If Mathematica has trouble getting its fonts to work when you're
ssh'ed in from another machine, here's a possible solution:

First, type this on the original machine:

xset fp+ /tools/cs/mathematica/SystemFiles/Fonts/X

This puts the mathematica fonts on the search path.  Then 

ssh bfs

Then

mathematica -display Machine:0

And then type 

xhost +

...on the machine from which you're ssh'ing.