Не проще просто int?

#include "stdafx.h"
#define DEBUG
#define SHOW_INVARIANTS
#include <iostream>
#include <string.h>
using namespace std;
 
#ifndef DEBUG
    #define ASSERT(x)
#else
    #define ASSERT(x) \
            if (! (x)) \
            { \
                cout << "ERROR!! Assert " << #x << " failed\n"; \
                cout << " on line " << __LINE__  << "\n"; \
                cout << " in file " << __FILE__ << "\n";  \
            }
#endif
 
 
const int FALSE = 0;
const int TRUE = 1;
typedef int BOOL;
 
 
class String
{
public:
    // constructors
    String();
    String(const char *const);
    String(const String &);
    ~String();
 
    char & operator[](int offset);
    char operator[](int offset) const;
 
    String & operator= (const String &);
    int GetLen()const { return itsLen; }
    const char * GetString() const { return itsString; }
    BOOL Invariants() const;
 
private:
    String (int);         // private constructor
    char * itsString;
    // unsigned short itsLen;
    int itsLen;
};
 
// default constructor creates string of 0 bytes
String::String()
{
    itsString = new char[1];
    itsString[0] = '\0';
    itsLen=0;
    ASSERT(Invariants());
}
 
// private (helper) constructor, used only by
// class methods for creating a new string of
// required size.  Null filled.
String::String(int len)
{
    itsString = new char[len+1];
    for (int i = 0; i<=len; i++)
        itsString[i] = '\0';
    itsLen=len;
    ASSERT(Invariants());
}
 
// Converts a character array to a String
String::String(const char * const cString)
{
    itsLen = strlen(cString);
    itsString = new char[itsLen+1];
    for (int i = 0; i<itsLen; i++)
        itsString[i] = cString[i];
    itsString[itsLen]='\0';
    ASSERT(Invariants());
}
 
// copy constructor
String::String (const String & rhs)
{
    itsLen=rhs.GetLen();
    itsString = new char[itsLen+1];
    for (int i = 0; i<itsLen;i++)
        itsString[i] = rhs[i];
    itsString[itsLen] = '\0';
    ASSERT(Invariants());
}
 
// destructor, frees allocated memory
String::~String ()
{
    ASSERT(Invariants());
    delete [] itsString;
    itsLen = 0;
}
 
// operator equals, frees existing memory
// then copies string and size
String& String::operator=(const String & rhs)
{
    ASSERT(Invariants());
    if (this == &rhs)
        return *this;
    delete [] itsString;
    itsLen=rhs.GetLen();
    itsString = new char[itsLen+1];
    for (int i = 0; i<itsLen;i++)
        itsString[i] = rhs[i];
    itsString[itsLen] = '\0';
    ASSERT(Invariants());
    return *this;
}
 
//non constant offset operator
char & String::operator[](int offset)
{
    ASSERT(Invariants());
    if (offset > itsLen)
    {
        ASSERT(Invariants());
        return itsString[itsLen-1];
    }
    else
    {
        ASSERT(Invariants());
        return itsString[offset];
    }
}
 
// constant offset operator
char String::operator[](int offset) const
{
    ASSERT(Invariants());
    char retVal;
    if (offset > itsLen)
        retVal = itsString[itsLen-1];
    else
        retVal = itsString[offset];
    ASSERT(Invariants());
    return retVal;
}
 
BOOL String::Invariants() const
{
    #ifdef SHOW_INVARIANTS
        cout << "Invariants Tested" << endl;
    #endif
    return ( (itsLen && itsString) || (!itsLen && !itsString) );
}
 
class Animal
{
public:
    Animal():itsAge(1),itsName("John Q. Animal")
        {ASSERT(Invariants());}
    Animal(int, const String&);
    ~Animal(){}
    int GetAge() {  ASSERT(Invariants()); return itsAge;}
    void SetAge(int Age)
    {
        ASSERT(Invariants());
        itsAge = Age;
        ASSERT(Invariants());
    }
    String& GetName()
    {
        ASSERT(Invariants());
        return itsName;
    }
    void SetName(const String& name)
    {
        ASSERT(Invariants());
        itsName = name;
        ASSERT(Invariants());
    }
    BOOL Invariants();
private:
    int itsAge;
    String itsName;
};
 
Animal::Animal(int age, const String& name):
    itsAge(age),
    itsName(name)
{
    ASSERT(Invariants());
}
 
BOOL Animal::Invariants()
{
    #ifdef SHOW_INVARIANTS
        cout << "[Invariants Tested]" << endl;
    #endif
        return (itsAge > 0 && itsName.GetLen());
}
 
int main()
{
    Animal sparky(5,"Sparky");
    cout << "\n" << sparky.GetName().GetString() << " is ";
    cout << sparky.GetAge() << " years old.";
    sparky.SetAge(8);
    cout << "\n" << sparky.GetName().GetString() << " is ";
    cout << sparky.GetAge() << " years old.";
    return 0;
}