The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1868-02-24

Gen. S. has retired from the New Hampshire
tho part Of the Republican State Committee in
crossing his palm with tho "sinews Of war;"
THE HIDDEN HAND.-The theatre, on Sstur-
day evening, was filled with goodly audience,
drawn thither by the announcement that one
of Mrs. Southworth's famous New York Ledger
stories, boiled down for dramatic representa-
tion, would he performed for the five hundred
and-oneth time, with Mr.. and Mrs Watkins as
the especial stars of the night.
1t is superfuous to say that the play was
success. Whatever these artists have under
taken, during their brief stay in Charleston,
has afforded pleasure to the attendant public,
and, although contending with the drawbacks
incident to a small stage and hastily impro-
viscd theatrical machinery, their ability and
versatility have won ior them whole brigades
of friends, and an ndmiring row Of reporters
for skirmish line.
The ''Hiddcn Hand" is one of your Bowery
Theatre ''h hi" sort of plays, which, at one
moment, makes the exstatic tears crop out like
the perspiration on m ice-pitcher, and the next
whole gamut of sound, from the incipient
''te- he-he" to the full-born, sonorous ''ha-ha-
ha." The plot of the drama is this: Capitola
MRS. Watkins) is an everyday New York
newsboy-one Of those little ganains Of the big
city, who are ragged as paper mill, and so
sharp that they will skin customer in three
minutes, and SO nicely, too, that he will never
miss his hide until he comes to change his
fannels. "Old Hurricane is the nickname Of
"War6eld" tlfr. Cifford), an old-time Virginia
planter, who, accompanied by his servant
"Wool" (NTr. Watkins), is in search Of long
lost little girl, who is an heiress. "Woop is
like his master, type OF cole virginny," and,
it being his first trip to the Metropolis, he gets
as proud as mulatto in q colored congrega-
ton. All sorts of difficulties afflct him, and
he finally brings up in the calaboose.
Capitola is also arrested on, suspicion Of
stealing the planters trunk, and likewise gets
into the Recorders Court. There old Hurri-
cane hears the boy tell his story-how he is not
u boy but a girl, born in Virginia, brought to
New York by her old "mauma," who returns to
Virginia to find some trace of the family. The
old mauma dies, but, before shutting off the
coil, has on interview with old Hurricane witch
puts him on the track. Tho story is told with
pathos that stars copious sprinkle OF brine
in tho audience, and the planter takes Capitola
to his bosom. They hug industriously and the
to;D ho Oqp Do
Alley"
Capitola is carried to Warfold's home; ap-
pears ia the next scene as his ward and looks
like the emanaLion OF q moon-lit cloud. She
has tho stubborness of young mule, and old
Hurricane gets into regular gale with her
every fifteen minutes; blows lik porpoise,
roars, fumes, damages the furniture, and al
most "busts his biler" with wrath. The house
screams with laughter, and fat men get the
stomach ache trying to hold in.
Curious episodes of old Virginia life follow.
Lonoir, the uncle Of Capitola and murderer OF
her father, finds out her whereabouts and
hires Black Donald, an outlaw, to abduct and
murder his ueice. Black Donald enters her
chamber at midnight; but woman's wit foils the
villain, and when he attempts to seize her, she
touches spring on the floor and he goes
srr.ewhere down below. So does the curtain.
Lonald turns up In prison, and the day before
his execution Capitola helps him out. Then
sle takes refuge in an insane asylum during o
rain storm, and there finds her mother con6n-
ed as o lunatic /; aids her mother to escape;
and just at the critical time when something
awful is to be done, when the audience holds
their breath in expectation of frightful de-
nouenaent, in rush old Hurricane, Wool Ell Id
o1nne genus rescue the heroine and knock the
catast .ophe in tho head. Lenoir shoots him
SELF and his imaginary brains Lie in horrible
confusion all over the carpet in the next room.
Capitola gets engaged to be married to man
after her own heart; old Hurricane goes off in
ecstacies, and Wool behaves himself like every
other oh-be-joyful nigger should under the cir
cumstanccs. SO ends the play.
We make especial note OF this single per-
formanco because it is fair type Of the
rational amusement which the Templetons are
striving just now to give to our people, and
for Which they deserve to be supported. They
have as good if not n better stock company
than can be found in the majority of theatres
out of the large cities, and arc untirlng in their
efforts to please. Thus far We are glad to say
that the engagement OF Dir. and iIrs. Watkins
has proven profitable ard attractive, and their
audience have conc away moro than satisfied