The iron jackal

He had a smooth tongue, could make quite a favorable speech, and especially with good effect could he expatiate on the backwardness of others. He obtained this name of "a progressive man" because he spoke most of the time English, especially if he thought some of them were present who could not understand it, and also because he could always hold his body so much like a judge on public occasions. NOT because he was exactly the most capable or progressive fellow in the neighborhood, but because he always gave that idea-that is why Jackal slowly acquired among the neighbors the name of a "progressive man." The truly well-bred people around him, who did not wish to hurt his feelings, seemed to apply this name to him, instead of, for instance, "cunning scamp," or "all-wise rat-trap," as so many others often dubbed him.