Londoners sometimes boast thatLondon is the grandest city in theworld.Parisians argue that Paris isthe most beautiful.Romans pointout with pride that Rome is richer in history than any other city.New Yorkers never maintain that New York City is the grandest,the most beautiful,or the richest in history.Their claim is that their cityis the most vital city in the world.It is not,many believe,an exaggerated claim.~*The first thing a visi- Londoners sometimes boast that London is the grandest city in theworld.Parisians argue that Paris isthe most beautiful.Romans pointout with pride that Rome is richer in history than any other city. New Yorkers never maintain that New York City is the grandest, the most beautiful, or the richest in history. Their claim is that their cityis the most vital city in the world.It is not, many believe, an exaggerated claim. ~ * The first thing a visi-