"Dear Teacher ..."

Miss Mary Varian Riblet was sitting quietly at home that evening, minding her business. Her business was mapping out her spring teaching schedule at Long Island City's William Cullen Bryant high school. The telephone rang. An excited relative reported that the name "Riblet" had just been used (as the name of a schoolmarm just like Miss Riblet) on the Duffy's Tavern program (NBC, Fri., 8:30-9 p.m., E.S.T.). But even worse, Ed Gardner, who portrays Archie and makes insult his profitable stock in trade, had slurringly called this character "Old Pianolegs!"

White-haired Miss Riblet, "approaching 70," had never heard the like. Pianolegs, indeed! Soon, others called. At school, where she heads the English department, bobby-soxers tittered as Miss Riblet passed by. She went to the school archives. Sure enough, about 30 years ago she had taught Ed Gardner English I and English II. The records revived her memory. He had been a poor student, averaging a measly 70 to 75. He flunked his third term grammar, had to take it again. Mary Riblet, deciding it was time to rap her old pupil's knuckles, stomped off to a Manhattan law office.

Last week, she accepted an out-of-court settlement of $2,500. But that was not enough. She also insisted on a personal letter of apology from former student Ed Gardner. She got it:

"My face is red about the whole incident. . . . We wrote a script about a schoolteacher and my scriptwriters used the name of Harcleroad. At the last minute, it was called to my attention that we had used the name Harcleroad previously . . . so in searching for a substitute name, my memory reverted to you and the old days at Bryant.

"Please accept my assurance that there was no malicious intent. . . . It was the farthest thing from my mind to want to cause you any mental anguish. . . . As I have since told people, you were one of my favorite teachers and that's why your name has stuck with me through all the years.

"P.S. How do you like that grammar you taught me?"

Humphed Miss Riblet, unimpressed: "Never in 30 years did he send me a Christmas card."

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