How to Recognize CAPRICORN

 It's anything but a breeze to grasp the Capricorn char­acter. You'll learn to recognize this Sun sign, but you'll need some preliminary practice. Study the quiet spider in the comer. He hasn't a chance against the fast-flying insects. But they get caught in his cleverly spun web-and the spider wins. Remember Aesop's slow tortoise, humorously crawling in that race. He hasn't a chance against the quick, bright hare. But the flighty hare goes in all directions, for­getting the goal-the tortoise wins. Observe the goat, as he scales the mountainside. He hasn't a chance against the strategy of the smarter humans who pursue him. But the hunters fall behind as the sturdy goat climbs determinedly from crag to crag on his uniquely designed hooves-and the goat wins.

Now study a Capricorn. Where will you find him? Just about anywhere he can advance or improve himself. Any­where he can get ahead and further his secret ambitions. Try a social gathering. The Capricorn is not a carefree party type, but the goat we're studying is a social climber as well as a mountain climber. Pick a mixed group, prefer­ably in the upper income level. You can also try the middle income level, but the lower you go beneath that, the smaller your chances of finding a Capricorn. He probably won't be wearing a lamp shade on his head, tap dancing or calling attention to himself in any way; he'll be the admiring spec­tator in the background. You may not even notice him at first as he quietly and calmly watches all the flashy, pushy, charming, aggressive and brilliant personalities around him. Everyone in the group will seem to have su­perior equipment for the race-any race. Lots of them are bluffing, some of them are afraid, but they're all highly polished, and the Capricorn doesn't seem to have a chance against them. Yet, he will win.

A couple of years ago, I visited the bookstore of a New York astrologer. As I carelessly scattered my gems of wisdom, gave him unsolicited advice about what books he should stock, and argued astrological theory with him, I learned he was a Capricorn and he learned I was an Aries. Smugly, I guessed his correct ascendant, talked fast­er, moved faster and seemed to dominate the scene. Be­fore I left, he gave me a charming, gentle smile, and in a fascinating Hungarian accent, he said a funny thing. He said, "Capricorn will always triumph over Aries. The goat will win over the ram." It was spoken lightly, but he was quite serious. Outside the bookstore, I laughed to my­self. "Imagine such conceit," I thought. "No one can top a double Aries." Know what? When I can't find certain books I need that have been out of print since Noah built the ark, the Capricorn comes up with them. Gradual­ly, I've been forced to pay respectful tribute to his super­iority. Now here I am crediting his Sun sign with qualities I envy, but don't possess. You see? Capricorn won.

Another confession. As an Aries, I hate to take direction. No Aries writer can stand to have anyone edit his work. Recently, it was suggested that a Capricorn woman go over some material I had written. I was infuriated. Outwardly I agreed, but secretly I decided that she wasn't going to change a single word of the product of my genius. I would only pretend to go along. She made her suggestions quietly, almost timidly, and against my will I saw only too clearly how intelligent they were. Why hadn't I thought of cutting that phrase and changing that word myself? After I had grudgingly followed her instructions to the letter, the improvement in the material was painfully ob­vious. Capricorn won again.

I've finally made up my aggressive Aries mind that it's no use to fight them. You might as well do the same thing. Pity the high pressure salesman who sizes up his Capricorn pigeon and thinks, "This guy is a pushover. I can sell him the Brooklyn Bridge." He has a lot to leam.

Since the goat merges into the group so gently, un­consciously camouflaging himself into the background, it's not always easy to recognize the physical characteristics of this Sun sign. Capricoms can be stocky and muscular, thin and wiry or plump and soft. But no matter how the body is shaped, the goat will give the impression of being rooted to the spot, until he decides to move to another spot. Gen­erally, Satum people have straight, lank, dark hair, dark, steady eyes, and swarthy olive or tan complexions. You'll see Capricoms with curly blonde hair and blue eyes, but watch them closely. Honestly now, don't they really look as if they should have been born with dark hair, eyes and skin? It's a delicate point, but valid. Take Marlene Die-trich, for example. Dresden china complexion, green eyes and corn silk hair. Look again. Observe her calm, deliberate actions. Listen to her deep, throaty voice. Note her legen­dary tough business head and her earthy ambition. Aren't these more synonomous with the steady, reliable image of a brunette? Master this subtlety and you'U never be fooled by the appearance of a Capricorn.

