Reactionary. In Saigon, after he broke through the roof and kidnaped two girls from the government school for re-education of ex-prostitutes, turned them loose, Nguyen Van Thuan explained to police: "I don't want my girl friends re-educated. I like them as they are."

The Champ. In Cucamonga, Calif., after neighbors complained that the peace was being disturbed, a constable found 77-year-old Mrs. Sarah E. Shaffstall practicing to defend her Los Angeles County Fair hog-calling championship.

Fire Control. In Petersburg, Va., daily target practice was ordered by Police Chief W. E. Traylor after two detectives, hidden in an often-robbed restaurant, watched two gunmen escape after a battle in which 21 shots were fired, no one hit.

Prodigal. In San Quentin, Calif., worn out and hungry, Jailbreaker Leland Rogers showed up at the state prison's main gate two weeks after his escape, begged to be let back in, was obliged.

Continental Defense. In Mexico City, chronic church-robbers Ernesto Ruiz, Enrique Diaz and Salvador Monroy assured police that they always knelt before looting a chapel, added that they feared no heavenly wrath because: "God is too occupied with European affairs to pay any attention to us."

Warhead. In Edinburgh, Scotland, arrested for illegal possession of explosives, John Hay Barbour clinched the case against himself when officers watched him doff his hat as he entered the police station, saw a detonator and four sticks of dynamite fall out of it.

Samaritans. In Spokane, after he tore ligaments in his ankle and fainted, George M. Blakely revived when a bystander shoved his head between his legs, fainted again when a second bystander wrapped his head in a cold towel, revived and fainted twice more as the alternate treatments were repeated, revived a fourth time and was hospitalized.

Professional Touch. In Storrs, Conn., after hunting a golf ball in a poison-ivy patch and getting a severe case of poisoning on both arms, Dr. Harriet Creighton swallowed her pride, presided as scheduled over the golden jubilee meeting of the Botanical Society of America.

Red Shoes & the Sunset. In Elgin, Ill., rummaging for a pair of red shoes at a dollar-day counter, Sherida Weber spotted a single shoe, saw its mate in the hand of another customer, refused to part with hers, camped near her opponent for five hours until, just before closing time, she agreed to a coin toss, lost, impulsively bought ten pairs of assorted styles.

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