Lillian Ross's stories; Takes: Stories From the Talk of the Town, by Lillian Ross. New York: Congdon & Weed. 288 pp. $14.95.

A collection of 36 of the legendary journalist's recent New Yorker pieces: eloquent brief pictures of persons, places, and events redolent of ''life in or related to New York.'' Circus performers, hairsty-lists, company executives and sidewalk entrepreneurs, visiting dignitaries and hotshot celebrities - they're all the fortunate objects of Ross's keen eye and cool sympathetic humor.