In such circumstances Ludwig's egotism could not but be developed. Episodes from his childhood bear witness that a decided vein of caprice and sense of his own importance were early to be noticed in him. The following is a trait from the time when he was twelve years of age, during a sojourn at Berchtesgaden. He was at play in the park, with his brother. Without the slightest provocation he suddenly threw Otto, three years younger than himself, on to the grass, planted his knee firmly on the latter's chest, stuffed his handkerchief into his mouth, and shouted commandingly: "You are my subject; you must obey me! Some time I shall be your king!" Happily a courtier was witness of this scene, and running forward, he dragged Otto, who was almost suffocated, from his brother's violent grasp. The incident came to the ears of the King. He gave his first-born a sound thrashing in true burgher fashion. This corporal punishment had not, however, the desired effect on the exceedingly sensitive boy; and its result seems solely to have been embitterment against his father. So much, indeed, did he take the mortification of it to heart, that later he literally shunned Berchtesgaden. One winter day in 1859 the two princes were together in the so-called "English Garden," in Munich. Otto was rolling a large snowball, and called out to his brother, in glee: "See, Ludwig, I have a snowball that is bigger than your head!" Ludwig took it from him. Otto began to cry. Their tutor came up and asked what was the matter. "Ludwig has taken my snowball," sobbed Otto. "Your Royal Highness," said the tutor, "if Prince Otto has made a snowball it belongs to him, and you have no right to take it." "Have I no right to take the snowball? What am I Crown Prince for, then?" asked Ludwig in dudgeon. A gentleman well known to Maximilian, and who was frequently invited to his shooting parties, informs me that he very seldom saw the little princes when he visited the King. Once when he was walking in the gardens of the castle of Hohenschwangau, however, he came upon an open space where the King's sons happened to be playing. Ludwig had swung himself up on to a paling, and was running backwards and forwards on it. The visitor reminded him that he might fall and hurt himself. The boy, however, took no notice of the well-meant warning, and its only result was that he increased his antics. The gentleman, who was really afraid that an accident might happen, now took him by force in his arms and lifted him down. The Crown Prince glanced proudly at him; then began to play with his brother, as if no third person was present. Many years afterwards, long after Ludwig had become King, the same gentleman reminded him of this occurrence. "I remember very well," answered his Majesty coldly, "that you touched me at that time," and then turned the subject of conversation.