THE MAMMOTH CAVE. 203 



that, in the formation of a stalactite, a period 

 of fifty years is required to produce an incrusta- 

 tion of the thickness of a wafer. We have not 

 attempted to calculate the time necessary, at 

 this rate, to form a stalactite of the size named. 

 Geologists, in estimating the antiquity of the 

 origin of the earth, might find important data 

 here that, to our knowledge, has not been here- 

 tofore used. But it would be impossible to ap- 

 proximate accuracy in such calculations, from 

 the fact that it may have been, for all we know, 

 twentj^ thousand years since the cessation of the 

 process of formation, for this appears to be one 

 of the oldest avenues in the Cave. 



To the ceiling of the Chapel are attached 

 great numbers of small stalactites, from six to 

 eighteen inches in length, giving a very singular 

 and handsome view overhead. 



The Gothic Chapel has been very accurately 

 and strikingly photographed by the parties be- 

 fore mentioned. 



Speaking of the immense stalactites found in 

 Gothic Chapel, reminds us that we have not ex- 

 plained the meaning of the terras "stalactite" 

 and " stalagmite," which formations being pecu- 

 liar to caves, it is presumed that the majority of 

 * readers are not familiar with the process of their 



