"furious driving" and "fighting qualities" (1864)

☞ A GOOD COMMENCEMENT.—For years past, the inhabitants of Lansingburgh have been pestered by that intolerable nuisance—furious driving through its avenues. Although the ordinance is very severe in regard to this offence, what is everybody's business is nobody's, and the offenders have generally escaped. Occasionally, some drunken rowdy has been nabbed; but it is not of this class that the guilty ones are principally composed. It is the well-dressed fashionable cit, with an incipient moustache, and the corpulent grey beard, whose splendid outfit and silver-mounted trappings would seem to forbid the idea of any plebian summons being thrust between the breeze and his nobility, who are the most numerous class of offenders. On Saturday evening, two gentlemanly proprietors of fast nags were dashing at furious speed up State street, to the consternation of ladies and children, and to the peril of life, when they found themselves suddenly arrested. One of them appeared to take the matter in good humor, the other was slightly indignant. It's no use, gentlemen; the business must be stopped, and the resolution has passed the house. No well-bred man will drive at such a furious speed through any populous city or village, though there be no law against it. We withhold names in this instance, but forewarned is forearmed, and if you would not see your names drafted in Father Abraham's blistering locals, and perhaps your own city journals, just hold in the ribbons when you pass Powers's.BURGHER.—☞ LANSINGBURGH.—Capt. Josiah Spotten, of the steamer "Syracuse," went to New York last evening, on the Skiddy, with about twenty young men of the 'burgh, intended as naval recruits. Capt. B. is a thorough-going fellow, and he will put the boys through, if at all possible. Two of the young men composing the party constitute one-half of the quartette choir of Trinity, and several others are leading members of the First ward Young Men's Association. They were accompanied to the metropolis by a number of friends, and the fire-bell of Lafayette Volunteer Hose sounded in honor of the departure of the sailor lads.—The residence of Mrs. Squires, in Congress street, was the scene of an attempted robbery, yesterday. A woman was going out of the door with a shawl and other property under her arm—the shawl belonging to Mrs. Squires. On finding herself discovered, she dropped the latter article of wearing apparel, but kept on with the rest of her plunder.—Among the 'burghers who have enlisted, is a well-known youth named Wm. Riley, better known as "Pucker" Riley, who was recently fined $20 by the Troy Police Court, for assaulting Trojans in the 'burgh. "Pucker" can now indulge his fighting qualities to their full extent against "rebs.," instead of Trojans.Troy Daily Times. August 30, 1864: 3 col 2.