There's always a faint aura of melancholy and seriousness surrounding the Saturn personality. None of them com­pletely escape the Saturnine influence of stem discipline and self-denial. Many Capricorns have strong feet and wear sensible shoes. Their hands are capable, their voices usually even and soothing-and you'll probably notice a gentleness that flatters and persuades. Caprieorns can look and act as harmless as a feather quilt, but they're as tough as a keg of nails. They hammer away persistently, relentlessly, man­aging to digest insults, pressures, disappointments and duty as calmly as the goat digests rusty cans, broken glass and cardboard. Like him, they have iron stomachs and dan­gerous horns. While the gay, laughing extroverts scatter their energies hither and yon, Capricorns never deviate an inch to the left or right. They steadily follow the upward path, with inbred faith in the security of the well-traveled road, and contempt for the enticing short cuts they know are full of pitfalls.

Capricorns have an enormous admiration for those who have preceded them to the top of the mountain, and who have laid down the laws for the journey. They court success; they respect authority and honor tradition. Lots of energetic, impulsive people label them snobbish and stuffy. The goat could conversely label his critics rash and foolish, but usually he's too wise to make unnecessary enemies by indulging in such self-defense. The Saturn-ruled submit. They agree. They adapt. Or do they just appear to do so? Capricorn allows others to walk in front of him, but he often gets there first, against all logic. He's careful to avoid the obstacles, the sharp rocks. No wonder he seldom stumbles. His eyes aren't fastened on the stars. He keeps his gaze fastened ahead, and his feet firmly planted on the ground. Jealousy, passion, impulse, anger, frivolity, waste, laziness, carelessness-are all obstacles. Let others trip and fall over them. Not Capricorn. He may glance briefly behind him with pity for the failures, or in grateful tribute for past advice and help, but he'll soon continue his steady upward climb until his goal is reached.

There are Capricorns who are deliciously romantic- who understand the strange light of the moon and the glorious colors of the butterfly's wing. But they won't let their emotions blind them to the facts. Not if they're typical Saturn people. If Capricorn writes a lovely poem, full of imagination and illusion, the theme will be solid and the punctuation will be correct. It will come to the point, and the sentiment will never be allowed to slosh over the edges. Don't defy the conventions if you want the respect of the goat. Even the more daring ones, and they are the exceptions, will observe at least the outer trappings of social acceptability. Public scenes and raw, naked, un­controlled passions embarrass them.

|y    An occasional Capricorn will forget to hide his am­bition, and refuse to work unless he's at the head of things. Then he becomes a stubborn goat who insists on starting at the top of the ladder, where he feels he belongs. Natural­ly, such an attitude produces a gloomy, pessimistic, cold and selfish person who's impossible to satisfy. But a cou­ple of hard bumps usually suffice to set him on the right path.

Young Capricorns are typically more contented than older Capricorns, and there's a good reason. In almost Chinese-fashion, the Saturn-ruled youngsters idolize an­cestors and elders. Respect for the wisdom of age and experience is ingrained in the Saturnine nature. When they mature and the "honorable ancestors" and the old folks are gone, the wild actions of the modern generation can frighten and bewilder the conservative goats. They go about saying, "Teh, tch!" shaking their heads and murmuring about the good old days. Luckily, however, a fair per­centage of them adapt to meet the challenge. It's a warm thing to watch a gray-haired Capricorn cheerfully cavorting with youth, learning for the first time the joys of childhood he missed as a serious youngster. Older Capricorns either behave like frustrated dill pickles, or they happfly roll hoops and dance the boogaloo. A few of them, caught in the uncomfortable middle, grin with suppressed excite­ment as they sit on the sidelines and tap their feet in time to the music, but never quite gather the courage to jump on the carousel.

You'll seldom find the straight, well-shaped Capricorn

nose stuck in other people's business or the Saturn tongue wagging in gossip. If the Sun sign is combined with afflicted Gemini or Pisces influences, there may be a little gabbiness, but normally they're content to mind their own affairs. They won't often hand out unsolicited advice, but when you deliberately seek their practical wisdom, they won't hesitate to give it with stem overtones. They'll expect you to accept it, too. The Capricorn has learned to cope with duty and responsibility and to tolerate frustra­tion. If you can't follow his example, he'll waste little time trying to teach you, and allow you only a pinch of sympathy.

