_DOMESTIC SERVICE.—“I am a lady by birth and up-bringing, but I have always had a sincere desire to be a domestic servant. I should choose a housemaid’s position, as I am fond of housework. When I was a child, playing with my dolls, I always took the part of servant, and, as I have grown older, every story that I could get that had anything about servants in it I have read and re-read. I have tried two other occupations, but have failed for various reasons, and believe I should succeed better as a servant. How could I be trained in a housemaid’s duties? Must I go as an under-housemaid first of all?_ “CATHERINE NANCY.” Evidently “Catherine Nancy” has a distinct vocation for domestic work, and she would therefore do wisely to follow her natural bent. The important question a girl should ask herself in choosing a career is “What is the best class of work that I am likely to be able to do successfully?” For instance, there are conceivable cases in which a girl might feel that she would make a good dressmaker or a good painter; we should then consider that, if no difficulties presented themselves on the pecuniary side, the painter’s profession should be chosen. Girls nowadays often fall into one of two errors; either they try to do work which stands highest in human esteem and fail because they have not the power to do it, or, from reasons of over-modesty or indolence, they choose to perform mechanical and subordinate work, when with a little effort and determination they could rise to something better. But among girls of the middle class the first mistake, the mistake of over-ambition is the more usual. To return to the practical problem set us by our correspondent, we think there is every argument in favour of “Catherine Nancy’s” entering domestic service. Formerly no doubt there might have been an objection that “Catherine Nancy” would be cut off from association with friends of her own class; but this difficulty is rapidly disappearing. “Catherine Nancy” may like to be informed that “lady servants” are now in great demand, and that employers are often willing to make important concessions in order to obtain them. Many persons employ only ladies in their service, while others are often willing to give training to a well-educated girl in return for services. “Catherine Nancy” could very probably be received into some clergyman’s or other nice household on the footing we have mentioned. It may be worth while to remind “Catherine Nancy” that it might be desirable later to rise from the position of housemaid to that of parlourmaid. The duties of a parlourmaid, comprising as they do the showing-in of visitors, waiting at table and polishing the plate and glass, are peculiarly suitable for a ladylike girl to perform. But it would be time enough later to consider the advisability of such a change as this, and in any case it would be well to begin as a housemaid. We recommend “Catherine Nancy” to advertise for a situation