They were young men. More than 60 per cent of them were between the ages of 18 and 30 years. Of the 26,284 applicants for citizenship whose petitions were examined, 16,586--over three-fifths--came to this country between the ages of 18 and 30. The preponderance is striking: TABLE XXV NUMBER AND PER CENT OF PETITIONERS FOR THREE AGE GROUPS{1} ======================================= AGE AT ARRIVAL | NUMBER | PER CENT -------------------+--------+---------- 1-17 | 6,589 | 25.1 18-30 | 16,586 | 63.1 31 and over | 3,093 | 11.5 No data | 16 | .... -------------------+--------+---------- Total | 26,284 | 99.8 ======================================= [note 1: The full table showing distribution of ages at arrival from infancy to fifty years or over, is given in the Appendix, Table 57.] RELATIVE AGE AND “POLITICAL INTEREST” It is interesting to note, in this connection, the relation between the age at which the alien arrives in this country and the length of time that elapses before he files his final petition for citizenship. The following diagram exhibits this: [Illustration: +-----------------+ | 1 to 14 years. | 6.2 +-----------------+ +---------------------------------+ | 15 to 20 years. | 11.0 +---------------------------------+ +-------------------------------+ | 21 years and over. | 10.6 +-------------------------------+ DIAGRAM 1 Average interval before filing petition after attainment of 21 years (or time of arrival, if arriving after 21 years) for petitioners, arriving at ages of 1 to 14, 15 to 20, and 21 years and over.] Close analysis of these lists further emphasizes the importance of the factor of _age at arrival_ as affecting the lapse of time after the attainment of lawful age before filing the final petition for citizenship. It appears, as might well be expected, that those who come in childhood are more prompt than those who arrive between 15 and 20; but even those coming in childhood appear, on the average, to wait until after they are 27. The averages indicate, almost without exception, that those coming at ages over 20 waited more than 10 years before filing their petitions. Few come after they are 40 and then seek citizenship. The petitions show that on the average those arriving at 1 to 14 applied 6.2 years after 21. Those arriving at 21 years or over applied 10.6 years after arrival.