Page:Historic towns of the middle states (IA historictownsofm02powe).pdf/25



he designation "Middle States" has a negative, rather than a positive, significance. In our later history, as well as in that of our colonizing and federalizing periods, the term "New England" has had a definite value for many purposes besides those of geographical convenience: and it is equally true that "the South" has meant very much in our American life besides a mere territorial expression. But the "Middle States" lack the sharply distinguishing characteristics of the other groups. In more senses than the strictly literal one, the two immense States of New York and Pennsylvania, with one or two smaller neighbors, have occupied middle ground.

If New York, on the one hand, has been somewhat closely related to New England, Pennsylvania has had many neighborly xv