August 28, 1985

PERHAPS it has to do with the nature of the holiday: happy and carefree yet just a little wistful. In the mind at least, if not on the calendar, Labor Day weekend marks the end of summer, the last chance to celebrate the season in the sun before the cooler, and busier, days of fall move in. To me, there are dishes that are ideal for this time. They are cold or room-temperature foods that are appropriate for yet another picnic or for situations that call for something more elegant. None are complicated and all can be made in advance, which is a boon to the busy host or hostess. And each one has a special connotation, a longtime association with times past. These are dishes that conjure up pleasant memories of travels abroad or of a Southern childhood. In early youth, my idea of heaven was a trip to New Orleans. These visits, which were rare, occasionally included a stop at Ar-Recipes are on page C8. naud's, a restaurant in the French Quarter. The meals there were unforgettable and the most memorable dish of all was the shrimp remou lade, a fiery and delicious concoction that I would eat slowly and carefully, savoring each mouthful.

International South Africa halted trading on its stock and currency markets as its currency plunged to its lowest level ever. The suspension is in effect until Monday. The extreme step, which is rare in a country with an advanced economy, follows months of increasing capital flight. Since a state of emergency was declared in some areas in July, the rand has lost almost 25 percent of its value. [Page A1.] The Economy The Pentagon, after spending $1.8 billion, halted purchases of the Army's Sergeant York antiaircraft gun. Defense Secretary Weinberger said the weapon, made by Ford Motor, was ''not worth the cost.'' [A1.] While some jobs are likely to be lost, the cancellation is not expected to have much impact on Ford. [A18.]

Few corporate raiders engaged in their first hostile takeover battle would have thought themselves to be more qualified to land their prey than Ronald O. Perelman, Over the last eight years he has built a successful mini-conglomerate, MacAndrews & Forbes Holdings Inc., by borrowing heavily to buy a stable of companies, then putting his own brand of financial wizardry to work on each by selling off just the right assets and squeezing the remainder of the business to produce hefty cash flows. Revlon Inc., Mr. Perelman's current quest, would be his largest acquisition to date and would give him the chance to use his modus operandi to build a major financial empire. But, before he can do so, Mr. Perelman must win a fight that would give pause to even the most experienced of corporate raiders.

The national poverty rate declined last year by nine-tenths of a percentage point, to 14.4 percent, the largest one-year decrease in more than a decade, the Census Bureau reported today. The total number of poor people in the United States declined by 1.8 million, from 35.5 million in 1983 to 33.7 million in 1984, the bureau said. Poverty rates for blacks, for the elderly and for families headed by women all declined, the bureau said. Commenting on the report, President Reagan said: ''I believe these numbers are further proof that the greatest enemy of poverty is the free enterprise system. The success of 1984 does not mean that the battle against poverty in this country is over; it does mean that America, after a difficult decade, is once again headed in the right direction.''

Democrats on the House Ways and Means Committee said today that they had been privately discussing ways to reshape President Reagan's tax overhaul plan into a package that would give a bigger tax cut to the middle class and less relief to the wealthy. Among the proposals that are being considered is conversion of the personal exemption to a tax credit, a move that would make this allowance of equal benefit to all taxpayers regardless of income and tax bracket. ''There is a substantial amount of interest in that, at least on the Democratic side,'' said Representative Donald J. Pease, Democrat of Ohio. The discussions are expected to intensify after Congress reconvenes next week as the Democrats make final preparations to begin drafting a bill in committee on Sept. 17. The House leadership has said it hopes to pass a tax bill in October. Senate consideration would follow but could carry over into 1986.