Martinetism

Ensign de Haldimar promised to make an excellent soldier; and, as such, was encouraged by the field-officers of the corps, who unhesitatingly pronounced him a lad of discernment and talent, who would one day rival them in all the glorious privileges of martinetism. It was even remarked, as an evidence of his worth, that, when promoted to a lieutenancy, he looked down upon the ensigns with that becoming condescension which befitted his new rank; and up to the captains with the deferential respect he felt to be due to that third step in the five-barred gate of regimental promotion, on which his aspiring but chained foot had not yet succeeded in reposing.

Neither of these were very congenial callings; but he might, perhaps, have reconciled himself to them, had it not been for the chilling and repulsive formalism which pervaded the whole establishment. The school was regulated on principles of the most inflexible martinetism. "The process of teaching and living," says Carlyle, "was conducted with the stiff formality of military drilling; everything went on by statute and ordinance, there was no scope for the exercise of free will, no allowance for the varieties of original structure."