You may read that Capricoms marry for money or social position. That's an exaggeration, though I will say that it was doubtless a Capricorn who remarked, "It's just as easy to fall in love with the conductor as it is to have a fling with the second violin." The practical goat rarely leaps into business or marriage unless he's prepared finan­cially for the former and emotionally for the latter. These people will do strange things for security. Old age is con­stantly on the Saturnine mind. Even the young Capricoms will instinctively enjoy visiting Uncle Jasper or Aunt Minerva. After all, the doting relatives might have a few bonds or some property, besides the fact that they're com­fortable and familiar. One certainly wouldn't want to see a fortune willed to a pet canary. You may think such an attitude is cold and calculating, but to the Capricorn, it's sensible. Opportunity never has to knock twice at the goat's door. He'll hear the first knock. In fact, he's been leaning against the door, listening and waiting for it.

In childhood, Capricoms are inclined to be weaker, more sickly than other youngsters, but both strength and re­sistance to disease increase with age. The sober, temperate nature of the typical goat gives him amazing endurance- and such potential for survival that it's not unusual to find him living past the century mark. Saturn people should be able to avoid doctors and hospitals, but they don*t, because fear, uncertainty, worry and gloom are deadlier than germs. No amount of practical diet, conser­vative habits and stubborn resistance to illness can over­come the dangers of pessimism. Capricoms who want to avoid sickness should have plenty of outdoor exercise, and develop a more positive, outgoing personality. The fresh air of the country and the fresh breezes of tolerance will work magic with Saturnine health. Almost all goats of both sexes have sensitive skin. There may be nervous rashes, allergies, roughness and chapping, some peculiarity of perspiration, enlarged pores or acne. Stomach disorders from incompatible foods and mental distress are common. Broken arms and legs may occur. The knee caps, joints and bones are vulnerable areas, and psychosomatic paraly­sis, severe headaches and kidney infections are further fruits of Saturnine melancholy.

They will either have beautiful, white, strong-teeth-or constant problems with decay and continual visits to the dentist, one or the other. Generally speaking, if they avoid the lingering illnesses caused by lingering depressions, the Capricorn tenacity for life is remarkable. But it's no fun to be the last leaf on the tree if you're suffering from arthritis and rheumatism. The goat must seek the sunlight and laugh at the rain to stay healthy.

He's such a shy, sweet soul, a trifle stubborn perhaps, but gentle about it. He seems so harmless. What a safe person to trust and confide in-how pleasantly he builds your ego. Who could hurt him or suspect him of ambition? All the while, Capricorn is using your own weaknesses, conceits and jealousies to make himself stronger. He's useful and eventually so indispensable that you ask him to take over the reins. Then hell rule unobtrusively in the corner, modestly pulling the strings of authority. The goat sub­merges his ego to gain what his ego truly desires-the position of the real leader. With kindly, but stem, cautious wisdom he guards the past from neglect and protects the present from confusion, so you can build tomorrow safely.

He doesn't have to lead the parade with a big brass band. He gives permission for the parade, and plans its route from behind the scenes. All the daring high-wire acts need the Capricorn's strong, safe net when they miscal­culate and tumble. The discipline and formality of jet black and navy blue-the solid practicality of brown-the deep, honest dreams of dark green-these are the quiet colors of his enduring rainbow. Walk slowly through his silent forest, carpeted in soft moss and climbing ivy-and seek the eight hidden treasures of Saturn. Rich, red rubies lie buried beneath the Capricorn, weeping willow. Stay- and leam the eternal beauty of the pure, smooth onyx. Capricorn lead is solid, and Capricorn coal builds lasting fires.

Famous Capricorn Personalities

Martin Luther King Rudyard Kipling Mao Tse-tung Henry Miller Isaac Newton Richard Nixon Louis Pasteur Edgar Allan Poe Helena Rubinstein Carl Sandburg Albert Schweitzer Daniel Webster Woodrow Wilson