The Madison journal., 1921-11-12
Census Men Seek Light on the
Effect of Marriage and Gel
ibacy on Longevity.
10 NO LONGER AGE LIMIT
Persons Of Advanced Age Becoming
More Active as class-Statisticians
Look Askance at Claims Of
Ages Over 100.

Washington, d. C.-More than $500
men and.swomen who are more than
100 years old will engage the attention
OF expert examiners of the census
bureau, who are preparing a report on
ages of persons living In the United
States.
New light on how to live to be 100
and more will be developed by the
census examiners. Many circum-
stances surrounding the lives of CEN
tenarians will be available to the CEN
sus officials, including place as well as
date Of birth, number Of times mar
ried. occupation and general habits.
This data is included In the regular
census report for each resident of the
United States. But In the cases of
some persons who are reputed to be
more than 100 years of age special
Information will be collected IL the
examination Is conducted as In the
past.
Longevity Increasing.
The question of whether women or
men live longer is one on which the
census officials will be able to speak
authoritatively when their examination
Of the age statistics is complete. They
viii also be In position to make an
analysis of the effect of marriage and
celibacy on longevity.
The average length of life throughout
the United States is increasing daily,
official reports show. In some sections
the death rate is the lowest in the
world. Twenty-Five was the average
length of life some decades ago. The
average now is well above 80.
Persons Of advanced age are becom-
Ing more and more active as a group
than ever before, according to official
and semi-official reports received by
several branches of the government.
Their activity is especially noticed in
connection with the reports on mar
rage and divorce which reach Wash
fngton.
One New York man of 63 recently
obtained a divorce, although he had
merely been separated from his wife
Tor years, because, he explained, he
had decided to remarry. He denied he
had slected the woman to whom he
wished to extend this honor. but said
ne was certain that sooner or later he
would wish to remarry. He already
three marriages to his credit.
Povernment officials are interested
"a sixty-six-year-old resident Of De
Funiak Springs, Fla. who recently took
out a license TO wed a thirteen-year-
old girl with the consent Of the girls
parents.
From Atlantic, Iowa, came the re-
port Of farmer of 90 who engaged
few days ago In his seventh march TO
the altar. the bride being IS. The first
six wives of the farmer died, all of |
them being sisters. The present wife |
Is the sister of the farmers first six
wives She was twice married before
faking her farmer husband.
Marriages at so or More.
Records of the Census Bureau indi.
ate that marriages of persons beyond
% years are becoming increasingly
requent. Although so per cent of men
md women who reach the age of 45
ire married, 10 per cent, do not take
ne matrimonial leap until after that
'ge- Less than 10 per cent of all per-
ons who live to De more than As re-
nain unmarried.
. -
Divorces are becoming more and
nore frequent between men and
Fomen Of 45 and 30 years of age. The
ecords show that a majority of d.
orced persons attempt matrimony at
'ast second time. The number who
EEK happiness in welded life three
nd four times Is large.
The police court records of big
ties furnish material for a study of