Julius Caesar, on entering Rome in triumph, with the world securely chained to his chariot wheels; Napoleon, bowing to receive the diadem of the Caesars' won by the most notable victories ever known to earth; General Grant, on his triumphal tour around the globe, when kings and queens were eager rivals to secure from this man of humble birth the sweeter smile; none of these were more full of pleasurable emotion than this poor Negro lad, who now with elastic step and beating heart marched with head erect beneath the arch of the doorway leading into Stowe University.
Belton arrived on the Saturday preceding the Monday on which school would open for that session.

He found about three hundred and sixty students there from all parts of the South, the young women outnumbering the young men in about the proportion of two to one.
On the Sunday night following his arrival the students all assembled in the general assembly room of the recitation building, which room, in the absence of a chapel, was used as the place for religious worship.

The president of the school, a venerable white minister from the North, had charge of the service that evening.

He did not on this occasion preach a sermon, but devoted the hour to discoursing upon the philanthropic work done by the white people of the North for the freedmen of the South.
A map of the United States was hanging on the wall, facing the assembled school.

On this map there were black dots indicating all places where a school of learning had been planted for the colored people by their white friends of the North.