Little House on the Prairie question

[IBBen]

Hi,

Help me settle a bet. How did Mary become blind?

I say congenital disorder, my friend says it had something to do with a tragic event in her life (i.e. a fire)

Prove me right, prove my friend wrong, settle the bet.

Thank you.

[Mercutio]

You are right. It just happens. No tragic event.

[JillGat]

[[I’m a 15 year old male and I know this, shoot me now.]]

Thatis so frigging cute!

[Mercutio]

::feels the love::

[evilbeth]

*Originally posted by JillGat *
**Thatis so frigging cute! **

Excuse me, Jill, but shouldn’t this comment be in IMHO?

[MsRobyn]

According to this site, Mary’s blindness was gradual, but the episode guide does not list a specific reason.

IIRC, though (from the books), it was a disease process of some kind.

Robin

[mdf]

*Originally posted by IBBen *
**Hi,

Help me settle a bet. How did Mary become blind?

I say congenital disorder, my friend says it had something to do with a tragic event in her life (i.e. a fire)

Prove me right, prove my friend wrong, settle the bet.

Thank you. **

In the book By The Shores of Silver Lake, Harper Trophy edition, 1971 printing, pages1-2:

Mary and Carrie and baby Grace and Ma had all had scarlet fever. The Nelsons across the creek had had it too, so there had been no one to help Pa and Laura. The doctor had come every day; Pa did not know how he could pay the bill. Far worst of all, the fever had settled in Mary’s eyes, and Mary was now blind.

[sub]Thanks to my wife, who is a certified LHotP fan. We’ve even routed vacations so as to visit LIW sites.[/sub]

This is of course what actually happened to the real Mary Ingalls, and my wife further states that she beleives she read in a biography that Mary had had a stroke that contributed to her condition. No cite for that…yet.

-mdf

[shell]

I believe it was scarlet fever/german measles that eventually blinded Mary. I can check with great-great aunt Faye who runs the LIW museum in Walnut to make sure, IBBen.