While a machine is like an arshin (yardstick), it contains exactly so much as the work required.    From Wordnik.com.  [The Man Who Was Afraid] Reference

I shall take him so, by the front of his coat, and lift him up an arshin.    From Wordnik.com.  [Youth] Reference

It stands the Government in about a rouble the arshin, and sells for two roubles.    From Wordnik.com.  [The American Quarterly Review, No. 17, March 1831] Reference

Sometimes Vologonov knocks at the partition-wall with a superannuated arshin measure which has only fifteen vershoki of its length remaining.    From Wordnik.com.  [Through Russia] Reference

Yes, the once blue eyes had turned to grey, and the figure added half an arshin to its stature as, standing as erect as a newly made nail, and pressing both feet together, the foreman stretched himself to his full height, and shouted with his mouth open to its widest extent.    From Wordnik.com.  [Through Russia] Reference

“It was a ruble an arshin, I suppose?”.    From Wordnik.com.  [War and Peace] Reference

1 verst = 3600 feet = 2/3 mile (almost) 1 arshin = 28 inches.    From Wordnik.com.  [Plays by Anton Chekhov, Second Series] Reference

To Chichikov’s curses at Selifan for not having drawn out of the way with more alacrity a rural constable with moustaches of the length of an arshin added his quota.    From Wordnik.com.  [Dead Souls] Reference

While a machine is like an arshin.    From Wordnik.com.  [The Man Who Was Afraid] Reference

"It was a ruble an arshin, I suppose?".    From Wordnik.com.  [War and Peace] Reference