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Show 272 practice? Was his love of learning (in the abstract) so great that he could not endure having two of his wives' academic credentials exceed his own? Would an active career with an altruistic purpose such as Ellis had-to better serve those in need-have brought him enough soul-satisfying experiences and enough income to offset the embittering effect of his many business failures? Did some overriding consideration, such as principle, or authority prevent him from letting the years soften the cutting edge of his speech, or mellow him with good humor, or transcend the limitations of pure intellect through an enlarged humanity? One of the problems a biographer encounters is that the mote in the subject's eye is far clearer than the beam in his own. Milford's obituary in the newspaper was captioned: PIONEER PHYSICIAN CLOSES • LONG CAREER. Obituaries are notorious for inaccuracies. They are, after all, put together by friends and/or family at a very emotional time; and they usually say charitable things out of respect for the departed. The problem with the caption is that it gives the impression the subject's long career vn medicine had closed. Since we know he did not practice medicine, the long career alluded to must surely be church service and life in general. The announcement of Milford's death is accompanied by a fine photo with "Dr. Milford B. Shipp" at the bottom. He has white hair, of course, nicely cut. Beyond the fullness of face which added to his good looks in younger years, not much else is recognizable. His |
