Fiction Prostitutes by Ruth Prawer Jhabvala. Tara, who is approaching forty years, is a prostitute born to a prostitute, who was born to a prostitute. She is kept by Mukand Sahib, who fathered their daughter, Leila. Sahib does everything to please Tara, including boarding school for Leila, but he is older & constantly demands that she...

The Talk of the Town Lights by Anthony Hiss. Talk story about electric lighting standards and architect Richard G. Stein, who is developing new lighting standards. He is designing a prototypical public school for the N.Y.C. Board of Education. He spoke about the strange lighting standards promulgated by the Illuminating Engineering Soc., an organization with no official standing that...

Profiles II-THE CURVE OF BINDING ENERGY by John McPhee. PROFILE of nuclear physicist Theodore B. Taylor. He was a conceptual designer of nuclear bombs at Los Alamos Scientific Laboratory from 1949 to 1956. He worked at miniaturizing weapons; he was regarded as halfway between an inventor & a scientist. At one time he believed in the "deterrent posture" of...

Letter from Vienna by Joseph Wechsberg. Discusses many aspects of the Austrian gov't. with respect to politics. The Jewish-born Federal Chancellor Kreisky, head of the Socialist Party (the Reds) that came into office in 1970, following a 25-year rule by the People's Party (the Blacks), is widely regarded as Austria's most brilliant postwar politician...

The Talk of the Town The Brush by Anthony Hiss. Talk story about a preview of an exhibition of paintings by Cheng Man-ching, called "Traditional Paintings of the South China School", at the Hudson River Museum in Yonkers. Cheng Man-ching is a 73-year-old Tai Chi Chuan master, who was written about a few weeks ago. He...

The Talk of the Town Other Faces by George W. S. Trow. Talk story about a fashion show & cocktail party, hosted by Mr. Frederick of Hollywood, celebrating the publication of a book, "Frederick's of Hollywood 1947-1973. Twenty-six Years of Mail-Order Seduction." The celebration took place in the extravagant club called, Le Jardin, in the Diplomat Hotel. Tells about the...

The Talk of the Town Other Lights by Hendrik Hertzberg. Talk story about the electric signs of Times Square. Due to the energy crisis, Canadian Club turned off their sign on the uptown side of the Square...

Fiction Chronicle by W. S. Merwin. Trains of Indians & mules, both slaves & martyrs, drag bells with jungle creepers, over mountains, & through ravines. The bells echoed waterfalls too far to be heard. The bells are finally rung in celebration of arrival, as the sentry dogs finish the bones of the Indian slaves who fell...

The Theatre OUT OF EUROPE by Brendan Gill.

The Talk of the Town Homecoming by George W. S. Trow. Talk story about "Harlem HomecomingII", a benefit performance for the Dance Theatre of Harlem at Loews Victoria Theatre on W. 125 St. Writer stood outside before the show with David Brown and 2 children: Edward Green & James Ray. He saw Stephen Paley, wh who is in the record business...

Comment by Jonathan Schell. Comment on the fact that recent events demonstrate the interdependence of all nations of the world. This winter, as the nation sits in its dimmed, chilled living rooms, it may want to reflect on some statistics the Pres. reviewed the other day in his speech to the Seafarers International Union...

Musical Events On the Heights by Desmond Shawe-Taylor. Some years ago, during the funeral service for an eminent and respected musician, the largely professional gathering was stunned to hear the organist, as his solo contribution to the proceedings, launch into the lilting and voluptuous strains of the Barcarolle. He played it right through to the end; and the...

The Current Cinema STRAWBERRY JAM by Pauline Kael.

The Talk of the Town Faces by Jane Boutwell. Talk story about L. Arnold Weissberger, a prominent theatrical attorney, who has been taking pictures of his friends and clients since 1946. He has a 100,000 negatives in his files, & just published 1,500 of them in a book called "Famous Faces," which sells for $35. The Friends of the...

The Race Track Any Old Track Will Do by G. F. T. Ryall. The winner of this year's Remsen Stakes was won by Heavy Mayonnaise, owned by William Trotter II, who runs Evangeline Downs, a track in Louisiana...

U. S. Journal U.S.JOURNAL: BIDDEFORD, MAINE OU SE TROUVE LA PLAGE? by Calvin Trillin. U.S. JOURNAL about public takeover of beachfront land in Biddeford, Maine. This city has 80% to 85% French population. The French were brought there from Canada to work in the textile mills in the 2nd half of the 19th cen. & in 1969, during a mild spurt, they were recruited...

Poetry Sonora For Sale by Richard Shelton. this is the land of gods in exile...

Poetry Tropical Fish by Howard Moss. Velvet sulphur powder puffs, and cream...