He rose rapidly to a place
in the first rank of Massachusetts lawyers, which he held
until his untimely death. He was graduated the first scholar
in his class at Yale in 1848. Before he was graduated he
became engaged to a very admirable and accomplished lady,
daughter of Roger S. Baldwin, Governor of Connecticut and
United States Senator, then head of the Connecticut Bar. This
lady had some tendency to a disorder of the lungs and throat
which had proved fatal to two of her brothers. Dwight Foster
was very anxious to get her away from New Haven, where he
thought the climate and her habit of mingling in gay society
very unfavorable to her health. So he set himself to work
to get admitted to the Bar and get established in business
that he might have a place for her in Worcester. He was examined
by Mr. Justice Metcalf, after studying a little more than
a year, and found possessed of attainments uncommon even for
persons who had studied the full three years and had been
a good while at the Bar. Judge Metcalf admitted him, and
on some other Judge criticising what he had done, the Judge
said, with great indignation, "If he thinks Foster is not
qualified, let him examine him himself.
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