Neil, I don't know if my candidate is exactly what you're looking for, but
I'll give it a shot.  It's an exhibit label.

Many years ago our curator of physics installed new explanatory labels for
our Foucault pendulum, one of the most popular exhibits in the museum (it's
been permanently removed now--go figure).  The labels included explanations
of how the pendulum worked and the scientific principles it demonstrated,
followed by questions with answers (I think you had to press an electrical
button to illuminate the answers).  The final question was "Why are pendulum
clocks better than other clocks?"  The answer was "Because they fetch more at
auctions."

The labels were unpopular with some of the staff, who seemed to think they
were in bad taste, and they were removed rather soon (the labels, not the
staff).  I thought the labels were great, and often wondered if the
objections were due more to disapproval of the curator's colorful personality
and lifestyle than his (or her, if you get my drift) literary efforts.  The
curator, who was profiled in a psychology magazine, did not live to see that
the pendulum itself eventually was removed, not merely the offending labels.

David Haberstich

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