WehavenotheardofJoeGoodmansincethetryingdaysof”90and”91，whenhewasseekingtopromotethefortunesofthetype-settingmachine。Goodman，meantime，whohadinturnbeenminer，printer，publisher，andfarmer；hadbeendevotinghisenergiesandgeniustosomethingentirelynew：hehadbeentranslatingtheprehistoricMayaninscriptionsofYucatan，andwithsuchsuccessthathisworkwaselaboratelypublishedbyanassociationofBritishscientists。
InduetimeacopyofthispublicationcametoClemens，whowasfullofadmirationofthegreatachievement。
ToJ。T。Goodman，inCalifornia：
RIVERDALE-ON-THE-HUDSON，June13，”02。
DEARJOE，——Iamlostinreverenceandadmiration！Itisnowtwenty-fourhoursthatIhavebeentryingtocooldownandcontemplatewithquietbloodthisextraordinaryspectacleofenergy，industry，perseverance，pluck，analyticalgenius，penetration，thisirruptionofthundersandfierysplendorsfromafairandflowerymountainthatnobodyhadsupposedwasasleepingvolcano，butIseemtobeasexcitedasever。YesterdayIreadasmuchashalfofthebook，notunderstandingawordbutenchantednevertheless——partlybythewonderofitall，thestudy，theerudition，theincrediblelabor，themodesty，thedignity，themajesticexclusivenessofthefieldanditsloftyremotenessfromthingsandcontactssordidandmeanandearthy，andpartlybythegraceandbeautyandlimpidityofthebook”sunsurpassableEnglish。Science，alwaysgreatandworshipful，goesofteninhoddengrey，butyouhaveclothedheringarmentsmeetforherhighdegree。