other acts, the ringmaster announced the culminating event, the high wire beach walk by Tino Wallenda. Dressed in a crimson costume, he picked up his balancing pole, stepped onto the wire, and began to walk. His wife was there, and his daughters, directing the assistants handling the guide wires. And Tino strolled, step by step, almost casually, from the cement pier to the top of a six-story building. Oh, and one more thing. When almost at the top, he stopped and did a headstand—on the wire.

Well, different strokes for different folks. Sasha, another performer, is part of the seven-person pyramid. I talked with him also. Twenty years ago his wife made him quit the circus and get a real job. But with subway rides and regular hours—believe it or not—he couldn’t handle the stress. He gave it...

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