The program called it "the greatest day in the history of British polo"--which seemed a bit much, considering that it rained and the British lost. Still, Prince Charles, 23, was making his debut in international polo as captain of the Young England team, challenging Young America. Charles scored one goal and helped push the game into overtime before the Americans won, 5-4. The U.S.'s Bengy Toda, matched against the Prince, was impressed: "He was a tough player, super down-to-earth, very regular." The Prince offered another opinion. "Very disappointing," he said, ducking under Princess Alexandra's umbrella. -

Actress Joan Hackett was appalled by the evolution of New York's theater district. "Times Square is as evil as it can be," she said. "I was propositioned by a girl who looked about 17. It's not just money, working on Broadway, it's prestige--and it's no longer prestigious to be part of one large massage parlor." Sixty other theater people, including Ruby Keeler and Robert Morse, joined Joan in petitioning Mayor John V. Lindsay to establish an official red-light district remote from Broadway. After two months, the mayor solemnly wrote back that the idea might "deserve serious study" but was not "a feasible or workable suggestion at the present time."

To Lawrence Ferlinghetti, elder statesman among San Francisco hip poets, it seemed just another Establishment hassle that he had to get his car out of the pound, where it had been towed for illegal parking. But when the fuzz checked their files, Ferlinghetti suddenly found himself behind bars on a 1970 charge of selling pornography. As principal owner of the City Lights bookstore, he had been cited as a co-defendant after the clerk was busted for selling Zap Comics. Before the last hearing, though, the clerk was killed in a motorcycle accident. "So," said Ferlinghetti, "I thought the case had been dismissed." Two days later, the case actually was dismissed, leaving the poet free but still fuming. "It was an absurd incident," he declared. "We might sue the city just on principle." -

Lovely, rich Amanda Burden, 28, of New York's Beautiful People, filed last June for divorce from City Councilman Carter Burden, descendant of Commodore Cornelius Vanderbilt. But with a jet-setter's impatience, Amanda flew off to Sun Valley, Idaho, where the ritual takes a mere six weeks. The change prompted gossip-column wonderings about a romance with Senator Edward

M. Kennedy. "Nonsense," said the Senator, "people write this sort of thing about me all the time."

What the Republicans need, according to Jazz Vibraharpist Lionel Hampton, is a campaign song. Collaborating with Elizabeth Firestone, daughter of Tire Tycoon Harvey Firestone, Hampton has whipped up a 32-bar opus called We Need Nixon. Its conclusion: "In him and God we place our trust. Our man is Nixon, he's right on! Fixin' a better world for all of us." During performances with the Hampton Jazz Inner Circle, the composer passes out singles of his new ditty while the boys play Hampton specialties. What happens when Democrats disapprove of his offering? "Oh," says Hampton's manager, "for them we play the theme from Shaft."

Induction into Baseball's Hall of Fame is an occasion for hardened professionals to melt. "I thank everybody for making this day necessary," said Yogi Berra, wiping away a tear. The youngest player ever to be inducted, Sandy Koufax, 36, thanked the coach "who pushed me, shoved me, embarrassed me and made me work, and thank God for him." After similar expressions from Lefty Gomez, Early Wynn and Buck Leonard, it came time for the award to Josh Gibson, the greatest batter in the Negro leagues. Gibson died in 1947, but Josh Gibson Jr. was on hand to receive the plaque: "I want to say a personal word to my father: Wake up, Dad, you just made it in."

All set for the annual relay races at the Monte Carlo Beach pool. The royal family won last year--Prince Rainier remaining regally dry on the sidelines --but this time 17 other local families provided more of a battle. Rainier's youngest daughter Stephanie, who is only seven, got off to a slow start, then Princess Grace, a somewhat plump 42, plunged in and gained a bit. Albert, 14, swam best of all, but he was barely able to pull the first family into second place.

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