Advertisement: "Professor W. Hutchings Secret of Rapid and Accurate Computation" pamphlet

Envelope and paper containing Professor W. Hutchings Secret of Rapid and Accurate Computation. The front of the envelope features a blue oval on the left hand side advertising Barnum's American Museum and the contents therein. The rest of the envelope advertises Professor W. Hutchings, Secret of Rapid and Accurate Computation and adds that the secret is imparted with the full understanding that the purchaser pledges his or her honor not to reveal the same directly or indirectly to any other person. There is no printed material on the back of the envelope. The actual advertisement features a portrait of Professor Hutchings himself, and on the back of the paper is a depiction of Barnum's American Museum, Described within is the actual method used by Hutchings to perform quick and accurate computations. Profesor W. Hutchings was the stage name of William Street Hutchings (January 7, 1832 - August 25, 1911) who was a math prodigy that Barnum helped promote at the American Museum. Prior to taking the stage with his lightening fast calculating abilities, he worked as an accountant. He continued to work for various museums showing off his math skills after the destruction of the second American Museum. Barnum's American Museum was located at the corner of Broadway and Ann Street from 1841 to 1865 until it was destroyed by a fire, and then moved to 539-541 Broadway until it too was destroyed by a fire in 1868. The displays in the museum ranged from dioramas of places such as Niagara falls and the American plains, various animals including whales and trained seals, wax figure tableaux, performers, theatrical performances, inventions, scientific specimens, and curious artefacts. Barnum included what were then called humbugs, or hoaxes, and invited the public to decide for themselves if the displays in question were genuine or not.