Strangers were always glad to talk with him because he was so cordial and quaint, and always gave more than he got.
A sense of humor such as Lincoln had is, of course, a great addition to one's conversational power.

But not everyone can be funny; and, if you lack the sense of humor, you will make yourself ludicrous by attempting to be funny.
A good conversationalist, however, is not too serious.

He does not deal too much with facts, no matter how important.

Facts, statistics, weary.

Vivacity is absolutely necessary.