CHAPTER XXII.

1880-1881.

A Little Stay by the Mediterranean--Am Offered a Position in China--An Article on the Swiss Rhine--Also One on My Experiences in the Rebel Army--Two Letters from General Sherman--Grant and the Presidency--Says the Bare Narrative of My Escape from Prison Would Be an Epic--Banquet at the Legation--I Write for the New York Tribune an Exposé of How Certain European Communities Sent Paupers to the United States--Am Violently Attacked for It by Many American Journals and Reprimanded by State Department-- Swiss Government Complains--Investigation Follows--I Am Justified--Letter from Sherman as to His Son Tom--Visit America--Secretary Blaine Compliments Me--The Press Changes Its Tone and New Laws Are Adopted as to Immigration in United States and Switzerland--Tribune Says Editorially, “Mr. Byers Deserves the Thanks of the American People”--A Little Visit to the Poet Longfellow, and the Alcotts; also to the Author of “America.” 189