Mr. H. D. Traill, who died suddenly on Wednesday, in
his fifty- eighth year, was one of the brilliant band of writers associated with Mr. Greenwood's editorship of the Pall Mall Gazette. Later on he joined the staff of the Daily Telegraph, edited the Observer for two years on Mr. Edward Dicey's retirement, and Literature from its commencement. The quality of his work undoubtedly suffered from over-production, but his equipment was extensive, and his scholarship was tempered by a ready wit, a pleasing humour, and a vein of caustic irony. A high Tory in politics, he had the art of expressing extreme views in temperate language, and honourably up- held the best traditions of the older journalism, while main. taming a generously appreciative attitude towards the younger men. Few editors were happier in touching up the contributions of inexperienced writers, or more courteous in dealing with correspondents. His great literary gifts, though partially submerged in journalism, are most conspicuously displayed in that brilliant series of imaginary dialogues, The New Lucian, of which a revised and enlarged edition appeared a few days before his death.
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