Good manners cost nothing, but mean everything.
Or, so they say.
Students were on their best behavior Tuesday morning at the Missouri Governor's Mansion in Jefferson City.
And, they may have improved on that behavior.
The Manners at the Missouri Governor's Mansion program returned Tuesday after a two-year hiatus caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Hundreds of children (generally ages 8-12) have gone through the one-day program during the past two decades. About 30 participated Tuesday (and groups are also scheduled for today and Thursday).
The annual effort teaches young girls and boys proper etiquette for written and verbal communication, table manners, and how to set a formal dining table.
A guest (such as a parent or guardian) joined each of the children for lunch (following a few hours of lessons), allowing the young students to show off their newly acquired knowledge.
Tami Holliday, executive director of Friends of Missouri Governor's Mansion, a nonprofit that raises money to help maintain the people's home, said the groups are full this spring, a welcome surprise following the pandemic.
They have a four-course meal, then break for the day, Holliday said.
"It seems to be very popular, and something that hasn't been done in a lot of places," Holliday said. "We have a mix of boys and girls from across the state. I think there's even somebody from Arizona here today."
Many of the families represented by the children in the mansion Tuesday learned about the program through word-of-mouth. It's also common for children who attend the event to have a relative who has attended at some point, Holliday said.
"Some of these are kids whose parents and grandparents had come to the mansion," she said.
Docents -- volunteers who act as guides in the mansion -- conduct the program, which cost $125 per student.
Free guided tours of the mansion occur 10-11:45 a.m., and 12:30-1:45 p.m. Wednesdays and Thursdays, February through July and September through October, according to the Missouri State Parks website.
To reserve a tour, visit apps5.mo.gov/TourReservation/select.do?selection=17 or call 573-751-4141.
Before the pandemic struck, the mansion welcomed about 70,000 visitors annually.
Docent Lizabeth Fleenor and her colleagues herded students into order so they might participate in a receiving line Tuesday morning. Fleenor reminded them (having split into four groups) some of the students had learned to write "thank you" notes, while others had learned how to introduces themselves or other people, or where to place forks and spoons in formal settings.
"Maybe you've been in there and now you know how to eat soup -- the ship goes out to sea and comes back to me," she said while making a swinging motion as if scooping soup with a spoon.
She explained there are events, such as weddings, in which participants go through and congratulate the bride and groom. Sometimes, receiving lines are used for VIPs, she explained.
"You will make eye contact. Look them in the eye. Put a smile on your face," Fleenor said. "Introduce yourself."
Thank them for inviting you. Let them know you're happy to be at their event.
"Remember there are people all the way behind you, waiting to get through the line," she added.
Ten-year-old Samuel Cypress has lived in the area since he was about 2, he said.
"I've never been to Manners at the Mansion (although he lives in Jefferson City)," Cypress said. "I love the mansion."
He said he also enjoyed the event Tuesday morning.
Makayla Richards, 9, said her family moved from California to Missouri about two months ago.
"Traffic and gas prices were way too high," Makayla said. "Manners is very nice. I just love history."
Jackson Clayton, 10, said the mansion is "Pretty cool."
"I learned verbal communication manners (in the morning)," Jackson said.
In the accompanying video, Tami Holliday, director of Friends of the Missouri Governor's Mansion, discusses the return of Manners at the Mansion.