Can't write to unmapped (unrealized) text widget

[beach ataman com]

Why is it that I can't write to an unrealized text widget?  Is this a
feature?:) If the text widget is a data-structure for holding text
as well as a widget on the screen, doesn't it make sense to want to
add data to the text widget when it is not on the screen?

(using Gtk+-1.0.5)

Dave