Chaplin's character is distinctly different from the "Little Tramp" character he's most known for; instead, he refuses to shake the hand of a man from the country, throws a brick at Tillie, hitting her in the neck, later elopes with her, cheats on his love interest, and steals money from a purse.
The comedy in the film is largely slapstick: people frequently kick each other on the bum or trip each other, four men attempt to (and are unable to) help Tillie up when she falls; Tillie, taken to the police station, has a policeman wave his finger in her face and she bites it.