National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1885-12-30
THIS CITY AS A TRADE CENTER

THIS CITY AS n TRADE CENTER.
Interesting Facts About the Holiday
Busincss-A Pertinent Illustration in
the Paiais Royal.
Tho present Christmas season has been Il
most enjoyable one to all classes OF people In
Washington. The weather has been favorable
and nt some portions Of the day the entire
population filed the principal businossavenues
in their search for holiday goods. Never in
the history Of the city have there been such I'M
mensc stocks on sale or q more nctive Compa-
titOn among merchants. All of them, how
ever. express satisfaction as TO the grand total
oil sales ana generally clnim large increase
over former years. Washington has become u
gicat trndc center for the retailing of goods.
Our mcrchanls carry, enormous stocks
purchased direct from foreign aud domestic
manufacturers for prompt cash. IL Is an cs;a6.
liShcd rule that large orders mud prompt cash
payments always command the miuinum
experienced buycrL Merchants in different
cities In the same lines of goods havisg close
confidential relations often combine in max
the special discounts on lnrte orders.
Our dealers arc sagaCiOns and hayo tho
tact to avail themselves of nil the
adl0rthCcs known to the mercantile world.
tor Even the clothing that Is made there Is
sold here Gt retail as cheap as II Can possibly
be bad there, some of our largest houses
manufacture in Bnltimorc, and make their
principal sales ut retail In Washington.
While, therefore, Washington has not II large
iobbing trGde, It L confidently stated that 1t Is
the United States. as the consumer
can always find the best designs and choicest
patterns ut lowest market rates. The growth
of Washington, aud the growth Of Us business
houses 20 hand IN hand. Many of this genera.
tiOn will live to see the capital OF the nation
embrace million OF souls The charming
building sites on Its broad avenues are flst be
ing built up by newcomers from all parts of the
world. Perhaps no better illustration of the
rapid growth of the retail business OF Washing.
ton con be given than brlefsketch of the pdlais
Royal, known TO every household in Washing.
ton IL is lOcntcd OH the corner Of Twelfth street
and PENNSYLVANIA avenue. Tho proprietor
Mr.. A. Lisner,. came to Washington in 1877 n
thoroughly learned the fancy, notion, and dry
goods business with the celebrated dry goods
and notion house Of b. Altman, of New York
city, and established the palais Royal In one
small room Of 2Ox50. The business has grown
each year, until its snlcsrooms cover large
space, occupying several fronts on Pennsylva-
mia avenue as well as on Twelfth street, con-
ncctCd by spacious arches In the walls OF the
building. MIR. LisnCr adopted the invariabIe
rule OF one price, marked in plain figures
and the 1 strict cash principle beth IN the pur.
pies as his guide, firmly adhered to, and the
determination TO make every patron sat
iShed with bis purchase, by permitting
turn them, when dissatisfied, their money,
the Pnlais Royal has grown into public conf.
denCc until It has become one of the most pop
ular institutions at the national capital IL
has twenty leading departments, the head OF
each, under the system of the house, Is prac.
tically an independent business. Under this
plan new departments are added from time to
time ns needed.
Its l75 employees in the sales department are
mostly young ladies, whose intuiiions are so
quick and keen that they make the most valu.
able clerks IN the sale of fancy articles.
The present quarters OF the Palais Royal are
far too small for Its constantly increasing
business. II q structure was erected covering
the area OF u block for the business of this
house, the enterprising proprietor would util-
ize 1t and increase his sales annually many
fold. A grand trade baZaar OF this character
iswhat Washington needs to-day. The palais
Royal then could display its endless va.
ricty of notions and fancy goods, Gny
per cent. of which c:5 imported direct nun
foreign manufacturers, and the balance bought
ilCm American makers. The monthly sales
of the Palais Royal Oflen aggregate an amount
equal to the rate of one million per annum,
andnll this accomplished within the short space
ofeight years, by q young man who had the self
reliance and ambition to assume the RESPONSE
bility of the undertaking. As Washington
grows in numbers and wealth, its business
firms will prosper and become the pride of the
city, when conducted on sound business princl-
pies, with enterprise, like the Palais Royal.