Cheraw chronicle. [volume] (Cheraw, S.C.) 1896-2005, 1921-11-03
Census Men Seek Light on the
Effect of Marriage and Gel
ibacy on Longevity.
70 NO LONGER ACE Limit
Persons Of Advanced Age Becoming
More Active as class-Statistlclans
Look Askanee at Claims Of
Ages Over 100.

Washington, D. C.-More than $500
men and women who are more than
100 years old will engage the attention
of expert examiners Of the census
bureau, who are preparing 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 If 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
will also be In a 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 becofn-
ing more and more active as group
than ever before, according to Official
and semi-ofIiclal reports received by
several branches of the, government.
Their activity is especially noticed In
connection with the reports on mar
riage and divorce which reach Wash
ington.
One New York man Of 63 recently
obtained a divorce, although he had
merely been separated from his wife
for 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
he was certain that sooner or later he
would wish to remarry. He already
has three marriages to his credit.
Government officials are interested
in siXty-six-year-old resident Of De
Funiak Springs, Fla, who recently took
out license TO wed thirteen-year-
old girl with the consent Of the girls
parents.
From Atlantic. Iowa, came the re-
port of a farmer of 80 who engaged q
few days ago in his seventh march to
she altar, the bride being 79. 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
taking her farmer husband.
Marriages at so or More.
Records of the Census Bureau indi'
cate that marriages of persons beyond
so years are becoming increasingly
frequent. Although so per cent Of men
and women who reach the age Of Al
are married, 10 per cent, do not take
the matrimonial leap until after that
age. Less than 10 per cent Of all per
Snpc who live to he more than 40 re
main unmarried.
Divorces are becoming more ant
more frequent between men ant
women of 45 and 80 years of age. The
records show that majority Of di
vorced persons attempt matrimony a
least a second time. The number who
seek happiness in welded life three
and four times Is large.
The police court records Of biz
cities furnish material for a study o.