Comment by James Lardner. A comment about the Council on Competitiveness, headed by Vice-President Dan Quayle. Tells how the council became involved in the issue of wetlands preservation, and had to back down on a proposed halving of wetlands preservation. The move to cut protected wetlands in half was spurred by the complaints...

The Talk of the Town Enthusiastic by John Seabrook. Talk story about tropical-fish enthusiast Mark Boyer, of Cobble Hill, Brooklyn. He and his girlfriend, Lindsay Soutter, are also enthusiastic about stain identification, making hats and jewelry, silversmithing, lime pickle making, and budgies. They started a business called Record-A-Pet International, advertised in the magazine Bird Talk. Mark...

The Talk of the Town Tradition by George W. S. Trow. Talk story about the newly renovated St. Regis Hotel. A friend of the writers recalls the St. Regis in the days when Salvador Dali lived there, and Mabel Mercer sang there. He once introduced himself to Dali in the lobby. He then tells how he recently met a young woman...

The Talk of the Town Tree Windows by Susan Orlean. Talk story about watching the lighting of the Christmas tree at Rockefeller Center from the Petites department on the fourth floor of Saks Fifth Avenue. Lucie Arnaz lit the tree, sang, and skated. Salespeople named Sheila, Sally, and Sadie offered observations on Arnaz, the Petites department, and their own dancing...

Fiction Dirty Words by Antonya Nelson. Bette, 25, moves from La Jolla, California, to Chicago. She marries Sergio Petroski, 53, owner of the Marxist coffeehouse where she works. She feels intimidated by the memory of his first wife, a martyred political poet named Ferosa Rosario. She becomes pregnant, and decides that she must give up drinking...

Personal History AN IDEAL STATE by Caroline Alexander. PERSONAL HISTORY about teaching the classics at Chancellor College, a division of the Univ. of Malawi in central Africa. In 1982 writer signed a 2-year contract not only to teach Latin but to establish a Dept. of Classics at the university. The original inspiration for the promotion of Classical...

The Diplomatic Round IN A NEW ERA AND GROPING by John Newhouse. THE DIPLOMATIC ROUND about the United Nations, Japan's possible entry into the permanent Security Council and the race for Secretary General. Among the great expectations aroused by the rout of Communism was a role for the United Nations that would match its lofty purpose. With the Cold War over, threats...

The Current Cinema SONG OF HERSELF by Terrence Rafferty.

Poetry Homage by Ruth Fainlight. It's not a case of forget or forgive...

Poetry Kalulu by Cynthia Zarin. Scarf of moon fallen, fist...

Poetry The Silver Lily by Louise Gluck. The nights have grown cool again, like the nights...