n through the simple law of which I have hinted. And in his
novel of "The Abbot," Sir Walter gives a tragic picture of how power and
wealth can be lost as well as won. Feudalism began with the rule of the
monastery.

Benedict was one of the world's great Captains of Industry. And like all
great entrepreneurs, he won through utilizing the efforts of others. In
picking his Abbots, or the men to be "father" of each particular group,
he showed rare skill. These men learned from him and he learned from
them. One of his best men was Cassiodorus, the man who evolved the
scheme of the scriptorium. "To study eight hours a day was not enough,"
said Cassiodorus. "We should copy the great works of literature so that
every monastery shall have a library as good as that which we have at
Monte Cassino." He himself was an expert penman, and he set himself the
task of teaching the monks how to write as well as how to read. "To
write beautifully is a great joy to our God," he said.

Benedict liked the idea, and at once put it into execution. Cassiodorus
is the patron saint of every maker of books who loves his craft.

The systematic work of the scriptorium originated in the brain of
Cassiodorus, and he was appointed by Benedict to go from one monastery
to another and inform the Abbot that a voice had come from God to
Benedict saying that these precious books must be copied, and presented
to those who would prize them.

Cassiodorus had been a secretary of state under the Emperor Theodoric,
and he had also been a soldier. He was seventy years of age when he came
under the influence of Benedict, through a chance visit to Monte
Cassino. Benedict at first ordered him to take an ax and work with the
servants at grubbing out underbrush and preparing a field for planting.
Cassiodorus obeyed, and soon discovered that there was a joy in
obedience he had before never guessed. His name was Brebantus Varus, but
on his declaring he was going to remain and work with Benedict, he was
complimented by being given the name of Cassiodorus, suggested by the
word Cassinum or Cassino. Cassiodorus lived to be ninety-two, and was
one of the chief factors, after Benedict himself, in introducing the
love of art and beauty among the Benedictines.

Near Monte Cassino was a nunnery presided over by Scholastica, the twin
sister of Benedict.

Renan says that the kinship of Scholastica and Benedict was a spiritual
tie, not one of blood. If so, we respect it none t