 view, giving us one of the finest artificial sunrises 

 that could possibly be produced. 



The sights and illusions of the Star Chamber 

 are so wonderful and so complete, that when we 

 reluctantly take our leave of it, we feel as though 

 we had passed a night in a new world, and that 

 the morning had unexpectedly broken upon us 

 before our astonished faculties had had time to 

 comprehend the extraordinary transition of time 

 and circumstances. 



With the exception of Echo River, says Dr. 

 "Wright, the Star Chamber is, perhaps, the most 

 attractive object in the Cave. 



The Floating Cloud Room connects the Star 

 Chamber with Proctor's Arcade. 



The clouds are produced by the scaling off of 

 black gypsum from the ceiling, by an efflores- 

 cence of the sulphate of soda beneath it, by which 

 a white surface is exposed. They appear to be 

 drifting from the Star Chamber over the Chief 

 City. The Cloud Room is a quarter of a mile 

 in length, and in height and width corresponds 

 with the Star Chamber. 



