The Middle Atlantic States [antikvár]

Introduction oo soon old and too late smart." That Pennsylvania Dutch saying described the states of the Middle Atlantic region precisely-until recently. Now, however, history and tradition are melding with a new age. The result is that my state, Pennsylvania, and Delaware and Maryland as weil, have become interesting, exciting-yes, even fascinating-places to live and work. All three states have long histories. Settled early, they were among the first to ratify the Constitution and help form the republic. Delaware can claim to be "The First State" and Pennsylvania the second, while Maryland came in not long after. Capitalizing on their early births and their great natural resources, they long were counted among the nation's leaders in wealth and influence. But early prosperity gave way, especially in Pennsylvania and Maryland, and especially in the earlier decades of this century, to decay and depression. "Too late smart" almost became their epitaph-but not quite. Now old Maryland has been jolted into action by burgeoning Washington suburbs and a new zing in Baltimore. Delaware is happy with Du Pont affluence, although it suddenly realizes it needs diversification. And Pennsylvania is rapidly emerging from the coal-rail-and-steel days to capitalize on other assets: great natural beauty, crossroads geography, astonishing variety and a people all the stronger for the fact that they are descended from about as many diverse backgrounds as Heinz (of Pittsburgh) has "varieties." The term "crossroads geography" includes the four great river systems that cover Pennsylvania, Delaware and Maryland and remain of vitai importance even in these days of rail and truck transportation. The Allegheny and the Monongahela, which jóin to form the Ohio at the "Golden Triangle" in Pittsburgh, moved the traffic of the 19th Century coal-and-steel empire and now serve a more diversified economy. The Delaware helps nourish Philadelphia and Wilmington. The Susquehanna not only serves all of central Pennsylvania-half the Commonwealth-but, joined by its bay, the Chesapeake, is the essence of Baltimore and eastern Maryland. And the Potomac helps invigorate western Maryland. Then there is the marvelous and varied scenery. On a fresh sapphire day in the spring of the Presidential year of 1964 a cynical Washington newspaper reporter visited our home among the mountains of northeastern Pennsylvania. He walked through the house, out onto the terrace, eyed the panorama for a few minutes, then sighed and said, "Now I know why you don't want to run for President!" The Laurel Highlands and blue ridges of western Maryland and both central and northern Pennsylvania make for such allowances. "The wilds of Pennsylvania," my sister calls them, these magnificently forested mountains with spectacular views. And wild they are with deer and somé of the most varied hunting that can be found anywhere in the United States. Then, most important of all, there are the people. The region is populated by courageous citizens of more than 40 national origins who, in proportion to their numbers, have sent more than their share of sons to fight America s wars; people who even now, after thousands of their friends and members of their families have been forced to leave to find work elsewhere, are proving their strength of character in building a new life for themselves and their area. New industry, new highways, new schools and colleges, excellent recreation and conservation facilities-all of.these have resulted from one of the nation's most successful "bootstrap"-or self-help -operations. Somé credit belongs to the leadership, but most of it to a stouthearted people, firmly rooted, with strong ties to family and church. The region got its start and then grew wealthy through the efforts of men who were remarkable in their ways, too. William Penn, surely the greatest