IN an article In the Nineteenth Century for January Mrs E. A, M, Lewis discusses the desirableness of effecting a reforma tion in the condition of domestic service. She admits at the outset that constituted as society is at present domestic service is a necessity, but she contends that in many respects it could be modified with considerable advantage, and she points out that already some Important changes have been made from what at one time was Included in the household service. For instance, scarcely more than a gener ation ago, no other beer than what was brewed on the premises was drank in the bouse of a country gentleman in England. "So. also," says Mrs Lewis, "has his great oven, heated with fagots, fallen into disuse, and now we seldom or never hear the vaunting assertion, 'We bake at home,' involving the unhappy household and guests in the dire necessity of finish ing the batch of loaves, however sonr, heavy, or stale it might happen to be. It was a condescension on the part of a household of liberal principles to bake twice a week, and as for the baker from without, with his adulterated wares, there was no chance for him whatever. Now, however, this industrious functionary has his footing in every house, and if his bread be not as we like it we are at liberty to let him know our opinion and deal elsewhere. Then the washing, whether consigned to a company or to individuals, is put out almost as universally as it was formerly done at home. Of course some houses can and do maintain a great laundry and •Caff of laundry maids, but they belong to the few and not the many. Looking yet further up the stream of time, we find candles, vinegar, wine (currant and elder, and so forth), all made at home as a matter of course, not to mention all the accessories of surgical aid, the bandages, lint and plaisters, the com plete supply of medicinal herbs and curative distillations prepared and stored by the lady of the house for administra tion by her to the relief of her entourage in the absence of public dispensaries. 