To the editor:

As a native of Sioux City, Iowa, who grew up there and attended Morningside College there when “Ann Landers” and “Abigail Van Buren” did in 1937, I know that they wrote a gossip column for that college’s newspaper, “The Collegian Reporter.”

They were then the identical twins, named Esther Pauline Friedman (who became “Ann”) and Pauline Esther Friedman (who became “Abby”). They called their gossip column “The Campus Rats” by “PE-EP.” They were fearless in tweaking other students in the column.

One sophomore, several times mentioned, threatened to spank them at the daily chapel services if they mentioned him again. They responded in their column: “Okay, Mr. Worsley. Choose your weapons at six paces. See you in chapel.” They weren’t spanked.

Both of them have always been loyal to their hometown and college, as shown by their poem that appeared in their column:

“Although we’re only freshmen, it’s not hard to decide

Just exactly why we’re fond of Morningside.

It’s Dr. Roadman’s patience, he and Stephens are a pair.

We’re fond of Mary Thrower and the way she wears her hair.

We may sound sentimental, but we are most sincere

when we say there’s a million things that make us glad we’re here.”

Dr. Roadman was the president of the college, and Stephens and Thrower were professors.

Both “Ann” and “Abby” credited their time at Morningside College for starting them on their journalistic careers. The college reciprocated by granting each of them an honorary doctorate for their successes as columnists and their support for and loyalty to the school.

Eugene C. Bovee,

Lawrence.