James Gordon Bennett was born on this day in 1841, and died in 1918. He was one of the great editors in the history of American journalism, a flamboyant showman, and a news promoter who would make news itself an influential force on the 20th century.. At the age of 31, he became managing editor of the New York Herald (owned by his father), and, the very next year, assumed control of the New York Telegram as well. He financed numerous expeditions -- notably Henry M. Stanley's search for David Livingstone, the Scottish missionary and explorer, in Africa, in 1872, the Pandora's search for the Northwest Passage in 1875, and the Jeannette Polar expedition from 1879-81. He was a philanthropist. During one of the hard times in New York, he opened free soup kitchens for the poor. In 1882, with $100,000 of his own money, he established the Herald Relief Fund for Irish Sufferers. He was also an avid sportsman; he introduced polo to the U.S., competed in the first trans-Atlantic yacht race (in 1866), and donated cups for balloon, auto and airplane competitions. After 1877, Bennett usually resided in Paris, but ran his news operations from there. Eventually, his lavish life style caught up with him. Conflicts with employees weakened his staff, and his lavish spending drains his papers' resources. When other newspapers were expanding at the end of the century, the Herald and the Telegram did not keep pace.

MODEL: If you've got it, flaunt it. Bennett had it. He had fun with it. **

One of a kind. If you were born on May 10, you act alone but may influence others by example, although it may be hard for them to keep up with you. You not only have unique, innovative thoughts, but also deliver them in a unique way. Ruled by the number 1 and the sun, you work from behind the scenes to become number one.

To the top. You have grace and charm, and can be hypnotically persuasive. While you are rising to the top and making contacts with all the right people, you may be instilling antagonism in all the wrong people. These people may come back to haunt you later in life. This doesn't discourage you, however, as long as you feel you are in the right.

Intuition rules. Others may claw their way uphill to succeed, but you have an uncanny knack for riding the waves of fate, making it look easy. You know when to charge and when to lay back or try a subtle maneuver. Your hunches are strong and usually right.

Heads up. Totally engrossed in matters at hand, you sometimes lose sight of the big picture, such as the good of others and certain big responsibilities. You're not consciously selfish, just self-absorbed. Your impulsive nature can get you in trouble.

A little advice: Learn to weigh the consequences of your actions before you act. And don't forget your everyday responsibilities, especially where they concern others.

Also born on this day: Pat Summerall (sports commentator) Steve Mahre (Olympic skier) Fred Astaire (dancer, actor, singer) Max Steiner (film composer) Ariel Durant (writer) Sid Vicious (punk bassist, Sex Pistols) Milton Babbitt (composer) Mel Lewis (jazz drummer, bandleader) Judith Jamison (dancer) Karl E. Krafft (German astrologer) David O. Selznik (producer) John Wilkes Booth (assassinated Lincoln)