Comment: Days Like These
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.21 August 1933
ROBERT BYRON,
traveller and author, in Venice
notes in his diary:
"After inspecting two palaces, the Labiena, containing Tiepolo's fresco of Cleopatra's Banquet, and the Pappadopoli, a stifling labyrinth of plush and royal photographs, we took sanctuary from culture in Harry's Bar. There was an ominous chatter, a quickfire of greetings; the English are arriving. In the evening we went back to Harry's Bar, where our host regaled us with a drink compounded of champagne and cherry brandy. `To have the right effect,' said Harry confidentially, `it must be the worst cherry brandy.' It was."
26 August 1969
KEITH VAUGHAN,
artist, records in his journal:
"Dinner with David Hockney. Good evening. The more I see of DH the more he impresses me. He has all the best qualities of his generation. Modest and self-confident, honest in speech, unconcerned with impressing yet considerate and well-mannered, impatient with all fraudulent or compromised behaviour, ardent, curious, warm-hearted, uncorrupted (and probably uncorruptible) by success - his generation have never known dire poverty, I suppose. I feel so much better after such an evening. What I like about David is that he does what he says he will. Months ago talking about special issues of stamps which I did not know about, he said `Oh, but they're marvellous, I'll send you some'. And two days later I get a postcard covered with about 8s 6d worth of special issue stamps."
21 August 1888
EDMOND DE GONCOURT,
writer, observes in his journal:
"My cousin Fedora, talking to me today about a branch of her family which is almost poor, said: `Just imagine, they are people who for five generations have married for love!'"
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments