4 JANUARY 1952, Page 8

The Bertram Mills circus is very well advised not to

replace the Globe of Death performance in its programme after last week's deplorable fatality. But why was the performance ever there at all ? Of course those turns which cause the audience to gasp at the performer's daring make a certain appeal—that is to say, have -a .certain box-office value. But there is all the difference in the world between daring for a worthy object and mere foolhardiness to draw half-crowns and half-guineas. That is not to criticise artistes like the unhappy man who met his death at Olympia last week. There will no doubt always be volunteers for such turns, but no one can claim that the excitement they create is healthy. As I say, I am glad there is to be no repetition of this particular performance. I hope all others which involve an appreciable degree of serious injury will be excluded from circuses and music-halls too.