The New York herald., 1921-10-09
LIFE SPAN INCREASES
Persons Of Advanced Age
Daily Becoming More
Active as Class.
20 NO LONGER AGE LIMIT
But Statisticians Look Askance
at Claims Of Ages in Ex-
cess Of 100.

cess OF lUV.
Special Despatch to THE NEW York HERALD
New York Herald Bureau,
Wsshlngton. ID. c., Oct. 8.
More than $500 men and women
who are more than 100 years old will
engage the attention of expert ex-
aminers 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.
Tho question of whether women or
men live longer Is one on which the
census officials will be able to speak
euthoritatively when their examination
Of the age statistics is complete. They
will 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 we'll above 80.
Persons Of advanced age are becoming
more and more active as group than
ever before. according to official and
semi-official reports received by several
branches Of the Government. Their
activity Is especially noticed In connec-
tion with the reports on marriage and
divorce which reach Washington.
One New York man Of So recently OBJ
tanned divorce, although he had merely
been separated from his wife for years.
because. he explained. he had decided
to rennarry, He denied he had selected
the woman to whom he wished to extend
this honor, but said he was certain that
sooner OF later he would wish to re-
marry. He already has three marriages
to his credit.
Government officials are interested
in a slxty-six-year-old resident OF De
Funiak Springs. Fla, who recently took
out q license to wed thirteen-year-old
girl with the consent Of the girls par
ents.
From Atlantic, Iowa, came the report
Of a farmer Of 90 who engaged few
days ago In his seventh march to the
altar, the bride being rs. 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 90 or More.
Records Of the Census Bureau indi-
cate that marriages Of persons beyond
SO years are becoming increasingly fire.
quent Although 80 per cent Of men
and women who reach the age OF 45
arc married, 10 per cent. do not take
the matrimonial leap until after that
age. Less than 10 per cent. Of all per-
sons who live to be more than 40 remain
unmarried.
Divorces are becoming more and more
frequent between men and women Of
45 and so years OF age. The records
show that a majority OF divorced per-
sons attempt matrimony at least sec
ond time. The number who seek happi-
ness In welded life three and four times
IL large.
The police court records of big cities
furnish material FOR study Of longev-
ity as well as public homes maintained
Tor paupers.
woman who said she was 10 vears
old recently was arraigned before q
police judge In an Iowa city on tho
charge or intoxication. Although she
spent night In jail awaiting arraizn-
nent, the aged woman nad to have her
case continued two days until she re-
covered from the effects of the iauor
Physicians who treated her reported her
as hardy"
The study OF persons claiming ad-
yanced age Is regarded as one OF The
most interesting OF the many exanina
tons OF material made each ton vea-s
by the Census Bureau. Examiners are
somewhat inclined to cynicism concern
Ing claims of more than 100 years be-
cause many prove to be without founds :
fion. they say. According to one inter-
pretation of the reports of previous old
age counts, the number of persons
claiming 100 years is constantly dImin-
fshing In proportion to the total popu-
lstion. That may be because OF a more
careful examination OF claims rather
than decrease in the number OF CEN
tenarians. officials admit. The absence
In the United States of a uniform sys-
tenn OF birth registration makes, II often
diffcult to investigate the statements
or persons claiming to be more than 100
years OF age. On the other hand. II also
works to make II difficult for real CEN
tenarians to prove their extreme ago.
May Marry at 1o2.
Census Bureau officials are Interested
IN the claim Of Petersburg (va.) vet
cran OF the Mexican War whose friends
say he In 102. Although having served
IN the most active manner In the civil
war as we'll as the earlier conflict this
uAan still Is hardy and enjoys life with
Ten grandchildren and forty-five great
grandchildren ft IL rersorted sTu,;eo ~, 4. =