"Virgo's Gift of Gab" (Garth Allen)

[Jim Eshelman]

Scales asked about the following piece:
1956 July. Your Powwow Corner. "Virgo's Gift of Gab"

It was short - two paragraphs. Bradley had read a newspaper article claiming "the greatest linguist who ever lived" was Cardinal Joseph Gaspard Mezzofanti (Giuseppe Caspar Mezzofanti), born in Bologna, Italy, September 17, 1774. This made him a Virgo with either a late Capricorn or early Aquarius Moon.

He then quoted Manilius' reference to Virgo's "piercing thoughts and winning eloquence," etc., then concludes,

From astrology's very beginnings, Mercury-ruled Virgo has been associated with a penchant for languages, so it seems only a matter of course that a native of the constellation Virgo would be honored as the greatest in this way by scholastic historians.

[Jim Eshelman]

The title "Virgo's Gift of Gab" is a pun..

It's not about how sparkling the Virgo Cardinal's conversation was. It's about his having learned at least 38 languages well enough to hold a conversation. Virgo applying his detail orientation to language, bolstered by a quote from Manlius who observed the same thing. Get it?

This was from the "Pow Wow Corner" where Bradley really let loose with the puns and the sarcasm and the snippy little asides, which he used to create a real Us (we're so smart) vs Them (they don't think) vibe. It's important not to get off in the weeds over every little turn of phrase when you're reading Garth Allen.

[Jim Eshelman]

Polyglot-a person who knows and is able to use several languages.
Ziad Fazah can read and speak 58-59 languages, born June 10, 1954 Taurus Sun, Virgo moon.

Good example! (And another Virgo to boot.)

As Manilius wrote of Sun and Moon in Virgo (a passage loaded with Virgo keynotes):

But modest Virgo's Rays give polisht parts,
And fill Mens Breasts with Honesty and Arts;
No tricks for Gain, nor love of Wealth dispense,
But piercing Thoughts, and winning Eloquence;
With words persuasive, and with Rhetorick strong
They rule, and are e'en Monarchs by their Tongue.
Through Nature's Secrets too, they coldly press,
Tho' deeply hid, and meet a just success.
In Short-Hand skill'd, where little Marks comprise,
Whole words, a Sentence in a Letter lies;
And whilst Obedient hands their Aid afford,
Prevent the Tongue and Fix the falling Word.
But bashful Modesty, casts down their Eyes,
The best of Vices, yet 'tis still a Vice,
Because it stifles, checks or nips like Frost,
A blooming Verture, and the Fruit is lost.
Besides, though strange such Influence should come
From Virgo's Rays, she gives a fruitful womb.