When a person is really full of information, and does not abuse it to crush conversation, his part is to that of the real talkers what the instrumental accompaniment is in a trio or quartette of vocalists.
-- What do I mean by the real talkers ?--Why, the people with fresh ideas, of course, and plenty of good warm words to dress them in.
Facts always yield the place of honor, in conversation, to thoughts about facts; but if a false note is uttered, down comes the finger on the key and the man of facts asserts his true dignity.

I have known three of these men of facts, at least, who were always formidable,--and one of them was tyrannical.
-- Yes, a man sometimes makes a grand appearance on a particular occasion; but these men knew something about almost everything, and never made mistakes .-- He?
Veneers in first-rate style.

The mahogany scales off now and then in spots, and then you see the cheap light stuff--I found--very fine in conversational information, the other day when we were in company.

The talk ran upon mountains.

He was wonderfully well acquainted with the leading facts about the Andes, the Apennines, and the Appalachians; he had nothing in particular to say about Ararat, Ben Nevis, and various other mountains that were mentioned.