CAPITOLA (f): Capitola “Black Cap” Black is the spunky, cross-dressing heroine of
The Hidden Hand: Or, Capitola the Madcap (serialized 1859, published in book form 1888) by Mrs. E.D.E.N. [Emma Dorothy Eliza Nevitte] Southworth (1819–1899). Searchable census indexes for 1860 and 1870 bring up 202 and 595 Capitolas respectively, suggesting the popularity of serial fiction in general, and of this novel in particular. Towns in California (
www.capitola.net) and Texas (extinct) were named for this heroine.