Chapter 16

Slow to anger and slow to calm down, the subjects of Taurus will harbor a grudge and will be hard to reconcile. They are fearless, kind, and generous.

This sign gives its subjects a mind straightforward, just, inquisitive, and shrewd. It makes them hard to fathom, and endows them with the essential qualities of a diplomat. Their passions are fiery, but not persistent.

They are generally very much attached to their own sentiments and opinions; they are taciturn and tenacious; their will is steady, persevering, and determined to reach its purpose. They are fit to command, and have great power of concentration.

These people are usually broad-shouldered and of powerful build. The face is full, the complexion ruddy, the nose and mouth wide. The physical temperament will be bilious-sanguine in a southern latitude and lymphatic-nervous in the north. They will find their best friends among those born under Capricorn and Libra.

Their dominant faults are anger, cruelty, and stubbornness. When excited they are utterly unmanageable. Taurus people are exacting, domineering, and selfish in their demands.

The union of those born under Taurus and Capricorn is most auspicious; next best is Taurus and Libra. The children of the first union will be physically strong and robust, while those of the second will be very bright intellectually.

Most children born under this sign are obstinate and wilful. They have great powers of endurance, and are natural conquerors. They are quick to follow the example of their elders, and should be carefully guarded in such respects.

The governing planet of the month is Venus, and the gems are moss-agate and emerald. The astral colors are red and yellow; the flower, jonquil.

Friday is one of the fortunate days for a Taurus subject. May and July are his luckiest months. The ancient Hebraic tribe under which he would be classed was that of Asher, and the ruling angel of the sign is Asmodel.

May, the fifth month of our modern year, was the third of the old Roman calendar. The name is of doubtful origin. It was considered unlucky among the Romans to contract marriage during this month--a superstition which still survives. In the Roman Catholic Church May is known as "the month of Mary."

In England the first day of the month is called May Day, when, according to ancient custom, all ranks of the people rose at dawn and went "a Maying" to welcome the advent of spring.

In the United States, May 30 (Decoration Day) is a legal holiday in most of the States.

General Grant and the Duke of Wellington are good examples of the determination and endurance of the Taurus nature.

End of Project Gutenberg's The Scrap Book, Volume 1, No. 3, by Various