Musical Events by Andrew Porter.

Comment by Jonathan Schell. In any military competition, whether it is an actual war or only an arms race, the military forces of each side seek advantage at the expense of those on the other side, but each military establishment also seeks advantage in competition for resources with other groups in its own society...

The Talk of the Town Exchange by Wallace White. Talk story about a party held by the Language Exchange, an organization that brings together people who want to practice their foreign languages in a social setting. The party was held in the apartment of Paulette Postol, a fashion designer. Writer talked to Madalyn Margoles, the president of the Exchange...

Books by Helen Vendler.

The Talk of the Town Moonlight Upside Down by Anthony Hiss. Two-part Talk story about the Museum of Modern Art, which reopened this week, its gallery space more than doubled. The idea of closing down and rebuilding was that expansion would enable the museum to serve more people and show more of what it has, and that a good deal...

Around City Hall AROUND CITY HALL STEERAGE by Andy Logan. Tells about the just-released report by the inspector general of the city's Human Resources Administration, concerning the operations of the Office of Special Services for Children, the H.R.A. subsidiary that handles cases of neglect or abuse of children, often those whose families are on welfare. The report reviewed and...

Obituary by Brendan Gill. Obituary of Daniel H. Silberberg, who died a few days ago, at the age of 83. He was a close friend of Harold Ross. Starting with the first issue, in 1925, and for almost sixty years thereafter, Silberberg, a prominent broker on Wall Street, served as a financial adviser to...

Dancing by Arlene Croce.

Jazz by Whitney Balliett. Obituary of Count Basie, great jazz pianistsO band leader, who died in April, at the age af 79. Tells about his life and his career...

Fiction While Home by Mary A. Robison. Shane Deforest had returned to Ohio after trying to make it as an actor in L.A. He was very handsome, but an epileptic. He took his younger brother Jonathan and his seven-year-old sister Lana to the laundromat and lunch. Their mother was in Milwaukee taking care of their...

Fiction Fine Points by Andrea Lee. The writer, a black girl in her junior year at Harvard, in the winter of 1972, was very friendly with her roommate, Margaret. They wore the same size clothes, but had very different taste. "You literary types are always trying to look understated," Margaret said of her roommate's jeans and...

Profiles BREAKING THE MOLD by John Newhouse. PROFILE of David Steel, a 46-year-old Lowland Scotsman who is the Member of Parliament from Tweeddale, Ettrick, and Lauderdale, and is the leader of a rather quirky band that now constitutes the once grand Liberal Party. He has spent his entire professional life within a small third partyNone...

The Talk of the Town Wonder by William McKibben. Two-part Talk story about the new nightclub Visage, one of the eight or ten Wonders of the West Fifties. Writer made a pre-opening visit and got a tour. He spoke to Linda Lynch, the artistic director, and Gregory Fibble, the water-show producer. There is a swimming pool...

The Theatre by Edith Oliver.

Poetry The Hypogeum by Les Murray. Below the movable gardens of this shopping center down concrete ways/to a...

Poetry One Thing Following Another by Josephine Saunders. Colorless guiding light...