forcing first char of strings to be returned on myString[1] instead of myString[0]?
===

I'd like string representations in my code to start with index 1 (not 0). The paper I'm working from indexes at 1; I'd like to remain consistent with the original description.

At the moment I'm simply initialising strings with an additional space char:

    the_string = ' ' + string;

However, it means `the_string.length()` is inconsistent with the 'real' length of the string.

Which alternative workaround (write my own string indexing function, make a mystring class and overload the []operator etc.) generates the least code and what is it?