OUR FIRST C++ class:

*   a class is a way to make a new type! although some are
    included with C++
    *   you learn about *writing* your own classes in CS 112,
        but we'll *use* a few classes in CS 111

*   string is a C++ class included with C++
    *   classes have methods
    *   methods are functions that "belong" to a class

    *   when you make, say, a parameter or a named
        constant be of a type that's a class,

        that parameter or constant is an instance 
        of that class

	and that parameter or constant can use that class's methods!

    *   when a class has a method,
        an instance can call it with:

	instance.method_name(arg_expr1, arg_expr2, ...)

*   say I have,

    const string MY_NAME = "Sharon M. Tuttle";

    *   hey, string has a length method,
        it expects no arguments, and returns
	the calling string's length!

	MY_NAME.length()   // call the length method of string
	                   //   MY_NAME

	MY_NAME.length() == 16

    *   OHMIGOSH! string class has a + operator!

        you can APPEND string instances with
	+ 

	MY_NAME + MY_NAME == "Sharon M. TuttleSharon M. Tuttle"

        you CANNOT use + with JUST char* literals,
	but you CAN if at least one operand IS a string!!

	MY_NAME + "!" == "Sharon M. Tuttle!"

        *   (yes, you can use == to compare a string and a char*,
	    fortunately! it returns true if they contain
            the same characters...)