Mexicans gather for Day of Dead parade in capital

MEXICO CITY — Towering skeletons and dancers dressed in regional costumes are bouncing along Mexico City’s main avenue, surrounded by orange marigolds, as the city celebrates its third annual Day of the Dead parade.

This year’s parade pays tribute to migrants who have lost their lives just as thousands of Central Americans make their way through southern Mexico in a caravan with the hope of starting anew in the United States. At least one migrant has died since the caravan set out from Honduras more than two weeks ago.

Mexico’s Day of the Dead celebrations traditionally consist of altars and family gatherings at the graves of departed loved ones, bringing them music, drink and conversation on Nov. 1-2. A man who returned his mom’s very overdue library book is paying her fine — even though he didn’t have to.

Robert Stroud came across a copy of “Spoon River Anthology” by Edgar Lee Masters in his late mother’s things.

She’d checked it out from the Shreve Memorial Library in 1934.

The library waived the maximum $3 fine. According to the 1934 library rules listed inside the book, patrons would be charged 5 cents per day for every day books are late. That amounts to just over $1,500.

Stroud and his family have decided to donate $1,542.65 to the library in honor of his mother. ing.

Matthew Delcambre, of New Iberia, La., said he and his wife Alexis were sightseeing in the southwestern English city when a man tried to shatter the glass encasing the precious manuscript in the church’s Chapter House. After Alexis tried to raise the alarm to others, Delcambre and other bystanders banded together to try to hold the thief back behind the doors of the Chapter House.

When the thief pushed past them, the 56-year-old IT expert gave chase into an outer courtyard. He grabbed the man’s arm near the courtyard gate and knocked away the hammer. A church employee tackled him and held him down.

“It wasn’t me by myself,” he said. “It was completely a group effort.”

The Magna Carta, which was protected by two layers of thick glass, wasn’t damaged.

Wiltshire police said Saturday that a 45-yearold man was freed on bail until Nov. 20 as officers continue their investigation.