Mediterranean Mud; [with] Midnight Sun to Madagascar Daughters

Minneapolis: G. L. Morrill, 1925. First editions. 2 volumes, 8vos, 217, [63]pp; and 141, [27]pp. Ads, photographs, many by Lowell L. Morrill. Red and orange printed paper wrappers, one with a cut-out on front cover showing a portion of the first photo. Toning, wear to yapped edges, some chipping at spine ends, and occasional stain. Generally very good.

Two scarce "travel" books from a very colorful figure in early 20th century Minneapolis, Reverend Gulian L. Morrill (1857-1928).  Morrill, nicknamed "Golightly," founded an unorthodox "People's Church" in downtown Minneapolis which broke away from the Baptist establishment by having jokes, musicians including drummers, slide projections, and hula dancers at his services.  Morrill was very pro-marriage, offering green stamps to those he wed, and would not discriminate against couples who were not deemed fit for marriage by conventional ministers, such as brides who were visibly pregnant on their wedding days.  He famously presided over his own funeral service via phonograph recording, and even supplied the music.

Morrill wrote numerous books on his travels, and these two are very representative of his output.  They read as wistful travel memoirs with descriptive language, and often weave in religious elements.  Each is peppered with photographs, many hidden in the ads at the end, and most consisting of nude women and children of various cultures posing for the shots with "catchy" captions below.  There are also several photos of dead people: hanging from a tree, on the street, etc.  These very much feel like some sort of weird, exotic fetishism hidden behind the guise of travel writing with photographs people in their "native dress" (always nude).  

In any event, both are rare.  OCLC cites 1 and 0 copies respectively.  

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