Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-04-27
ENTERPRISE AND ENERGY.
BUSINESS MEN OF PROMINENCE.
THE REWARDS OF INDUSTRY.
Some Well Known Business Houses of
Washington.

II used to be that many washingtonians
went out of the city to do their shopping. THE
stores here have not the variety that the Balti-
more. Philadelphia and New York stores have"
was always the excuse offered for not patron
ling home enterprises. Then things are so
much cheaper" was added in further justiica-
ton. You don't hear such reasons advanced In
these days. Washington shoppers find they
Can DO better at home. The change is sig
Hiicant one. II marks the development and
growth of the city. There is good deal said
liz these days about the progress of the city.
The census returns shows a gratifying increase
in the population. But when you see
great mercantile establishments, palaces of
trade, springing up along the business streets
that is a kind Of evidence which rests upon
more substantial foundation than the proud
boasts of enthusiastic citizens, or even the
solemn figures of the census Office. Men are
not going to risk their means in splendid build
ings and q costly stock Of goods unless some
profitable return for the money invested can
be relied upon with reasonable certainty.
Washington il universally praised for its
smooth pavements, its varied, graceful archi-
lecture, and its lovely parks. The business en-
te-prise of the city. as exempliied in the fine
stores, Is a feature of the national capital that
l. each year coming into greater prominence.
This Is feature that demonstrates the sub
etantldl progress OF the city IN wealth ana
in population. The class Of wealthy resi-
dents that is constantly growing and the
larger class of people of moderate means find
In the home market everything that comfor-
table and Injurious living requires. The facili-
ties for shopping have been extended and i'm
proved, and there is no feature found in the
great emporiums of trade in the large cities of
he country that is not enjoyed by the patrons
Of Washington establishments. The business
men of this city display great foresight and
energy in grasping so readily the situation and
in suiting their business methods to the
changed conditions which the past few years
have witnessed. An attempt made in
what follows to tell something about some OF
the business men of the city.
A. L1sSER.
man of medium height, with quick. en-
ergetic manner and a capacity for grasping
rapidly multitude of details, is MIR. A. Lisner,
the proprietor Of the Palais Royal, at the cor
ner of Pennsylvania avenue and 18th street.
His career, in view Of the fact that he has es-
tablished a large and successful business pos
sesses many features of interest Born in the
year 1852, at Waldorf. Saxony, and educated {
the high school in Heiningen Mr. Lisner when
young man. came to this country. He found
employment in his brothers store in New York
city, and while deyoting himself with his usual
energy to the mastery of business methods he
found time to acquire a knowledge of the
French language and to continue his musical
studies. He was offered a position in the house
OF b. Altman Co., and became their buyer Of