Fiction Centaurs by J. S. Marcus. The smartest man in our law-school class told me he wanted to be an actor. He said, "Sheila, I made a terrible mistake leaving the stage." I like the idea of private failure. There must be chief executive officers with secret dreams of teaching English. Inertia seems to be...

The Talk of the Town Maintenance by James Stevenson. Illustrated talk story about Philip Labriola, a sprightly middle-aged maintenance man who works in the writer's office building. Mr. Labriola carries an enormous collection of keys, tools&repair-related items, most of them protruding from a leather holster that is slung from a belt. Writer finds it remarkable...

Dancing by Arlene Croce.

The Talk of the Town Fiftieth by Whitney Balliett. Talk story about Max Gordon, age 82, who is owner of the Village Vanguard, which will have its 50th anniversary party mid-March. Quotes a letter from an acquaintance of ours who first went to the Village Vanguard when it was 15&had a dance floor." I had dinner...

Fiction Sweet Disposition by Elizabeth Tallent. Jenny&her husband Sam had been at odds all month. That morning she'd visited their neighbor's sorrel horse. When Jenny felt claustrophobic, which was often, she went running&to visit the horse that belonged to the Gallardos. Sam wished that Jenny would consult Socorro Gallardo-the sorrel belonged...

Musical Events by Andrew Porter.

Books by Howard Moss.

The Theatre by Edith Oliver.

Comment by William McKibben. Comment about poverty in New York City, which is the rule, and not the exception, according to a study released last December. Between 1970 and 1980, the percent-age of black males in the city who were working fell from 67.4 to 56.2, or about half. Of black teenagers in...

Television Prime Time in Peking by Orville Schell. Talk story about American television coming to China. China Central Television has contracted for 64 hours of television from CBS Broadcast International, and has made 320 minutes of commercial time available to run with the programming. Writer talked with Jayne Ferguson, CBS Broadcast International's account executive for China. Her job...

A Reporter at Large I-THE BUTTON by Daniel Ford. REPORTER AT LARGE about the U.S. command & control system. The Pentagon has contingency plans for using nuclear weapons despite public statements saying that the country's nuclear forces would never be used in a preemptive first strike. If the U.S. were pushed into a corner it would strike first. Writer...

Poetry The Lighthouse by Derek Walcott. In his photographer's shroud...

Poetry Equinox by Richard Kenney. Early morning...

Poetry Jackson Hotel by Lynda Hull. Sometimes after hours of wine I can almost see...