THOSE DAYS

Inevitably, the descriptive word- nostalgia- will be used as a label for these delightful reminiscences of a New York boyhood, as the distinguished editor of Foreign Affairs turns back the pages to his growing up years. A late arrival in the family, he had two sisters, considerably older, both gifted artists -- as was his father- and one further known to literary fame as the author of Fanny Kemble, and Prevelyan. For those with a yen for recall of familiar patterns of life- New York in somewhat sheltered circles two generations ago- this will have tremendous appeal. In delightful vein, without too much wistful sentiment, ""Ham"" Armstrong shares his memories of the household, the friends and acquaintances, summer holidays, travel -- and those happenings that laid the foundations for his own choice of a career which took him to many parts of the world in various aspects of foreign service. There's not the depth of reminiscent appeal that made R. L. Duffus' The Waterbury Record significant -- but the two books have much in common in their graceful style and warmth of recollection