TIME Correspondent Murray Gart, who did most of the reporting on this week's cover story, wound up convinced that discounting is here to stay, and that Eugene Ferkauf of Korvette's is the most artful practitioner. He followed Ferkauf around for days, on his quick marches through his stores, with breaks only at stand-up lunch counters for a hot dog or a quick cup of coffee. Ferkauf was determined to give him an intense course in the theory and practice of discounting; and because of Ferkauf's relaxed way of operating, Gart soon found himself drawn into giving opinions. At one point, Ferkauf casually asked his views on some paper for a gift-wrapping department at the new Fifth Avenue store. Gart picked one, and Ferkauf promptly ordered: "Let's try 5,000!"

After a few days of accompanying the boss on his restless prowl of every corner of his big stores. Gart lost five pounds, and says he hasn't done so much footwork since he double-timed across Germany from the Rhine to the Elbe with the Ninth Army in World War II.

IT used to be said that TIME brings all things, and though the slogan doesn't turn up any more, the practice is still very much in fashion.

As we spread our forces each week to anticipate the direction of the news, we have three separate ambitions: to deliver not just a rehash of the conspicuous happenings but to have something fresh to add to them; to spot in the unlikeliest places and widest variety of fields what is new, important and lively; and to provide a coherency and shape that will increase the reader's understanding of the random and complex events of the week. Three examples of what we try for in this week's issue:

sbThe Supreme Court's ruling on prayers in New York public schools was the subject of sober editorials, ecclesiastical pronouncements and heated conversations--and universally over looked by all concerned was a crucial footnote in Justice Black's majority decision. Quoted in "To Stand as a Guarantee" in THE NATION.

sbMillions of dollars (largely American) and a goodly share of the U.N.'s prestige is at stake in making the Congo regime work. Premier Cyrille Adoula tries hard, but thieves roam the streets, and some get jobs as ambassadors. See THE WORLD.

sbApartheid (apartness) is one of the few Boer words any well-informed American is apt to recognize. But what it's like is less familiar. And just why it applies to swimmers three miles out tells another side of the Africa story. Also in THE WORLD.

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