PKEFACE. v 



during years of servitude to the glyphs. If in time to come, however, the scientists 

 shall find themselves pushed rudely from their stools by irreverent outsiders, the 

 fault will be their own. For quite half a century they have had this study almost 

 exclusively to themselves. The material by which alone it could be prosecuted was 

 practically in their keeping, sealed to the rest of the world as though it were a 

 hieratic mystery. And what has been the result 1 A deal of learned and pompous 

 kowtowing to each other, but not a single substantial gain toward bottoming the 

 inscriptions. While I have been preparing these pages for the press Mr. Maudslay 

 has received a letter from a distinguished Professor in the National Museum at 

 Washington directing his attention to a discrepancy between a photograph and drawing 

 in his work as to which toes the sandal-string passed between, and requesting him to 

 make a public explanation of it— just as if it made any difference. Yet this fairly 

 illustrates the gauge of the men who have been trifling with this great problem. 

 They are a lot of shoe-string scientists. It is manifest that we look hopelessly to them 

 for a solution of the momentous enigma. 



But if I have lost confidence in the ability of learning, I retain faith in the genius 

 of ignorance. Somewhere to-day, by an obscure fireside, sits a boy that never saw even 

 the outside of a university or academy of sciences to whose penetrative mind these 

 inscriptions would be as an open book. It is my earnest desire that they be brought 

 before him — in other words, that the study may become popularized instead of being 

 confined to an exclusive and incompetent few. The publication of Maudslay 's work is 

 the first decided step in that direction. The lack of material for purposes of investi- 

 gation and comparison was the most serious drawback I labored under for years. 

 Those who had it appeared greedy of its possession and afraid to share it with others, 

 lest some one should get the start before they themselves had been inspired with an 

 insight into the meaning of the glyphs. It was not till Maudslay undertook the 

 reproduction of the inscriptions, and, with a generosity entirely exceptional in my 

 experience with archaeologists, distributed them broadcast to the world, that I could 

 collect data enough to make any substantial progress. He deserves the gratitude of 

 every one interested in American antiquity. It is to discharge somewhat of my 

 personal obligation to him and at the same time contribute my mite toward the succi iss 

 of his great undertaking that 1 have consented to let this study appear before I have 

 had time to work out the details which are alone necessary to its completion. 



