Sor Bette's Essay Links Virtue, Poetry and Mexican Heritage

Sor Bette and her students from the Colegio de las Damas witnessed a rooster chase a hen that was then struck by a passing truck. She used the incident to comment that the hen "preferred death to the loss of virtue," contrasting the value of virtue with the fragility of life.

The piece expands into a cultural reflection on Mexican poetry, citing the proverb "in Saltillo the one who is not a poet makes cajeta" and recalling traditional sweets made from quince. It mentions historic poets such as Manuel Acuña, Otilio González, José León Saldívar, and contemporary figure Jesús Flores Aguirre, who is described as a poet, lawyer and seducer of ladies. The essay includes verses attributed to Flores Aguirre and references other literary works, including a poem about aviator Francisco Sarabia.

Overall, the article blends a moral anecdote with a survey of regional literary heritage, highlighting the cities of Saltillo, Parras and the state of Coahuila in Mexico.